American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1919-04-25
H ANNUAL PICNIC
BY JOSEPHINE MURPHY.


Al AAS hhAA@
given by Lovett & Neville to their
employees 1t was expected that any
incipient romance that the year nno
developed would be hailed forth into
the gay light of publicity. Not that
the number was 80 very great, but IL
must be admitted that even the most
distinguished fioorwalker loses a Ger
tain charm-the charm, perhaps. OF
the proud and Observation-Disclosures
YOU have taken notes on him for
twelvemonth across the counter.
Nevertheless, something was always
to be hoped for at the annual picnic.
A wear ago 1t was confidently predict
ed that Kenneth Moore of the book de-
partment and Cynthia Gray OF the nd
bon counter were to anord the neces-
sary love interests. There must have
been an understanding between them,
certainly; he hardly so much as SAID
"Good morning" now to other giris'
they had been seen together at the
alter and lunch. Oh. there were plenty
of signsl The seal of finality was all
that was lacking.
The Iong-expected day brought only
confusion to these cherished hopes
CYNTHIA, who was looked upon as one
of the most refined girls in the whole
store, appeared unusually gay and
reckless. First she was devoted to n
man, Their to another, with an impru-
dence that set friendly eyes wide with
horror. Finally, when the picnic din
ner was over, the party broke up Tor
games, s~wan-boatmg and strolls In the
woods. CYNTHIA flung herself at a GER
tain Mr.. Green, newly of the shoe de-
nartment, and before the eyes or all
they had gone together toward the
lake.
well, wouldn't that frost your
gasped Florence Small. as the girl
crazy? The way she's treating Ken
meth, and he the. most refined feiiow
in the store, too!'
They saw Kenneth alone, and sent
one of the new men over to him with
an invitation to come to the skatlng
rink: but he only shook his head with
a wan smile, and replied 81 have got
sort of a headache; guess I'll just sit
around a while. Perhaps I'll come
j down later" He did not have a head
ache, but he wanted to be alone, for
his heart was sore. He had not ex-
pected Cynthia to treat aim IKE thls.
During the whole trip she had
scarcely spoken a word to him. NO
one would ever have thought they
knew each other. and II didn't seem
ike her either. He couldn't under
stand It. Why, only the last time he
I called on her they had sat together In
l her little "den," and had talked on
l quite a number Of subjects. There
I was nothing sentimental about Gym
. thIa; they had been Just good pals
!; together; that was what he liked best
in a girl.
She SANE we'll and loved poetry, both
VI which he also was fond OF. Wha'
had first attracted him to Miss Gray
was the sight of her buried In a vol
ume of poems. He had asked her what
she was reading. She had glanced VI
Mt him with a smile he could never
forget. Lucille" she said.
Now, Kenneth had never read "Lu
cile," so he purchased a copy, whlcl
n this very moment was in his pocket
lie had brought it, thinking of how N
md Cynthia-but what was the use o
thinking. That was all IT had com
70. And he unused, as others muse'
before him.
In the distance he heard the ga
"a strains Of the band at the skating rinE
and the sound disturbed him, so out o
= harmony was It with his mood. ii
thought Of Mr.. Green, perhaps eve
4 now padding down the lake with tn
faithless Cynthia. But Cynthia ha
ruthIessly deserted Mr.. Green whe
he went in quest of a boat, and strolle
of. by herself.
Kenneth arose from the bench q
which. he had been sitting and wal
dered up the path. Sitting down III
der a tree HI opened his volume, I'll
cile." He was glad even now thu
Cynthia was not beside him
Afternoon sunlight began to pee
through the trees. He got up ar
leaped to the summit Of a fern-groV
bOwlder. and, looking down the path,
chill of terror ran over him. Cynth
vas walking toward him with dow
cast eyes, digging the toe of her lit
boot into the moss every now al
then. All at once she stopped, al
with a cry snatched something.
was Lucille" She pressed the volur
to her lips. Its his - he heard h
murmur-"Kenneth's." There we
tears In her eyes. Kenneth ~
heard her murmur again. He took
step forward. Cynthia" he crit
Cynthia, dear"
He forgot the steepness and heie
Of the bowlder; he slipped, lost his b
ance, and In a minute was lying belo
Cynthia ran to him. fell on her kn'
with a cry OF distress.
"Ohl Kenneth, are you hurt?'
He sat up and shook himself,
an English sparrow after a bath.
81 suppose they are all laughing
me; but / don't care-I mean, not