The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1919-06-06
Wartime
Speed
00
Copyright. 1915. by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate)
BY CATHERINE PARSONS

portrait. III you had seen Amy you
would have really envied him, for
she was truly lovely.
On this particular day Amy left the
studio somewhat later than usual for
the picture was just ut an interesting
stage and Gardner could not bear to
stop work till the last bit Of daylight
had vanished. Mrs. Roland, who al
ways came with her daughter, had left
early to keep an appointment and
Amy had promised to meet her at
five.
Gardner had kept her till the last
possible moment and she was hurry
ing toward the front door, when she
ran directly into a young man who
was coming In the opposite direction.
81 beg pardon" exclaimed Amy, as
she bounced back In surprise. "Why,
Billy Lane" she added, as she recOg-
nized him. "Where In the world did
you come from? I haven't laid eyes
on you for over two years."
"Just got here, Amy. I've been out
In Colorado working hard. But even
an obscure farmer has a right to
vacation now and then, so I'm taking
two weeks this time. Maybe 1t isn't
good to see you again-you haven't
changed much except to grow up more.
I suppose you'd forgotten all about me,
though"
Amy blushed slightly, bat 1t was too
dark to see.
II hadn't, really; but of course two
might forget whether your hair was
red or brown. It's hard to remember
much when you're kept pretty busy"
Billy laughed ruefully.
Amy held out her hand with frank
and engaging smile. In another mo-
ment she was gone.
For heavens sake" cried Gardner.
spying his brother from the floor
above. "When did you get here? Well,
maybe 1t isn't good to see you again,
too! Is this a pleasure trip?"
"Not exactly. The truth of the mat
ter is I'm enlisting in about two weeks
and wanted to see the old town be-
fore I went over"
"Great Scott. you don't say so! /
would myself but I'm beyond the draft
age and I hate to leave my work
I'm really needed here. Could they
spare you all right?"
"Well, you see, I'm my own boss, so
just sold out and came along. l
dnt Cta Of nd
I'd nothing to hold me back, either"
"Pm single, too, but l may not be
long-that's one reason why 1 don't
want to enlist"
"Who Is it-LouiseT
Gardner laughed. 81 should say
not I've had dozen since Louise.
It's Amy this time. / haven't told her
yet, but I'm going to marry her."
Two days later Amy went for an
other sitting for her portrait and again
she found Billy in the hall on her way
home.
"Hello, Mr.. Hermit" she scoffed.
you're not wasting time on your old
friends this trip, are yOu?"
"Most of them seem to be pretty
busy themselves"
"Well, I'm not for one, and to prove
1t I'll invite you to go for walk with
me now.
isn't 1t lovely out today" cried
Amy enthusiastically.
Eyes, but you'd never call this beau
tiful If you could see 1t out where
live. Mountains and hills and valleys
everywhere you look. And the sun
sets-you'd love those sunsets, Amy.
They just make the whole world
blaze Of glory and put peace into your
soul. I can't explain how 1t is out
there-it's too big for that. But 1 can
tell you 1t impresses one. Maybe I'm
daffy on the subject, but it's simply
life out there to me. / feel like our
poet friend who said: L want to go
back, and I Will You'd love it out
there, Amy"
"Oh, would love 1t" she agreed,
and almost surprised herself by her
own fervor.
"Will you visit me some day then
you and your husband?
well be elighted-provided 1 have
one by that time"
'In the meantime will you consider
an invitation to dine with me this eve
ning?"
"I'm sorry, Billy, but I'm going to
dinner at the Seatons' with Gardner
they asked me ages ago. But I've had
lovely walk with you"
$50 have l, too. Good night"
"Billyp
"What can / do for your
Don't you ever want to walk home
with me again? have three more sit
tings."
"Of course want to. But a man
doesn't do all the things he wants to-
worse luck! I'll see you before, long,
though. Good-by."
II think you're the limit, and you
make me cross" fiared Amy, and re-
fused to notice his proffered hand.
Whereupon Billy pondered long on
the vagaries Of women and kept out
of Amy's way for the next two days.
But on the day that she came for her
last sitting she found him standing he