The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1919-04-17
"RAYS FRIEND"
BY ELSIE EATON.

YOU'D better hustle along there,
Lou" called her mother, "or you'll
miss that swell movie you've been talk
Ing about"
Eyes, mother, I'm most ready" an
swered Lou, putting the last pin In her
hair.
Now see that you come home right
after the show. ! don't want to have
to entertain that friend brother Ray is
bringing home for the weekend to-
night Besides, l think he would like
your company best. Young folks gen.
orally like young folks" warned her
mother as Lou was leaving.
Movies aren't as interesting as they
might be-" thought Lou, as she walked
leisurely down the street. For the
past six months not much of anything
had really been interesting to her. She
found more pleasure in knitting socks
for soldiers than she did in doing any
thing else. But today she thought she
would venture out to the pictures.
She met several boys and girls as
she walked along, all radiant and hap
Ply. She finally reached the theater.
An observer might have thought her
eager to see the play, for there was a
longing look In her eyes, but Louis
longing look was not for the play that
was supposed to be so interesting.
Her thoughts were far away. She was
thinking of her sister Macs honey cot
tage, where she had spent the spring
and summer days doing the work for
Mae until she get better. How pleas
ant 1t had all been. But how lonely
she was now.
Doctor B., "Bll," as Macs husband
used to call him, occupied her thoughts;
he had seemed young the first time
she met him. He certainly had made
her stay at Macs a pleasant one. How
kind and gentle he had been to her
sister, she thought. Try as hard as
possible, she couldn't get interested In
the play. Her thoughts would always
drift back to by-gone days; the pleas
ant rides she had had with Doctor B.
the scenery and the lunches they would
take. How he had seemed to enjoy
the dainties she would prepare and
give her more than due praise, she
thought. Lou would think Of all these
things with sense Of happiness. But
how sad 1t seemed to make her when
she would recall the day when he had
called ut Macs and told them he was
leaving for camp In the morning. He,
too, seemed sad as he told them of his
departure. But he had just bid her
goOd-by in friendly way. Just as he
had bid the others good-by.
why have been so lonesome since
10y return homer" Lou would ask her.
self. Was her lonesomeness due to
himf At first she would think 1t was
due to the change. There was just
her mother at home now, and 1t wasn't
az though things were lively, she
thought; but as she walked home this
day she finally came to the conclusion
that there was just one answer to her
question. She had fallen In love with
Doctor b.
IT'S all right to feel lonesome when
I'm at home and everything is dull.
| But when 1t comes to this (and she
thought Of how she had spent the af-
ternoon thinking Of him, instead Of
enjoying the plctures) there Is only
one reason for it, and there's no use
avoiding 1t. But 1t makes me feel
blue. It's just to be my secret, not his
and mine, as l wish 1t could be-"
She suddenly thought Of her moth
ers warning to come right home. She
looked at her watch. 1t was past their
regular dining hour. Goodness u she
exclaimed, Il must be walking terribly
slow. Guess I'd better move along.
I've got to change my dress, l sup
pose. Rays friend might be q bore
for all l know. OH do wish he
wasn't bringing him home this time, but
| must be there and help make things
pleasant or he will never forgive me-"
She finally reached home. Her moth
er met her at the door, Now De quick
and change your dress. dearie. Ray
has come and supper Is waiting"
"What a familiar voice." thought
Lou, as she changed her dress and
listened to the boys talking and laugh
ing. She looked thoughtful for sec
| ond-but no, 1t couldn't be-the laugh
ter again reached her ears. She hur-
ried downstairs, determined to be in
doubt no longer.
"Why, Rayp she exclaimed, going In
to the parolr. "This Is Doctor B.. /
met him at Macs, and"
81 know, SIS" interrupted Ray. We
thought we'd plan little surprise for
you"
This certainly Is q pleasant sur
prise" said Lou. with JOY. as she shook
hands with Or. B..
During the meal they talked of old
times and of what had happened since
hey had last seen each other.
"Now," said Louis mother. I'm GO
ing to do the work and. Lou, you can
entertain DR.. B. while Ray goes call
ing on Anne"
"Why didn't you let me know you
were coming, DR.. B-T asked Lou
when they were alone.
"Bill to you, Lou" said DR.. B..
avoiding her question.
Eyes, Bill to me always" said Lou,
almost to herself. while that longing
look disappeared, and now she knew
her secret was also shared with DIR.