The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1919-05-08
Observation-Disclosures
DICKS RETURN
BY MARY C. BRIGGS.
Observation-Disclosures
ght, 1913, by the McD
paper Syndicate.)

4
single word when there's anyone
around" sighed pretty Constance
flushed and bright-eyed from her brlsi
walk home from the French class.
AS Constance sat before the fire hel
thoughts flew forward to the coming
dance to be given in honor OF DICE
c., who had just returned from
"over there" and then backward te
her last meeting with Dick.
If was the night before he had left
for camp and her mother was giving a
party in honor of Constance's eight
eenth birthday. Early in the evening
Dick had drawn her aside and told her
that he wished to leave the party
early in order to spend as much time
as possible with his mother, but asked
her permission TO come again before
he left. There was certain closeness
to his hand-clasp, and in his eyes, as
he gazed into hers, there was Pc
culiar intensity that left her startled
and tingling to her finger. tips, happy
but too breathless to speak.
And then, in the midst of this par
adise, Jack H came to claim her
for the next dance. Relieved at any
excuse to get away and stop the HOOD
of color rising to her face, she quickly
swung into the fox trot with Jack, but
not before she saw the look OF hurt
disappointment in Dicks eyes. This
\, ho1Intn1 (fnn-
stance for over a year now, for DICK
did not come back after the party nor
had she ever seen or heard from him
since. Why had he not written? Sure
~ he must have seen that she had left
him for the dance with Jack only to
cover her confusion. But the fact re-
mained--he had not cared enough for
her to even write. And Constance
wiped tear of despair from her eyes.
Then she recalled how certain pic
ture of herself had disappeared from
the library table that night, and how
they never had been able to find it af-
terward. At first she had almost dared
to hope that Dick had taken it, but
tOlLlliOll oCDSC lOlQ liCl liidI a man NiiO
went soldering could not carry 16-
inch, full-length portrait concealed
about his person, no matter how much
he loved the girl and besides, Dick ap-
parently did not care and had forgot
ten her.
The night of the dance came and
Constance had never been more daz-
cling and brilliant. She had deter
mined to be the perfect butterfly if
only TO show Dick C. how indiffer-
ent she was to his lack of attention
hat year of absence, and her merry
aughter and gay French repartee,
wonderful recommendations for the
little French professor, made her the
,elle of the ball.
1t was not until late in the evening
hat Dick was able to secure a dance
With her, and then, when the dance
vas half over, utterly oblivious of her |
in allowing him a whole
lance, he led her from the ballroom
ut to the cool veranda.
'Do you know why / asked you to
ONE out here where we can talk?" he
7hispered as soon as they were alone.
Once more Constance felt the same
mptiness in the region where her
lngs ought to be, although she could
ear herself fairly wheeling. Once
lore she was struck dumb, though all
1rts of bright French retorts chased
trough her mind, but refused 10 cross
ar lips, she gave one big stifled
asp, however, as Dick continued:
ITS because you're the only girl I've
et this evening who hasn't made me
ant to duck for my little French die
onary. When chaps been hearing
I'D only half understanding a foreign
nguage for over a year, you've no
ca how good it seems to hear his
other tongue spoken by a familiar
ice.
Besides" he continued 81 want to
turn this to it's proper owner, al
ough | must apologize for its condi-
)n," and he drew from his pocket
lall, beautifully chased gold frame,
small picture of herself
t from the one long missing from her
rary table. Pointing to an ugly bull
scar on the frame, he continued
Once this little frame saved my
e." and he showed her where the 8
llet still lodged. "And many other i;
nes this sweet face and the thought
her at home saved me from much
rise. Constance, / had intended to I
for the subject of this little picture '
fore | went away, but my foolish
lousy sealed my lips. Now I'm re-
ming the picture, may l not claim
, originate"
1t last Constance found her voice.
] the words that she spoke were
ench, not the brilliant repartee she
practiced, but little three-word S,
tence she learned in her first les
. This time Dick felt no inclination
duck for his dictionary; he reached
her hands instead, and as he drew
close the smile that he gave her
i, that is the same in all languages.