South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-03-04

"OOhS heeEes watching the children
and nursemaids, the strolling con
pies, the people who looked lonely
like herself. Since she had come TO
the city as her brothers. house
keeper Christine had known a great
many lonely days Even books and
her piano palled at times, and the
park with it's friendly sunshine, its
glimpse or happy people who were
not lonely. was the best substitute
for companionship.
This happened TO be a particularly
warm and sunshiuy afternoon and
the sun seemed To approve OF Chris
tine II lit the warm yellow lights
OF her hair, made her eyes look
very blue indeed. to harmonic with
the color scheme OF the sky. and
matched her cheeks TO the hedge
of fiowering-almond behind her.
When a girl looks the way Christine
did on this particular day she usu-
ally feels buoyant, she cannot help
it. And being buoyant Christine felt
that she simply must have a good
time with some one, so she called
TO the two merry children who were
rolling hoops in her direction Their
nurse was on a bench some distance
away. talking TO a young man in
sailors uniform
The little girls stopped shyly and
stared Then, with the trustfunness
OF five and three they came close
and began TO get acquainted.
MY name is Nary said the eld-
est, IN hers is Ruth. What's
yours?"
That was the beginning OF a de-
lightful friendship. for a half hour
or more the children played with
her. climbed over her lap. GEM
onstrated their prowess with the
hoops for her benefit, and told her
all about themselves. Their nurse
was still absorbed with the sailor,
and Christine so interested in the
children that she was immensely
startled when a voice spoke close
beside her, a mans voice.
Good afternoon" IL said. Fine
day for the Riddles, isn't it. Mary
has grown so tall / should scarcely
know her.
Christine looked up to see a tall
soldier. He was very nice-looking
soldier, and amazingly at ease, for
he was engaged in seating himself
on the bench beside her. And before
she could voice her surprise the two
children were falling upon him with
cries OF ''Uncle Tom! Oh-UncIe
Tom"
do you come here every day ?"
he asked Christine, quite as though
he had known her always.
She nodded. 1t was quite evident
that he thought she was the gov
erness and that he had met her
before. At any rate he went on 10
speak OF the weather, the children
and various other impersonal topics
without giving her much chance 70
explain herself. OF course she
should have left Immediately, but
she was so lonely, and in a buoyant
mood. Besides. he was a very nice
looking soldier. Was II her fault
that he took her for some one whom
he had met before? And Of course
she should never see him again
Christine stayed there for a full half
hour, and II was a very delightful
half hour, too.
And then. quite suddenly. she
saw that the nurse was coming to-
wards them. How could she ex-
plain herself? The only thing was
TO rise hastily. and leave.
II must 60" she declar ed. I
. didn't know Il was so late. The
nurse always takes the children"
And she hurried. breathless. from
the place.
When Christine got home and
, thought the matter over she was
thoroughly shocked at herself What
would her friends think II they
. knew that she had done such a
thing? What must the young man
think OF her, now that he knew she
was not the governess or any one
whom he had ever seen before
Perhaps il was this last thought that
+. made her blush as she faced herself
in the mirror, and noted the unac-
custorned radiance that starred her
. eyes However. she resolved 10 put
! the whole affair quickly out Of her
mind.
The next day however proved
TO be as bright and alluring as its
. neighbor Christine simply had 10
20 over 10 the park. she couldn't
. spend the day moping in a stuffy lit
tie apartment But she resolved TO
avoid her accustomed corner where
where the little friends OF yesterday
played.
So Christine established herself
upon a secluded bench and was
: soon trying 10 be absorbed in a
book. But it was very hard work
( for her thoughts kept turning 10
the day before
Quite suddenly she heard the
sound OF children's voices the
whirr OF a hoop. and round bend
I OF the path came Mary and Ruth
chaperoned by their Uncle Tom.
Uncle Tom was smiling. too.
Good afternoon" was his greet
! ing. Just as though nothing had hap
pened. And again he sat down on
the bench beside her.
THE nurse is just over there
! he said. I'VE needn't worry about
the Riddles"
Christine looked at him IN help
Lass am ha rraeSneut Why he was