The Owosso times., 1920-11-26
Only a
Summer Girl
BY II. LOUIS RAYBOLD

ting end of our little affair." bu
Cousin Sally has begged me to take
her to the last hop at the inn.
with regrets,
ROBERT WHITNEY"
MAZDA, sitting on the floor before q
half-tilled trunk, crumpled the paper
In her hand and gazed with unseeing
eyes at the chaos around her. What
did II mean2 He knew she had been
expecting him. Hadn't he practically
taken It for granted that he should
see her almost every night for the last
three weeks? And he had signed his
name so formally-RObert Whitney,
instead Of the familiar Bob"
Maida's blue eyes overfowed and
she buried her face in her arms on
the nearest support, which happened
to be pile of freshly ironed clothes.
Partially filled packing boxes, bare
bookshelves and forlorn-looking couch
denuded of its cover and pillows bore
witness that this was Maida's last
night at the beach. Tomorrow morn
ing she and her mother would lock up
the door Of the little cottage, hand
the key to the owner and take the
trolley back to the city for the win
ter.
1t was true that except for an all
too brief two weeks in August, she
had had to go back and forth to the
city every day.
But Mazda had come. to the beach
old as the hills and fraught with mis-
chief to The players.
The fact that Maida's busy fingers
were tapping busily at the keys of her
typewriter had never prevented her
little sheil-like ears, half submerged
hair, from absorbing the gossip which
circulated among the girls of the Of
flee. She knew that such a one had
been engaged for the summer" that
so-and-so had had an "affair"-ln
short, that Irritation in which both
knew that nothing serious was intend
ed was legitimate part of every sum-
mer outing.
And Mazda, who had nineteen unsO-
phisticated affairless summers already
to her credit, decided that for once
she would do as the other girls. FOrti-
flying her resolution, she even made
public her intentions to the others,
who jolied her and begged her to
compare notes with them,
A few days after Mrs. Deering and
Mazda were installed In "Seaview"
cottage, the boy next door invited
Mazda to the weekly hop at the hotel.
And there she met Bob Whitney-tall
Drowned. athletic, lively, everything to
make him an ideal figure in summer
girls eyes.
Mazda. a bit excited by the swinging
music and gay company, had chatted
and laughed and danced in a way to
arouse any mans interest. There had
followed q call on BOb's part, an invl-
sailing, and bids to other festivities
which make up the life of transient
colony.
Not that he allowed himself to be-
come her exclusive property. Other
girls were sometimes the recipients of
his attentions, and recently he had
been going about bit with his pretty
second cousin, Sally Winters, who
happened to be stenographer in the
office adjoining the city attorneys.
With Sally's advent, Mazda had
been forced to admit to herself that
tragedy had come Of her meant-to-be-
innocent plan-nOt tragedy to Bob, but
to herself. For Mazda had fallen In
love with her victim, madly in love,
and, she told herself, quite hopelessly.
So this evening of the day his note
had come she sat huddled in the
couch hammock on the dark porch.
The one companion in whose company
she had enjoyed these pleasures was
Dasking in the favor Of another girl.
utterly unmindful of her loneliness.
But wasn't that familiar step on
he boardwalk which ran behind the
cottages? Mazda sat up quickly. She
would like, after all, TO say gOod-by In
friendly fashion, even If everything
vas as at end.
The step drew nearer and as it aD-
,rOached Madia's heart beat CORE
'pondingiy faster. 1t was Bob.
"All alone?" he called gayly, as sine
Csc TO meet him. Didn't know but |
d have to sit out the gang If want
ID to say good.by."
II thought you were going to the |
lance with Sally" returned MAZDA, TO.
he life Of her unable to keep a note |
# coolness from creeping into her
'Oice.
well, yes," admitted Bob, 81 was,
'ut she got bid from handsoner
nan, and 10 tell the truth was glad |
% tell her 10 20 with him. Sally and
are trst-rnte pals, but-well, I don't
imagine. now that you're going. that
on are interested any MORE" he said.
leaningly.
Mazda stood leaning against the
orch railing, her hands plunged in
er sweater pockets.
LET'S go down to the beach" sup-