South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-09-11
Only a Summer Girl
BY II. Louis Raybold

Dear MAZDA" ran the note. II
rather expected 10 call on you this
evening for a last stroll on the beach
as a htting end OF our little affair,
but Cousin Sally has begged me 20
take her 10 the last hop at the inn.
With regrets.
ROBERT WHITNEY"
MAZDA, sitting on the floor before
a half-hlled trunk. crumpled the
paper in her hand and gazed with
unseeing eyes at the chaos around
her. What did il mean? 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 overlooked and
the nearest support. which happen
ed TO be a pile Of freshly ironed
clothes.
Partially filled packing boxes. bare
bookshelyes and forlorn- looking
couch denuded OF its cover and pill
lows bore witness that this was
Maida's last night at the beach To-
morrow morning she and her moth
er would lock up the door Of the
little cottage, hand the key 10 the
owner and take the trolley back TO
the city for the winter
II was true that except for an all
too brief two weeks in August, she
had had 10 go back and forth TO
the city every day.
But MAZDA had come 10 the beach
prepared 10 play a dangerous game.
old as the hills and fraught with
mischief TO the players.
The fact that Maidas busy fingers
were tapping busily at the keys Of
her typewriter had never prevented
her little shell-like ears, half sub
merged though they were in waves
OF sunny hair, from absorbing the
gossip which circulated among the
girls Of the office. She knew that
such a one had been engaged for
the summer" that so-and-so had had
an "affair''-in short. that a f1irta-
uon in which both knew that moth
ing serious was intended was a legi-
innate part Of every summer outing.
And MAZDA. who had 19 unsophis-
ticated affairless summers already to
her credit. decided that for once she
would do as the other girls. Forti
~ 4llB iAcf ICoOlullOlls sut even Uldut
public her intentions to the others,
who jollied her and begged her to
compare notes with them.
A few days after Mrs. Deering
and MAZDA were installed in Sea
view cottage, the boy next door in
vited 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 a summer girls eyes.
Maida's, a bit excited by the
swinging music and gay company,
had chattod and laughed and danced
in a way 10 arouse any mans inter
est. There had followed a call on
Bob's part, an invitation 70 MAZDA
and her mother TO go sailing, and
bids 10 other festivities which make
up the life OF a transient summer
colony.
Not that he allowed himself 10 be-
come her exclusive property. Other
girls were sometimes the recipients
OF his attentions, and recently he
had been going about a bit with his
pretty SECOND cousin. Sally winters,
who happened 10 be a stenographer
in the office adjoining the city at
torney's
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, out TO herself. For Mazda had
fallen in love with her victim. mad
~ in love, and, she told herself,
quite hcpelessly.
So this evening of the day his
note hal come she sat huddled in
the couch hammock on the dark
porch. The one companion in
whose company she had enjoyed
these pleasures was basking in the
favor OF another girl, utterly un-
mindful of her loneliness Bob had
beaten her at her own game.
But wasn't that a familiar step
on the boardwalk which ran behind
the cottages? MAZDA sat up quick
~. She would like. after all, 10 say
goOd-by in friendly fashion, even if
everything was as at end.
The step drew nearer and as il
approached Maidas heart beat cor
~sspondingly faster. 1t was Bob.
All alone?" he called gayly, as
she rose 10 meet him. Didn't know
but I'd have TO sit out the gang If
wanted TO say good-by."
Il thought you were going 20 the
dance with sally" returned MAZDA,
for the life OF her unable 10 keep a
note of GOODNESS from creeping into
her voice.
Well. yes" admitted Bob, ~ was
but she got a bid from a handsomer
man, and 10 tell the truth / was
glad TO tell her 10 go with him. Sally
ard ! are first-rate pals, but-well,
l don't imagine, now that you're
going. that you are interested any
more" he said, meaningly.
MAZDA stood leaning against the
porch railing. her hands plunged in
her sweater pockets
Let's go down TO the beach"
suggested Bob.
Mazda hesitated, then decided that
she would see the game through no
matter what il cost her not TO let
him suspect All right" she an
swered listlessly.
a few minutes later and they
we're seated on a huge bowlder al
the base Of which beat the restless
sea High up was riding a delecta-
BILE silvery moon.
The silence, which had been un-
broken during the short walk was