Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1920-03-19
ROMEO
BY LOUISE M. ADDEL SON.

SSsSssssssssss ssssSeesssSsSssesSsSs
'@. l'2" by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate,
Romeo MIS- his name. and like the
more famous Romeo of old no couId
make loving and impasSionel speeches
"hen ne wished. But he didn't always
wish. When things went smoothly Ro-
meo was merry. bright and conversa-
lonai. Eut if anything happened to
rufiie his feathers he could he as fem
peramental as any grand opera star.
becoming by turns. silent, morose and
irritable. Nevertheless. he had his
1aTorttes. to whom his words were low
Ing. and his accents sweet though the
uninitiated might have found his voice
tribe marsh. For Romeo was
parrot. whose dearest and most de-
voted friend was aged Mrs Scott. his
owner for 20 years. and whose bitter
est enemy was her grandniecc, Hes
ter, aged seventeen.
hester had no respect. 1t seemed
either for RomeO's years or his wis
dom. She was In the habit Of slyly
poking him in the ribs. Of teasing him.
when she wanted little amusement
>ON ASSiA vi hSl IL iS.lluS. III
him gifts in n honey-sweet voice when
he was fast asleep, and Of withdrawing
them when he was sufficiently aroused
to accept the goodies she tempted him
with. Romeo bore the laughter that
followed valiantly. But he acquired
IN impla cable hatred for Hester. He
did not Sputtcr or make fuss. as
parrot should have done. He waited.
and bidcd his time. He was old and
wise. and reasoned that some day the
many blows to his comfort and dignity
would be avenged
Hester, meanwhile. faced the world
merrily. little dreaming that the future
might bring undeSired complications
into her life. True, she had fallen off
In her studies, but studies were bore.
anyhow, and she wasn't going to al
low Il trifle like that to bother her.
For weeks Edgar Trafton had escort
ed her home from school, to the NOR
LITIGATION of several of the most at
tractive young ladies in attendance
there. He had become, in fact, He's
ter's AFFECT slave. at very early
date Edgar began to regard himself
as one OF the family. The two would
come in of an afternoon. dcvOur Mrs
SCOTS choicest pastry, and when
they had eaten their fill, start the
monograph, or perhaps Hester would
play on the piano and sing, while Ed
gar accompanied her on the violin. Be
tween the two of them they managed
to make so much racket that poor Ro-
mons tnpfnrnH wi oil
noticed, and one afternoon Mrs. Scott
felt called upon. out Of sheer despera-
ton, to order Edgar from the house,
with strict injunctionS never to enter
1t again without permission from her.
note from the principal of the school,
received that day, had aided Mrs. Scott
In her determination to eXpel Master
Trafton from her home for it had
stated, in unmistakable language, that
Hester would not graduate unless she
paid more attention to her studies.
Seeing that young love was likely
to suffer unnecessary tribulatiOns If
Edgar continued to call in the Mt
ernoon, the lovers met evenings, there
after, in the parlor, where Hester was
fondly supposed to be studying her
lessons.
Mrs. Scott usually retired early, so
the coast was clear. Out of the cor
ner of his eye Romeo, thought TO be
asleep, watched them evening after
evening. Romeo didn't know. perhaps.
that 1t was only few days before
examinations, but he DID know that
something out of the ordinary was
coming Off. He sensed 1t on certain,
day when Edgar entered the house
a little more quietly than usual, and
Hester met him ut the door with q
restrained and eager expression. Ed
gar regarded her with what was meant
to be look Of undying love and de-
termination on his usually sheepish
face
"YOur aunt shall not separate u.s."
Romeo heard him say. 1--WE love each
other. and true love never will
be thwarted."
mo-" agreed Hester, with look Of
lSgh resolve. "True love will find q
way. True love Is not afraid"
at Is not" said Edgar, in very
exalted voice. "1rue love is not afraid.
have made all the arrangements. We
will slip away on the twelve-fiftcen.
The minister ut Rosedale will marry
US. 1 have the ring all ready"
And then came the supreme moment
Of ROmeo's life, the sacred hour of his
revenge. They had not considered him
Mt all, Of course, and his beloved mis-
tress had gone to bed early with
headache, but Romeo was prepared to
show them n thing Of two--and make
true love find another way.
The lovers, intent on the arrange
ments, when, suddenly loud. hugh
ing, raucous voice broke upon their