Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1920-11-10
A Shy Lover
BY Pereivai Dallas

man, and some Of the smart set de-
lighted In playing upon his suscepti-
bilities, but somehow from the first
Jessie Dorr liked him. She told her
sister so one day.
.There Is more In Morton Bristol
than you think, Della" she declared.
"In a crowded parlor he Is uncomfor-
table and sensitive. A common blum
der at croquet or tennis Is so mag
nified In his over-conscious nature that
he lis ready to sink into the ground;
but mustn't he have a gentle, refined
mind to deprecate self-importance and
shrink from offending others? He
does not take encouragement for IA
miliarity and talk one to death on
some pet hobby. or try to show on.
He is sensible, sympathetic, with
love for truth and simplicity that Is
quite winsome."
"you always were queer in your mo-
-tions, JESSIE" said Della heartlessly.
IF queerness consists of despising
sham and frivolity. maybe am" ac-
knowledged Jessie. TT Is refreshing,
though, to find young man who Is
not so full of himself that he Is most
Of the time bore. / shall cultivate
Morton Bristol"
+ "For his own sake7" propounded Del
la skeptically.
"Solely," replied Jessie with definite
ness, but there was present an al
most impalpable accent Of defiance
which told her worldly wise sister that
there was an undercurrent Of more
than friendly interest in her cham
pionship of Bristol.
Brought up in strictly home life,
the Junior OF four sisters, Morton Bris-
tol was in no wise effeminate, but
certain repression Yves the result Of
his home environment.
When he set about seeking to win
this sterling jewel of womankind Bris-
toll did not know how to begin. he
was all humility as to his opinion OF
his own merits, and analysed his natur-
ii backwardness critically. He was
uneasy and undecided for week at
ter he had resolved to approach her
On the subject. He thought OF trust
ing to a preliminary epistolary attack,
but the letter he wrote seemed crude,
weak and presumptuous. Then pro-
pitious moment seemed to have ar
rived at dusk one evening, when ne and
Jessie had been strolling about the
beautiful Dorr gardens.
'What a lovely evening" Jessie
said. "Shall we rest here for few
minutesw and set the example OF oc-
cupying a hammock. Her gentle graz
ciousness, the mellow moonlight the
fiower-perfumed air seemed to sur
round an ideal situation where love
might speak and favorable influences
encourage its reception.
They talked casual nothings, but all
the time Morton's heart was In his
mouth; suspense eagerness, uncer-
tainty controlled him in turns. Then
he took courage, as his hand touched
q dainty little box in his pocket. It
contained an engagement ring. Its
presence gave purpose to the occa-
sion which would raise him above the
clouds.
'T-I wanted to show you some
thing" he mustered up sef-confidence
enough to say. Had not Jessie's eyes
met his own just at that critical mo-
ment, he might have Numbered through
his ordeal somehow. He fluttered at
meeting their full glance, trembled, be-
came confused. and drew out his gold
handled pocket knife, stammering
family: "A gift from my sister; pref
ty, isn't tip Then both arose as
bevy Of girls appeared, dragging them
boisterously to the house to give them
some music for dance.
Morton Bristol went home that night
very much depressed Jessie had been
so gracious to him and the conditions
had been favorable for telling hts
lame, hesitating but heart-treasured
story; and he had been an arrant COW
ard! 1t was the next morning that, In
changing his attire, he found the box
containing the ring missing from his
pocket. He became anxious and ex-
cited as he concluded that II must have
been somewhere about the Dorr place
that he had lost it.
Jessie had been puzzled, and disap-
pointed, too. She took book the next
morning and went out into the garden,
selecting the hammock to rest In, to
read, to dream. There, lying cozily in
its sagging center was tiny, dainty
white pasteboard box. She opened 1t.
The thrill was delightful as she rec,
ognised 1t as an engagement ring;
her lovely eyes sparkled the brighter
as she read inside her own initials and
those of Morton Bristol. She slipped
It on her finger, 'just to see how it
hooked"
81 beg your pardon" an unexpected
voice aroused her, and there stood
Morton. II lost something here, 1
think, last evening" he blundered on
confusedly, and thought ] would stop
on my way to the Office and see If
that is, T."
"Is that 1t, Mr.. Bristol?" inquired
Jessie, archly. and guessing all, guess
ing right, she daringly extended her
dainty. bejeweled finger.
"Oh!' voiced Bristol. with dazzled
eyes and ecstatic soul. "You--you
found it, and-and-"
"Can keep it?' questioned Jessie
gently.
"Oh viii you-wili you, indeed !"
rambled Bristol incoherently. 81 love
you so that if you will | shall float.
fy-I mean swim in happiness"
,tbiCraraI Uoeas~