Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1920-10-29
Only a
Summer Girl
By H. LOUIS RAYBoLD

90 1920. by Mcclure Newspaper syndioate.)
"Dear Malda," ran the note, 81 rather
expected to call on you this evening
for n last stroll on the beach as n fit
ting end of our little affair." but
Cousin Sally has begged me to take
her to the last hop at the inn.
"Wlth regrets,
ROBERT WHITNEY"
Mazda, sitting on the floor before a
half-hlled trunk, crumpled the paper
in her hand and gazed with unseelng
eyes at the chaos around her. What
did 1t mean2 He knew she had been
expecting him. Hadn't he practically
taken 1t 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
she buried her face in her arms on
the nearest support, which happened
to be pile Of freshly ironed clothes.
Partially filed 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
prepared to play n dangerous game,
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 shell-like ears, half submerged
though they were in waves Of sunny
hair, from absorbing the gossip which
circulated among the girls Of the Of
fee. She knew that such q one had
been engaged for the summer" that
so-and-so had had an "affair"-in
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 jOllled her and begged her to
compare notes with them.
A few days after Mrs Deerlng and
Mazda were installed in "Seaview"
cottage, the boy next door invited
Mazda to the weekly hop at the hotel.
Ard there she met Bob Whitney-tall,
Drowned, athletic, lively, everything to
make him an ideal figure In summer
girls eyes.
Mazda, bit excited by the swinging
music and gay company, had chatted
and laughed and danced in q way to
arouse any mans interest There had
followed call on Bob's part, an invi-
tatloE to Nadia and her mother to go
sailing, and bids to other festivities
which make up the life Of a transient
summer 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
basking In the favor Of another girl,
utterly unmindful 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 quickly. She
would like, after all, to say good-by in
friendly fashion, even If everything
was as at end.
The step drew nearer and as 1t up
preached Madia's heart beat corre-
spondlngly faster. It was Bob.
"All alone" he called gayly, as she
rose to meet him. Didn't know but
I'd have to sit out the gang If l want
ed to say good-by."
II thought you were going to the
dance with Sally" returned Mazda, for
the life Of her unable to keep q note
of GOODNESS from creeping into her
voice.
"Well, yes" admitted Bob, II was,
but she got bid from handsomer
man, and to tell the truth was glad
10 tell her to go with him. Sally and
/ are first-rate pals, but-well, I don't
Imagine, now that you're going, that
you are interested any more" he said,
neaningly.
MAZDA stood leaning against the
porch railing, her hands plunged in
her sweater pockets.
Lets go down to the beach," sug-
gested Bob.
Mazda hesItated, then decided that.
she would see the game through no
matter what It cost her not to let him
suspect "All right" she answered,
lstlessly.
A few minutes later and they were
teated on q huge bowlder at the base