Hermanner Volksblatt. [volume] (Hermann, Mo.) 1875-1928, 1920-06-11

10 O'Clock the next morning when Mar.
Jorie saw them again.
"Madge," said Brother Harry In a
husky whisper. you'll have TO act as
our social secretary. My throat won't
permit me to do any telephoning, so
I'll have to ask you again TO call up
Ethel Marbridge and tell her we'll be
over about 2 o'clock this afternoon"
Dale was sitting in the ROOM, smok-
ing and reading the morning paper.
For a moment Marjorie tried to con-
tain herself. She was vaguely con-
scious of wanting to avoid showing
what a little temper she had when
aroused. But restraint went flying at
this second instance of brotherly blind
ness.
I'm not do anything of the sort,
Harry. I'm sorry, but-well, don't
like Ethel Marbridge and I'll not tele-
phone to her" She forgot for m an
gered instant Dale's presence III the
room and went on: 81 won't give
that girl a chance to laugh at me. I'm
sure she knows how I've been looking
forward to Mr.. Dale's"
Her sentence went unfinished. With
a quick glance at Dale and a little
cry of confusion she rushed from the
room in tears.
"Well I'll be hanged" remarked
Brother Harry, stunned. al never
saw her act like that before. ! always
thought she was Il blushing violet. AL
ice he said to his older sister, who
had just entered, whats the matter
with Madge? l Just asked her to
phone to Ethel Marbrld!ke, and she
fatty refused. Flew into a rage and
said something, to the accompaniment
Of flashing eyes, about having looked
forward to Jerry's visit. Can ii he
that. BY George, I'll bet that's II :"
"Of course that's it," said the Shrewd
and Ohscrvant Alice. "Only a blind
and stupid brother would have failed
TO notice it. Why, she's been moon
ing over Mr.. Dale's picture ever since
the annual came"
Excuse me, please" said Jerry, ris-
ing, 81 have to go up so my room for
something"
But Dale did not reach his room. On
the way TO his room he had 70 pass Il
little alc0ve on the second floor, and
from that alcoye he heard sounds of
crying. He knew it was Marjorie. He
hesitated n moment and then went in.
Don't cry, please, Marjorie" said
Jerry. He felt Il great desire to com-
fort her. However, Jerry had had
very little experience with girl pSy,
chOlogy, so his resolution went to bits
/, when at his first words of attempted
comfort Marjorie turned on him, eyes
blazing, and all Inundated at the re-
memhrance of her half-uttered confes
= sion of what Dale meant TO her.
"please leave me. I'm crying about
something else" said Marjorie In ,
denial that was the best confession
: 81 don't care what you're crying
about" said Jerry. Don't cry at all
: IL don't like to see you cry
81 guess | can cry If ! want to
Please let me pass. | want TO teie
phone to Miss Marbridge."
To the uninitiatcd Jerry this exhibit
= ton of perverse feminine psychology
was a puzzlcr. Hadn't her protests
to Brother Harry meant anything
> Why had she refused to telephone in
-, the first place? Girls were funny and
variable, thought Jerry Dale.
Marjorie brushed past him and
started for the telephone at the other
, end of the hall. She had given the
: number when Jerry, still %relnonStrat'
, ing. reached her side. His pleadings
; were of no avail. Marjorie was bent
on t~elephoning, cost what IT would tc
her heart.
She was sure she hated Dale as
much as she hated her brother and
the world in general that fine April
morning. What right had Dale to
!. overhear her impulsive revelation of
his significance in her thoughts!
Hello. Is this Ethel MarbridgeY'
asked Marjorie in her sweetest voice
This is Marjorie Brown" She was
on the point of delivering her brothers
message when a strong hand wa
placed Over her lips and another too
the receiver away from her ear. ST
was held II Jerry's arm away from II
telephone.
Hello" said Jerry into the trans
mitter. This is Mr.. Dale. We asked
Marjorie TO call your number for us,
Harry can't whisper over the phone
so he wants me TO tell you that we
can't come over this afternoon. Sorry"
There were a few perfunctory re-
marks and Jerry hung up. Nov, Mar
jorie, do you understand why I'm
not going over to Miss Marbridge's
this afternoon? Because I'd rather
spend the afternoon with you. Madge,
look" He took from his pocket a little
photograph of Madge.
"Tve carried this in my pocket for
months. Harry missed 1t from his
dresser, but he never guessed that his
roommate had appropriated the picture
of his pretty sister. We can tell him
now. And we can tell him that IL
like you very much, Madge"
Marjorie was having a hard time
...If.. 49, 1ins otan thai Anounhltnn-