The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1920-01-03

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Buzz-z-z-z rang the telephone.
"oh, Louise, yon answer it. My
hands are all suds"
A group Of five girls We're scattered
around the Kitchen of the large conn
try house. A little over week before
they had come to the country to stay
two weeks under the chaperonage Of
Aunt Evelyn" ut her summer home.
Mrs. Bradford was really an aunt TO
only one Of tile girls, hut as the others
Expressed It: "She seemed TO belong
10 the rest of us just as much as to
Elsie" With the exception OF Louise
Strand. all the girls had come out to
enjoy their vacation. But with Louise
lit was different She had come away
from the city to forget--if such thing
we're possible; forget d certain young
man and the happy hours she had
spent with him; forget the other girl
Iwho had sprung up suddenly from
nowhere and taken him away from
hei--the girl who had taken the sun
shine out of her life. IL she could only
forget!
| Mrs. Bradford had gone to town
early in the morning.
The girls were just trying to de-
eide how to spend the day when the
telephone buzzed.
oh. Louise. you answer It," came
n cry from tho direction of the sink.
4 minute later Louise returned to
the Kitchen and said: TITS young
man. Elsie, and he wants TO speak with
you" s
Elsie dried her hands and went to
the telephone: "Hello--yes--oh, when
did you get back THAT would be fine.
Well. there are five OF us In alive
i could 20 any time, Let's 20 early and
bring our lunch. Wen bring the lunch
II youll provide the fruit and tonic.
Eleven o'ciock-all right--at Pointed
Rock crossing All right; good-by."
All this was q meaningless string OF
endless sentences to the other girls,
who had gathered around Elsie, so
the moment she said "good-by." a
chorus of voices cried out for an er-
PLANTATION.
"Who was it?''
what did he want?p
What does It all mean?'
"0ne at time, please" interrupted
Elsie with a mysterious laugh. ut
was Bob Tracy The Tracys are old
friends OF Aunt Evelyn. used TO play
with Bob when | was just a wee tot
and came TO visit auntle, so we have
almost grown up together He's been
away at college, and has Just come
home on q vacation with some friends.
He heard that there were n few girls
over here with me. and wanted us to
go on a berry-picking party, SO sug-
gested making n picnic of II.
AUST the tliing!" enthusiastically
from all the girls except Louise. who
said nothing
An hour later they were ready to
leave the house. each with small pail.
4 large basket containing hastily
prepared lunei was on The too step.
where Is lie key:" asked Ruth.
= "Why. thought Aunt Evelyn gave
1t 10 you
AND I thought some one else had
IT,"
f"what shall we do?" asked some
one.
well | don't really care much
about going" volunteered Louise. trying
10 hide The eagerness in her voice.
"ard MS shame to keep the boys
waiting, SO I could Just as well stay
! at homc. can find something to read.
y few minutes later Louise. with
h6ol; IN her hand, sat down by the
window, thankful Of having escaped
the blueberry party. Just then she no.
tlced some one coming up the path
toward the house. At the same time
she noticed basket on the top step
"Why. do believe the girls have
forgotten their lunch" and In the same
breath she added: "Who can that
man be-"
She went TO the door and opened 1t.
AS the man came nearer she thought
she recognized Il familiar gait in his
walk Suddenly she became very
white.
"Could ii bet" she thought.
Just then the young man reached the
step ana glanced up.
! "Louisc!' lie cried, as he fairly few
up the steps.
Jack !" was all she could say.
After one happy moment in his
arms. thoughts of the other girl food
cd her mind. She tried to push him
away from her. but he held her close.
Louise. dearest" he said softly.
why did you run away from me like
that?''
Then she told him about seeing him
out driving with another girl: how
she had 0t first felt angry. then dis
appointed; how she had shed tears
and then gone away until he had gone
to college.
~ thought YOU would come to say
Good-by before you went away she
finished, and didn't want you to
offer any excuses for another girl But
how did you get here?" she added
az felt as though had nothing TO 60
home for this time" he told her. $50