Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1921-05-09
1HE POET
BY JACK LAYTON
e. 1874. western Newspaper Union.


said. "that you are looking thin, Don,
and worried
The young men sat before the fire.
place In Bob's bachelor apartment. Ii
was sometime since the tive had met,
and after the usual rec0ilectons OF
college days spent together, Bob,
ewing his friend over the bowl OF his
pipe, made the concerned remark.
81 am worried" Dos burst out i'm
pulsively, terribly worried over
Helen, which is the new name nay
fiancee has given herself. and It's part
of the new foollshness that possesses
her. Where she got 1t | don't know.
unless the poet fellow whs gave
readings before her aunt's culture
class put the nonsense into her head.
However that may be, an ordinary
man is mere common clay. In Helen's
opinion. since the poet made his en-
trance and exit. /. 1t appears. am
the cOmmonest of all because Of my
devotion to business. And she has
not spared my feelings In limiting
that a matter of fact business man 10
no fitting mate for her. She must
soar. she says, whatever that may be-
to more elevating sphere. and all
that rot.
1--WE quarrel every time we meet.
She wants a poet for lover. SO
I'm out"
Donald leaned forward abruptly.
"And 1t hurts to lose her," he said,
"that's the strange part Of It. With
all her unreasonable whiIns, little
Helen is the only one girl for me-"
Bob Chalmers studied the Ere with
an amused smile.
Couldn't you turn poet" he asked.
"until her fancy passesf"
Donald Bruce arose and reached
for his coat.
mo, can't" he answered shortly.
sand the thing is not fancy with
Helen, but conviction. My middle
name is Gloom, these days. Can
drop In and unload my troubles when
/ pass your city next month"; It's
mighty nice to have a friend ON my
route"
"AIways welcome" Bob Chalmers
answered. "Where did you say that
your little girl lives7''
"In Elsmere," Donald replied, "a
small town in easy committing dis
tance.
Bob Chalmers whistled meditatively
as he removed his necktie and con-
tlnued to whistle rumpilng hts wavy
locks before the mirror.
At the end Of month Donald came
again. Bob Chalmers greeted him
cOrdiallyA then as his friend was
comfortably seated In the big chair
Bob frowned.
Thinner and more worn looking
than ever" he exclaimed.
Don also frowned
"WeIl, don't rub 1t In" he said "If
one is fool enough to fall in love with
girl, one has to keep on loving her,
1t seems. At least that's my case.
And now" he laughed shortly, "there
IL no hope for me at all. Helen has
met her poet"
Bob stared
oh Wen, poets these days are
much like their brothers." he com
forted. Have to be up to date and
busy. The idyllic dreamer was
product Of the past"
mot this poet" Don contradicted.
"He is all that the heart of roman
tic maiden could wish. My own sister
is touched with Helen's enthusiasm
describes this strangers charms by
the hour, then sits looking pensively
into space. 1t would almost" added
Bruce, make you sick His names
enough to make a man sick, too
Leslie Laverne."
Sounds made up," said Bob.
Probably u.s." Donald agreed.
The evening was not success. Don
took his departure early.
I'm not good company" he sadly
told his friend. In understanding
sympathy Bob wrung his hand.
Cheer up" he said, "and do not fail
to stop over on your next trip"
DOnald's next coming was after
more than a months absence. Bob,
leaning back under the lamp, and
smiling at nothing In particular,
heard his friends voice at the door.
"Come right in, Don," he called, and
Don came in. His face was beaming.
He fell promptly into the proffered
chair and as promptly began his story.
"YOu see" he explained 81 can't
stay long for Helen Is just around
the corner at her aunt's, waiting for
me to take her to the theater. We
are engaged again, and guess the
poet did the job for me- Anyway.
Helen never wants to see a poet again.
Fed up as | understand 1t. Read
lyrics to her morning, noon and eve
ming, and incidentally took his meals
at her house, later, to the disgust OF
the family. They rather liked the
fellow at first, 1t appears, but when
be monopolized the house and con.
tinued to overlook such worldly mat.
tiers as taxi fares or the price of opera
tickets. when he and Helen went out
together, wAy, 1t was not only hel
faith I'm him which was shaken, but
the whole structure of her fancifu
theory. Beauty Is all right In II.
place, you know, hut present need.
recognized. Anyway, little Heller
sent for me. and / went like a dog
And now you should hear her pratt,
OF the nobleness of true manhood
meanlng-myself"