The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1921-04-14
THE POET
By JACK LAYTON.
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90. 1921. Western Newspaper Union. }


and worried"
The young men sat before the fire.
place in Bob's bachelor apartment. 1t
was sometime since the two had met,
and after the usual recollectiOns of
college days spent together, Bob,
eying his friend over the bowl of his
pipe, made the concerned remark.
Il am worried" Don burst out i'm
pulsively, terribly worried over
Helen, which is the new name my
fiancee has given herself, and it's part
of the new foolishness that possesses
her. Where she got it l don't know,
unless the poet fellow who 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. /, it appears, am
the commonest of all because of my
devotion to business And she has
not spared my feelings in limiting
that matter of fact business man is
~ AlbNiAi3 AibIV iOl hVt' AoilC hldcl
soar, she says, whatever that may be,
to more elevating sphere, and all
that rot.
1--WE quarrel every time we meet.
She wants poet for a lover. So
I'm out"
Donald leaned forward abruptly.
"And it hurts to lose her." he said,
that's the strange part Of it. With
all her unreasonable whims, little
Helen is the only one girl for me-"
Bob Chalmers studied the fire with
an amused smile.
Couldn't you turn poet" he asked,
until her fancy passes"
Donald Bruce arose and reached
for his coat.
mo, l can't" he answered shortly.
And the thing is not a fancy with
Helen, but a conviction. My middle
name is Gloom, these days. Can l
drop in and unload my troubles when
| pass your city next month? It's
mighty nice to have a friend on my
route"
always welcome" Bob Chalmers
answered. where did you say that
your little girl lives?"
"In Elsmere," Donald replied, "a
small town in easy committing dis
lance.
Bob Chalmers whistled medtatively
as he removed his necktie and con-
t1 ,;e.+Io
locks before the mirror.
At the end of month Donald came
again. Bob Chalmers greeted him
cordially, 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.
well, don't rub it in he said. "If
one is fool enough TO fall in love with
girl, one has to keep on loving her,
it seems. At least that's my case.
And now" he laughed shortly, there
is no hope for me at all. Helen has
met her poet"
Bob stared.
oh! Well, 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"
Not this poet" Don contradicted
'He is all that the heart of a 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 is" 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 land do not fail
to stop over on your next trip"
Donald's next coming was after
more than 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 Il 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 l guess the
poet did the job for me- Anyway.
Helen never wants to see poet again.
Fed up as understand it. 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, it appears, but when
he 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, why, it was not only her
faith in him which was shaken, but
the whole structure of her fanciful
theory. Beauty Is all right in ITS
Mace won know hut nraSant poadc