Owingsville outlook., 1921-07-28
WAY OF A WOMAN
BY MARIE RYAN.


about her grew larger as the guests
hrifted in twos and threes out Of the
dining-roOm after the midday meal
Those who we're not attracted To the
piano dropped into seats either in the
hall or on the piazza.
\ youth in white trousers and blue
coat was pOintedIy attentive to the
pianist. The smile Of thanks she gave
him was perfunCtOry. Occasionally
she turned and looked through the hall
to the far end where another young
man was sitting, pretending to read a
newspaper while he admired her dis
creetly.
Rene C0urtemanChe thought she was
very fascinating. But these people
appeared 10 him a. the American mid
die class. Though his perceptions and
prcudices were foreign-French-he
was not without lights on the United
States before he arrived there. His
mother was an American Of some for
tune who had married a FrenchmHn
She had met o. Nice.
Rene was wounded nj the beginning
Of the war. The wound, although
healed. was troublesome. and Rene
could not return 10 active service. Al
the suggestion Of his grandmother,
with whom he had lived since his
mothers death. he had come to the
/ United States for his health.
( The young man was not cordially
received on his arrival In New York
by his mothers people. He remained
! there. however, for a few months as
! an onlOOIer Of American life.
/ From New York he went to little
bathing beach in Maine.
! He was hOpeleSSly AT sea about the
/ girl at the plano who showed such a
flattering interest In him.
A few minutes later the girl solved
the question by walking over to hiS
and saying:
There's bah game this afternoon,
and my lady friend are going. VIII
you accompany us? It'll be some
game!"
Not knowing what else to do, Rene
accepted.
Much 10 his surprise no one noticed
the affair. He concluded that II was q
mere incident Of summer hotel life.
Rene lost TO time. but began to com
pllment her. People must always he
wanting you to do things. You are SC
pretty"
Yes. I guess am. Everybody says
So"
Rene knew nothing about baseball
but she knew great deal, and h'
found II pleasant just to listen to he1
explanations. She was not disposed
10 talk about her home life, but Incl
dcntally mentioned that she came from
Lowell. Mass.
II was not unrl the evening after
when they were ~ the beach, that :
occurred to her TO say: "My name Il
Louise A.: what's yours
Somewhat sclf-conSci0uS, he mouthed
irene CourtemanChe.'
His regret that Louise's vacation
was so near at end took him by sur
prise.
Rene the next morning found him
self going on beard the steamboat
carrying her bag and coat. He intende
Ia CO. as far aS Portland, and ther
nut her on the train for Lowell.
Louise had agreed to linger In Port
land tin the last train, so that he
"lady friend" might enjoy little LONG
or the company of the young man VIII
was with her.
Rene and Louise, by taking a wall
missed this last train. II had gone
carrying away the lady friend.
Louise. aStonishingly calm and serene
sent a telegram to her home, and the
went 10 a hotel. Rene left her befOT
they got there. lie finally conclude
II his duty to remain under the sam
roof with her.
They spent pleasant evening u
gether, which aroused Rene's consc
BUSINESS Of his being deeply In loy
/ with her. Furthermore he realize
that he was placed in acute obllgatio
, TO louise. Was he not spending III
night I'm the same hotel with her? Ihi
! obligation took the shape that =
ought To marry her.
He had quite decided to marry he
p by the time ne met her at breakfas
CHANGING over rather anxiously
Louise eating her breakfast, Ren
asked:
] "What is your mother llket"
]
: Ike her"
The proposal followed.
"WrU. I'm sorry" she said. but
can't. What do you want to MARI
me fOr?'
"Tm dreadfully in love with 70
Resides that. rou can't go back
T. Lowell alone withoE doing yourse
an Injury. People will think
"PeopIe nothing" she interrupte
'I.isten here. I'm engaged 10 Elw'
R. that boy you saw at the hotel
She twisted a small ring on her finge
"He gave me this He's awfully sinai
We're going 10 marry at Christina
I'll tell him you proposed to m
Won't he laugh?"
Rene returned to the Island tn
night and walked slowly up to Il
hotel. II was raining. and he sto'
for moment on the piazza. Starin
into the hall. \ girl at the piano WI
playInE the same little rag Will
) Louise had played 81 often. by q
= side of her. EIwin R was hOldii
~ the music on the lectern.
IL was too much for Rene. He we
Q 10 another hotel AMI before going
lSpd wrote letter To engage a roo