Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1921-08-10
Finesse
By JACK LAYTON
%. 1920. Western Newspaper Union

GO. 1920. Western Newspaper Union.)
Billie's face was joyful as, coming
up the walk, he espied Patty on the
veranda. Patty was bundled in scar
let cape, for the autumn day was cold,
and scarlet leaf or two from the
porch vine decorated her uncovered
brown head.
what is it?' she asked, anticipst-
ingly.
Billy sat down on the step at her
side.
cts come at last r he said. "I'm
in love-"
Patty raised skeptlcal eyes; Patty
also smiled
Don't be silly" she remarked.
'But am in love" Billy insisted.
There's no doubt about it, I dream
of her every night"
The girls twinkling eyes suddenly
sobered.
"But, Billy" she said, "You have
never been serious In your life; how
can you expect me now to believe"
Seriousness has always been
there" Billy replied, cheerfully,
though apparently lying dormant.
The fact now is that / love woman
and want desperately to win her for
my wife. And If I thought that l
could do t-Gosh!" ended Billy, ex-
pressiveIy, his features expressing the
forlornness of this possibility.
SWELL" hummed Patty, airily, .Why
don't you try? Why don't you try?"
slave tried" Billy gloomily respond
ed. "Don't seem to make any impress
sion"
Patty studied her old friend apprais-
ingly. 1t seemed strange to think Of
Billy as friend; he was usually re-
ferred to as her "admirer"
Calmly Patty had accepted that Inn
plication; an admirer more or less
meant little to Patty. They stood 'up
in rows" her young brother said, ito
be selected FROM Billy had just been
one Of the row. But now, 1t appeared,
all Billy's admiration was conferred up
on another girl land he was merely a
friend.
"Any suggestions to make. concern
Ing the siege?" he asked. "You ought
to know a girls heart pretty well,
Patty. How does one go about taking
1t captive|
mice of you to ask my advice" she
drawled, sweetly, "but II you don't
know your own girls heart, Billy, how
can be expected tor
The young man arose. His face had
lost its bright hopefulness.
"Well. I'll be going" he said, slow
". anyway, thought you'd be in
terested to know the truth"
He turned back abruptly.
"Won't you give me your hand and
wish me success?"
1t was a cold little hand that Billy
held. The next moment lie went swing
ing down the path. Patty's cheeks
were burning crimson as her cape.
All at once 1t came to her that Billy
realized her own mistaken reading Of
his past devotion and was sorry,
In all her gay young life the girl
had never known the strange desola-
tion of the present enveloping her like
the shadows. Billy had been name
to conjure with-Billy always nearby
to smile at over the shoulder Of some
other swain; Billy to call, when eve
nings were long and one too weary to
entertain. One was always sure OF
understanding from Billy. Billy, who
himself could amuse, never too weary
to read aloud, or to sing, while she,
the selfish Patty, would sit doing near
the fire.
Now--Billy was in love, and Billy
was going to be married! OF course
no girl could be adamant enough to
refuse him. Then she, Patty, must
lose him forever. The loss Of Billy
would be an overwhelming thing. How
could she get along without him?
At this point Patty cried. The couch
cushions smothered her weeping, but
the PROSTATE little form was shaken.
OlSledulIy, dl IdSt, lHO sllt Sot w HCi
feet. She must go upstairs to her room,
before the family came. Some one
was coming now. Hurrying blindly,
Patty collided with that some one-it
was Billy.
In businesslike manner Billy
turned on the lights. Determinedly
he cupped the girls trembling chin in
his hands and looked into her tear-wet
face. Then Billy's own face went
down to meet the other.
Glory" he said, softly, "you do
care, after all oh, Patty, my darling,
you have seemed so Indifferent. There
wasn't any way that / could find out.
just had to know, so gave you a
jolt to surprise you out of yourself.
But, oh! Patty"
That young lady leaned comfortably
back against the gray tweed shoulder.
"Well, you surprised me, all right,
Billy" she said.