The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1922-08-05
THE ROMANCER
BY MoLLiE MATHER


Merry Makers club followed in a body.
Don't it beat all, the way the fell
lows 80 to see her? And she's not
even good looking, in my opinion"
"What surprises me-" Mrs. TomkinS
remarked. lis the way folks win take
to stranger. Mrs. Lew Hampton
has her out often in her car, and never
any of as, Mrs. Tomkins' old neigh
boris, asked 10 ride!"
Nettie Wells smiled. I'VE don't
wear the stylish clothes this stranger
does She said Significantly.
where did the g!rl come fromT'
Phoebe wanted to know, land is her
name Jewel Joyce, MS they sayf
Sounds made up To ne
Miss Joyce seems real agreeable"
II small woman timidly suggested. The
others laughed. so the men folks
think they said.
The object of conversation passed ou
her way Miss Jewel Joyce was al
ways provokinsly happy Snubs I'M
noyed her Er; illnatured GOODNESS
passed unno GOD. From an office
stairway young man sprang to walk
at her side
Il saw you from the office window"
he said
Il am on my way to meet the 30"
Jewel told him. and smiled.
The young mans bright expression
faded. Say" he asked aggressively.
"Eow often is that man coming OUT
mere. anyway
AS often as he can" Jewel replied;
as an afterthought she added: (which
manY
You'd better ask" Nettie Wells
brother sarcastically replied; folks
here are betting on which fellow comes
most"
Jewel Joyce stood still and stared
ut her informer,
you mean to tell me-" she indig-
nantly cried. that the people here are
gosslpng about me?"
"GosslpingY" Jim Wells laughed,
"the men in the stores are guessing as
20 which OF those two men from the
city will be the winner, and the wOm-
en- say that neither of them is seriOuss
and my sister thinks you want me-
GOSH" added Jim, Il wish you did
Jewel glanced az the boyish face i'm
patiently, then she laughed. "Oh. MIR.
Wells" she said. please don't be fool
ish. So have come TO a town of rO-
mancerS." Her pretty brows drew to-
gether In n frown. "Good-by"; she dis
missed her new ndmirer, abruptly.
The frown had disappeared when
she returned from the station. a tall.
pleasing man at her side. The men
IN the store windows gaped, and the
little stranger returned their bows OF
greeting, flushing, remembering Jlm's
conversation.
queer one, that" a shrewd-lookinE
character remarked; ''saw her when
T was In the city. and she was at q
movie thcatcr with different man
from them two what come out here
Il thick-set prosperous sort of looking
man, and" the speaker leaned close
to his eager audience-"the man was
holding her hand all through the play.
She passed me going out. and smiled
rs cool as you please. Knew I'd seen
her, too all the time"
Lyn Wendell spoke up excitedly.
"Young chap, wasn't he? Lightish haig.
actorsh lookngY
The first speaker regarded Lyn with
interest "What are you talking aboutf
The man in the theater was middle
aged maybe, dark hair, acted az
though he owned the girl, engaged To-
her. you'd think-and them other two.
coming out here all the time, both
paying her steady attention, and
knowing nothing, I'll be bound, about
this bird in the theater"
Lyn Wendell shook his head. Prob
ably she's waiting to see which one
IS worth the most money. our young
Jim here ought to be warned. She
might even marry Jim and spoil his
career at the start But what | was
talking about was q fellow | saw this
Jewel woman with In the city. Light
haired. young She was driving with
him, and they stopped for gas at the
place | did. How do you dor sho
says TO me. MIR. Wendell, this is Mr..
Bruce'~-Bruce was the name. 'Phi1fp.
! heard her call him, and he said
right out, Yes dear"
Lyn Wendell, returning some days
later from his farm, passed an auto
mobile driven by the same ight-hairad
chap he remembered having seen I'm
the city. The Jewel woman was By
his side.
How do you do?" she again greet
ed the astonished Lyn; she stopped.
This Is my husband, Mr.. Bruce, MFR.
Wendell. We are driving out to look
over the field of my half.brother's new
work You have seen Mr. Johnson. my
half-brother, here with me often. He
Is a civil engineer The shorter man.
whom you may also remember is my
husbands brother and Mr. J0hnsou's
business associate"
Ign, meeting the brides twinkling
eyes, grlnned Understandings.
Thanks" he said. and now. all
that they win want to know is--who
did Dan see you with in the theater?''
The vnl1ng Mr. Trucp smiled That