Iron County register., 1922-08-17
"WHO KNOWST
BY FRANCES M. SMALL


thought it over seriously and deliber-
ately for more than two weeks. Jack
was dear boy, put he was too "slow."
For almost two years now he had been
calling on Wednesday night, as reg
ulariy rs the week itself, but never
once by word or look had he intimated
that she meant any more to him than
the phonograph in the corner or the
nice, puffy cushions on the couch.
The idea was growing on her that
she was missing the things that other
girls had. Take Peggy, for instance.
Her young man had bought car espe-
cially TO take her riding and bought
her candy and took her to theaters.
Peggy had confessed that Jim always
wanted a goodnight kiss-and some
times got it!
Only once had Jack ever tried to
hold Betty's hand, and then she had
forestalled him, just to tease, but he,
being very shy, had not made another
attempt.
"The silly" she thought. "He ought
to know that a girl wants to be pur-
sued He's been taking me too much
for granted. 1 won't have it any Ion
GER She told Peggy as much,
Good girl" said Peggy. You're
too live girl to waste your time on
that dead-head."
Hes not a 'dead-head'; he's just a
nice, quiet boy-but I've got to teach
him lesson" declared Betty.
That night she made herself partic-
ularly pretty. Why is it when a wom-
an intends to hurt a man she makes
herself beautiful for the occasion?
Promptly at quarter to eight the
door-bell rang, and Jack came up the
stairs with the happy look in his eyes
of the man who is content within him
self and with the world in general.
Betty resented it.
"He ought" she felt, ''to have a
more eager look-as though he really
were trying to win my favor"
Hello" said Jack, "here's a new
record for the phonograph. It's John
Mccormack and think you'll like it."
Never mind the record now, Jack |
1 want to tell you something" And
then, fearing that her courage would
not stay screwed to the sticking
point" and not daring to meet Jacks |
eyes, she stumbled on.
'I-rve come to the conclusion. !
Jack, that-that we-you and I-can't !
get along together any more. YOU |
you're not my type of person. L
want someone with more life, Who
who-oh, there's no use going on,
Jack. You see how impossible it is. |
You have been coming here for two !
years and we don't mean any more
to each other now than we ever did.
Can't you see how I feel about it?"
And poor Betty trailed off into silence,
still not daring to look at Jack.
When she did look up, he was back
at the door, and had started to speak.
His face was suddenly tired, and had
new lines she had not seen before.
His eyes looked hopeless and some
lAcN tlICS hC4lI W llCL lleGIl
Jack spoke: Tin sorry. Betty.
didn't know. If that's the way you
feel about it, l guess there's no more
to be said. I suppose haven't been
fair to you. I just didn't think. Good
night, Betty"
The door opened and closed. Could
it be possible he had gone like that,
without ever word? Taking the dis
missal with so much calmness?
"Oh! Oh! Oh." stormed Betty.
Doesn't he know, doesn't he know
that a girl wants to be asked and
coaxed again and again before she
gives in?" But underneath the impo-
tent rage there was feeling of great
loss. Never mind; she would get over
it,
She picked up the new record and
put it on the machine. John McCor-
mack's "Who Knows?" She sat down
and listened to it. The melody was
sweet.
Jack likes Mccormack" she
thought. The words of the song were
haunting. |;
Thou art the soul of summers day,
Thou art the breath of a rose.
But the summer is fed, and the rose is
dead
Where are they gone? Who knows?
Who knows?"
A lump was in Betty's throat. Tru-
ly, her summer was fed, and she had
killed the rose with her own hand.
Thou art the hope of my after years.
Sun on my winters snow;
The tears were pouring down her
cheeks, and the voice went on, break
ing her heart.
but the years go by, meath cloudless
sky,
When shall we meet? Who knows,
who knows?"
I can't bear it. Jack, Jack, want
you,' sobbed Betty and she knew he I
would not come; he did not care
enough for her.
There was step in the hall; the .
door opened, and Betty looked up. +
"Jack!" she cried, "you did come i
back I" II
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