The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1922-04-14
CHAPTER VII.

The first little costume dance was
tremendous success, for everybody
but Tommy Spencer. He danced once
with Helen, and he thought her ire
mendously kind to him. He had rather
that she had not been. 1t hurt, lit
! tie, to have her treat him with so
much grave consideration. 1t seemed
to him that she, too, had quieted some
what in the past winter. lie found
her eyes fixed speculatively on him
more than once, and he thought them
almost wistful at times
He slipped out for smoke after
/ that dance Somehow, he wanted to
| be alone, and he took a seat in dark
/ corner of the little side porch. The
intermissions were rather long, for
lonely person, and in one of them he
saw Ames and Helen come from the
house. arm in arm.
Tommy felt pang at his heart as
he realized what an unusually perfect
couple they were This was a Louis
XVI night, and both Ames and Helen
were all in white; Helen with her
powdered hair and cleaning shout
ders, and a wide spreading satin
gown. and Ames particularly tai. ana
graceful in his pigtail and his knee
breeches They were like n ghostly
pair from an old tapestry, as they
stepped into the moonlight and Ames'
head was bent low over Helen. He
was holding her hand in his, and lie
was talking to her in a very low
voice, while Helens head dropped and
her eyes were averted.
Tommy jumped down from the bal
cony as soon as they had passed. and
strobe in the opposite direction. He
felt the need of rapid exercise, and lie
walked briskly down through the
grape arbor and across through the
flower garden, and back up to the
fountain. He had just turned the cor
ner of the summer house when he al
most ran into Ames and Helen. The
tall white courtier was standing in
front of Helen. holding both of her
hands in his, and, just as Tommy
came upon them, Ames bent forward,
Helen upturned her face to his, and
he kissed her on the lips.
Tommy mumbled hasty apology
and started to hurry away, but they
both called after him, and gulping
down the lump which had Ieaped in
his throat. he turned and came back
I'm just bidding good-by to the
prettiest girl In town, Tommy" said
Ames. in serious tone. "Helen and
| have been tremendous pals. and I'm
going to miss all the rest of you more
than | can say"
you're not going away" protested
Tommy. bewildered.
"Yes, I find | can't stand 1t any
longer" laughed Ames 1.-THE fun's
all gone. | see the same old freight
,ars backed up on the same old siding
every day. and the same old churns"
But you can't go now" protested
Tommy. 1.-THE business is just begin
ling 70 yield profit
81 can find a prcfit any place"
smiled Ames. you see. Tommy. the
.hurn business never interested me-
only cared for the problem Of
out its difficulties and
low the puzzle is solved The blocks
ne Uii 1tittl iOttluti. anu llt OtlH
way to enjoy them any further is TO
ear them al apart again. Better still.
or rover like me- is to wander on
nd find a new puzzle"
Il thought you were at home here"
rgued Tommy
II don't think | shall ever have
cal home" laughed Ames. 81 belong
n ~ DIR nd hox m, fraa
My regret | shall have i'm leaving is
Or my good friends" and he reached
ut a hand to both Helen and Tommy
Helen slipped her other band in
ommy's arm.
''What about Helen" Tommy sud
emily demanded. "Ames. when n fell
Nv monopolizes a girls entire time"
"Why. you silly Tommy?' fared
Ielen dropping her hand from his
run. rs that why you've neglected
lie all winter?"
"Well. you know. | thought" STAN
erred Tommy
"And you know | thought" breath
ssly interrupted Helen.
"Oh. tut. tut" laughed Ames 'rhe
uses beginning. Heen. VIII you let
ommy take you to the rest of this
'res of dances?"
Helen and Tommy looked at each
her. then suddenly laughed. Ames
rned away and lit a cigarette.
"Helen, that's our two-step.r he
id. "fll give il to you. Tommy. Run
ong"
He laughed as he watched Il en-
n into the house. arm in arm lie
ew wreath OF smoke at the stars