The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-08-23

up, boy You look like a cannlbal
about to devour some unsuspectins
missionary. What's wrong, old manY'
Nothing you can help; thanks just
the same, Jim. It's only that I've
discovered can't stand this eyerlast'
ing pickering with Gwen any longer,
and | can't liveywithout her, so whata
a poor devil to dor
"Qult this tommyrot ana talk sense
for one thing. Gwen Is just like all
women. You can't give them theiT
way too much without spelling them.
What's the trouble this time?'
"Same old thing--Jerry Blalne's we'd
ding | promised to be best man and
Gwen objected because they paired me
Off with Polly AcIers, girl she cor.
daily hates, and She refused to 90 70
the wedding
"Take my advice and come with me
to the wedding regardless. I'll guar.
antee everything will come out all
right"
At this point the keeper Of the store
came out to pull up the awning and
they discovered the sun was shi5ing
brightly. "April showers" commented
Byther jovially. They bring May
flowers, so the saying goes Take cour
age, Jack"
Denton hadn't the least idea what
Byther was driving at when he gave
his guarantee that everything would
come out all right, bur he knew his
friends reputation for resourcefulness,
and somehow 1t gave him the courage,
when he returned to his Office, to tele-
phone Gwen Friday, the 18TH he
muttered, hut here goes I'm leaving
tomorrow for Blaine's wedding he
told Gwen. "Sure you won't change
your mind and come with meY
1--WE told you what I'll do and that
ends it," came the reply.
Denton went to the wedding When
he reached home he found a registered
package. 1t contained the last rem
nant of his engagement to Gwendollne
Spurock.
For week he neither saw nor
heard anything of his former Aancee.
In the meantime Byther seeing Miss
Epurock coming his way on the oppo-
site side Of the street one morning,
crossed over and contriyed to meet
her
"Why, good morning, stranger" he
greeted cheerily. 81 didn't see YOU at
Jerrys wedding. Your splendid fnnce
was quite the handsomest piece Of
male property present Polly Ackers
announced her engagement at the we'd
ding; romantic wasn't it?'
Perhaps Byther noted Ovens stony
silence and icy glare, but if he dl1
be gave no such sign. He rsmpled or
exclaming suddenly, Selling her by
nle arm, quick, under this awning
It's beginning to rain" Had It been
any other time Gwen undoubtcdlY
would have hidden him a curt good
morning and gone her way, but the
heavens proceeded to open -conven-
lently for the man-and she had nj
umbrella, so Byther utilized the time
in telling everything nice any girl had
said about Jack Denton. BY that time
the rain had ceased and the sun
smiled with Byther as he said, april
showers. They bring May flowers, so
the saying does. Glad to have seen
you Gwen"
Poor Gwen Her heart and mind
we're filled with a chaos Of emotions
She sat down on n bench to collect
fIer scattered thoughts and was lost
to things about her until splash on
her hand drove her to the protection
Of spreading tree, under which a
man with a large umbrella held well
down over his shoulders had just
taken refuge
perhaps he win ask me to share
IT, thought the girl. "nope he's nice
She coughed a little by way of an
nouncing herself, and the man lifted
the ralnshed. "Gwenm he cried out
"Youre getting soaked! Come under
here this minutew
He reached out and appropriated
her arm without permission. EXpla
nations weer not long forthcoming, but
neither of these two who felt that
years had gone by since they had last
met, sensed the strength Of the storm
until a violent gust blew Jacks UNI
brelIa inside out Nothing undaunted
he promptly seized the battered shell
ter and held it over them by Its apex
Then he repeated his interrupted cues
ton, the only question in the world al
that moment, "And you'll wear my
ring again, won't you, Gwen? Reach
10 my vest pocket and get IT,"
"You must put 1t on, Jack dear
I'll hold the umbrella"
The broken umbrella was brought
down so far over their heads that II
completely hid them from view, ant
for two foolish young lovers the driy