The L'Anse sentinel., 1922-08-25
THE ROMANCER
BY MoLLIE MATHER

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even good looking, in my opinion"
what surprises me-" Mrs. Tomkins
remarked, "is the way folks will take
to stranger. Mrs. Lew Hampton
has her out often in her car, and never
any of us, Mrs. Tomkins' old neigh
bors, asked to ride u
Nettie Wells smiled. 1--WE don't
wear the stylish clothes this stranger
does she said Significantly.
"Where did the girl come from?'
Phoebe wanted to know, 'and is her
name Jewel Joyce, as they say?
Sounds made up to me-"
Miss Joyce seems real agreeable"
a small woman timidly suggested. The
others laughed. $50 the men folks
think" they said.
The object of conversation passed on
her way, Miss Jewel Joyce was al
ways provokingly happy. Snubs an,
noyed her not, ill-natured coolness
passed unnoticed. From an Office
stairway n young man sprang to walk
at her side.
II saw you from the office window"
he said.
81 am on my way to meet the G 30"
Jewel told him, and smiled.
The young mans bright expression
faded. "Say," he asked aggressively,
show often is that man coming out
here anyway"
"As often as he can," Jewel replied;
as an afterthought she added: (which
man?"
You'd better ASK Nettie Wells
brother sarcaStlcally replied; folks
here are betting on which fellow comes
most"
Jewel Joyce stood still and stared
at her informer
"You mean to tell me-" she indig-
nantly cried, that the people here are
gossiping about me?"
"GossipingT Jim Wells laughed,
'the men in the stores are guessing as
to which Of those two men from the
city will be the winner, and the WON.
en- say that neither of them is serious;
and my sister thinks you want me.
Gosh." added jim, 81 wish you did,
Jewel glanced at the boyish face Inn
patiently, then she laughed "Oh, Mr..
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 frown. "Good-by"; she dis
missed her new admrer, 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 Jim's
conversation.
Queer one, that" shrewd-looking
character remarked "saw her when
I was in the city, and she was ut a
movie theater with a different man
from them two what come out here
a 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
as cool as you please. Knew I'd seen
her, too, all the time"
Lyn Wendell spoke up excitedly.
"Young chap, wasn't he? Lightlsh hair,
actorlsh lookingT
The first speaker regarded Lyn with
interest. "What are you talking about2
The man in the theater was middle
aged maybe, dark hair, acted as
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 a 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 doT she
says to me. Mr.. Wendell, this is Mr..
Bruce'-Bruce was the name. Philip
| heard her call him, ana ne snld
right out, Yes. dear"
Lyn Wendell, returning some days
later from his farm, passed an auto
mobile driven by the same light-haired
chap he remembered having seen In
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, Mr..
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.. Johnson's
business associate"
Lyn. meeting the brides twinkling
eyes, grinned Understandings.
Thanks" he said. "And now, all
that they will want to know is--who
did Dan see you with in the theater?"
The young Mr.. Bruce smiled. THAT
must have been your dad, DEAR" he