The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-07-14
BY MCNON FfALI,- III

at first. Then afterwards. because they were pleasant and interesting, he gave himself up to them.
 But he was mapping out a very right course for himself. One morn- ing Annette had gaily lighted his cig- arctic for him. She reached out 10 examine a ring on his little finger. She bade him pay attention, then, that she had arranged to have him go on dancing party.
 The girls were asking the men and she wanted him to be her partner.
 Sorry. but I can't do it." Bob was decided.
 Why notT
 "A mighty big reason-a previous engagement"
 Annette met his eyes squarely.
 With girl?" "Yes," T don't believe it.''
 I'm sorry." Curiosity
 Who is she?" Annette was de- termined to find out. She had been positively informed by at least Is men that Bob was never seen with a girl except casually. Bob smiled-a crooked, whimsical sort of smile.
 Would you really like to know?"
 So very much" With little. freckled- faced. red headed girl, and her mother. They're already In town. and have pushed up previous plans to meet them" "Ohw The child Is to be the central fig ure in some pretty things I want to set up for the city some of these days, if I can" Annette desired to hear of them. And before the afternoon was over. she had made Bob unfold his ideas of making the city distinctive and unique one in it's offerings of such electrical displays that should cause Birmingham, from the top of Red mountain, to appear at night AS A Shaw's garden of irridescent splen- dor. Only. there must be figures of artistic worth.
 Annette was thrilled
 "I think you're perfectly wonder ful" she exclaimed. Please let ma see the designs as you have them made. I'm so interested" A Crisis The last sentence so annoyed Bob that he got to his feet, turned his back and went over to the window. She was sweet, but she was treading cn ground that was too sacred.
 lie almost brutally walked back to the girl
 What did she mean by playing with him. anyway? It was his own fault. Miss Kingston" he declared standing in front of her like a man who was afraid he couldn't make his point just as clearly as his soul dic- tated If I ever can amass enough money to put those plans across. and succeed artistically in the work, 1t will be because of one woman" He was almost savage You remember when I met you and how? was looking for her then" Annette gasped Tell me about her. Where is she ?. '1 haven't the faintest idea" When did you see her last?" When she was a child" 'Yon were sweethearts?" "No." Might I inquire her name?. -~"I never heard it myself. never saw her but once in my life" Real Romance Great heavens" gasped the matter of-fact Annette. This Is romantic Where did you see herr"
 
 ly she went away, for I have never seen her but once since" And you mean to tell me you're going around incoming about a little girl you saw once In life?" "No-not incoming. Working, thank. you. But my heart has just put down cross mark opposite her imaginary name." "Is that the reason you never go with girls?" Yes" You big old idiotic goose Tn, going to keep on asking you to go with me until you come out of that ccmatose state. It's perfectly ab- surd"
 70, maybe so.'' Bob shrugged his shoulders. He | had tried to make the case clear | strong. He had been very much In earnest. Yet. what he had said seemed to Annette so trifling--really l idiotic It was absurd" Idealistic love. then. was merely | foolishness. One must adore actual l lips. actual eyes. actual things. to be l perfectly reasonable" And yet what a veritable world he had built for