The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-07-26
= Girls and Other
Girls
By BELLE WITHIN
20. ls,,. BY Moclur. Newspaper Syndicate

"Jack Hartley? Oh, of course, the
boy is wild Acknowledgment course
all the girls seem to worship him,
but" Mrs. Phillips brought her lips
together very firmly-"T try to keep
him away from my JessieI"
Jack paused on the other side of the
screen and smiled with q bitter little
twist to his mouth. He had returned
for Bea's scarf. but the rather shrill
voice Of Mrs. Phillips had stopped him.
What was the use of anything, any
way7 Why did they always 'pick on
him.? Why must these mothers Cos
sip about him at every opportunity
Jacks reflections were not pleasant.
Since the death Of his mother, years
ago, everything had gone wrong. He
lived with his grandfather at what the
old man was pleased to call his home.
The Hartley home was a stately
structure Of pure colonial style-the
most beautiful residence in 4 town
that boasted many wealthy estates.
Sightseeing strangers on inquiry
learned that the mansion held many
valuable antiQues-paintings tapes
tries, rugs-brought together by a man
who knew all that was best in the
world Of art. A wonderful old man
was David Hartley-so learned, 80 dis
tinguished-and admirable in his treat
ment Of his irrepressible grandson. So
said Mrs. Phillips, and the town do
cilely agreed.
| No one ever gave thought to the
lonely boy who came home for short
vacations to the empty house. For
empty 1t was of warmth and cheer and
| the Joy and sparkle Of life. Old Mr..
Hartley had disapproved of his daugh
ter's marriage and had never tried to
like or understand her son. 1t was
enough, he thought, that he gave the
| boy home and an education.
| Jack couldn't stand the house and on
occasions like this, when he took fly
ing trip from college, it was particular
ly hard. The other fellows had moth
ers and sisters-and fathers, too. He
had never known his father. His only
| friends in town were the Pages. Harry
was his roommate and motherly Mrs.
Page always made Jack welcome.
Other mothers in the town seemed to
spend most of their time criticizing
him.
The girls, of course, were kind to
him. He was good-looking, had all the
social graces, his own car and, above
all, was football star on his college
eleven. What more could girl de
sire7
So Jack had sweethearts by the
dozen, but not one girl could he call
friend. They were all good-looking,
jolly crowd, well provided for, without
care.
In the midst of his reflections Jack
remembered with start that Bea and
the crowd were probably still waiting
for him. He shrugged his shoulders,
picked up the fllmy lace scarf from a
chair and went to the waiting crowd.
| Jack was up early next morning. He
was leaving in the afternoon with Har-
ry Page. He wondered If Harry had
an engagement for the morning. Might
as well call him up, he decided.
A girls voice answered him: mo,
I'm 50 sorry Harry won't be In till ten
O'clock"
Jack suddenly sat up very straight
Ye gods Of Olympus Shades Of the
muses.! Oh, man alivel What a voice!
Honey, peaches and cream-Jack
sought in vain for words to describe it.
until his glance rested on his violin.
He experimental with the strings and
finally drew forth a low, vibrant tone
that matched the voice he had heard
over the wire. There was In 1t an un.
dertone Of wistfulness and longing
while over 1t all ran trembling laugh
ter.
| "Wonder who she is?" thought Jack
Harry hasn't any sisters; it can't be
his cousin-she's but mere child.
Guess I'll drop In and pay my respects
to Harry's folks. Ought to, any way"
In fifteen minutes, with the aid Of
perfectly good Imagination, Jack had
almost convinced himself that his sole
object in going to the Pages before he
returned to school was to see the fam
lily. Sense Of dutyi OF coursel
| fellow had to devote some of his time
| to his roommate's folks. Only decent
thing to do!
The afternoon found Jack at the
| Pages, talking in dazed manner to
| Harry's cOusin-big- eyed, wistful, little
Jeanle Page. How the mere child"
had changed Eighteen. Of course.
| What winsome little thing she was,
with her tiny face and figure-he tow
cred majestically above her-and her
hair-and the color of 1t as she stood
by the open fire! Color of maple
sirup--molasses. Oh, what an idiot he
was, to be surel Her hair was golden
ame-chestnut-red gold, that was 1t
Yes, she was a winsome little thing,
and her voice as she sang for them
was exquisite. But 1t wasn't her
beauty or her music that made Jack
regret his unavoidable return to duty.
It was something in the straight, true
look Of her wistful eyes, something
that promised warm friendlinsss.
Here was real girl at last. She