The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-07-09

the almost Girl"
Tho name came 10 her 80 early
and firmly that Il may actually
have exorted an influence upon
her character There was tho time
sho came within an acc OF pulling
tho teachers hair The pruyoca.
tion. shaking. was great. and
Barbara had lifted eager hands 10
within an inch OF tho furnished
blond locks. when suddenly. perhaps
without knowing exactly why. she
LEI her hands fall, People who wit.
messed this incident marked Il down
as quite characteristic OF the al.
moe Girl"
Hut the day she nearly kissed Jim
Brown. tho tall young man her
brother brought home from schoo.
for holiday-that was tho begin.
ming OF new life for Barbara. II
was that day. or rather that starry
evening. that her nickname al.
most" began 20 take on a new and
vital meaning.
IL was Just Barbhra's personal
rendition Of the old story. tho stuff
OF old songs. Intrrmlssion az the
dance. satin slippers on velvet lawn.
a maple shielding from faint but In.
auisitive starlight, The strong arm
was around her waist and seemed
for an instant quito properly there.
IL turned her hhlfEound and drew
her closE A firm hand touched her
chin. $40 was limo wonder her
lips aulveScd as her face lifted up
toward his. Jim Browns, Time had
nothing TO do with u. nor distance.
The kiss was within nero shadow
Of a thought of happening. The
moment couldn't have continued aa
much as flash without becoming.
what Il did no, become. n kiss. For
Barbara turned her fhoe. pulled des.
perately and was free. The kiss
had only almost happened
Barbara was little flushed and
Jim Brown a trine flus,ered when
the pair returned 10 the dancing
floor, A sharp observer could note
easily that something was amisH.
And there were sharp observers
enough among the dancers.
II was 10 minutes later that two
Of the fellows got Jim Brown cor.
nered on tho porch.
Had a walk with barbara Hol.
ton. didn't your"
Yea"
she almos, kissed you. didn't
sheT''
Bltf. bang Jims long arms shot
out Blff bang. bump, ono Of tho
fellows was down. calling Enough .
The other was making record
across the porch Jim Brown him.
self wore a curious expression. a
mixture of rage and mystifieatlon.
A half hour later. evidently with
less rage and more curiosity. Jim
sought out tho two fellows where
they sat smoking on bench. They
looked az him uncertainty. but his
nrt words stiilod any fear thsy
might have had as TO his intentions.
Excuse. mo fellows. Maybe !
WAS a bl, hasty. You sounded dis.
respectful. and there's not going 10
be any dlsrcHpect shown Miss Hoi.
ton while I'm on my feet. But
maybe you didn', mean 4, like II
sounded. what did you meant"
SO they told him about tho nick.
name. and the reputation. And
within an hour everyone IN tho
crowd knew tho whole story. II
was a great Joke. everybody thought.
and natural climax 20 Barbara's
II years Of living UP to her reputa.
ton.
Barbara blushed whcn she found
tho story was out. Anybody could
SEQ shs was angry. As long al
l live. she announced. 'T1i never
speak 20 anybody who calls mo that
awful Name
As for Jim Brown. she refused
even 10 look at him. no matter how
many people. including her own
brother. explained 10 her that Jim
hadn't said n word. Indeed. they
told her that he had punched tho
two fellows who started the whole
thing. These fellows themselves.
contritc. came UP TO show their
marks, and to explain that the truth
was jumped at and came out with.
out being told at NIL But nothing
mattered TO Barbara except tho oh.
vious facts. She hadn't told--eyl.
IDENTIFY Jim Brown hnds
There was an end to Il. and Jim
Brown. whom everybody had grown
10 like. left town the next morning.
looking as tho no were stepping off
tho edge OF the earth. And people
say he gave Barbara's brother n
fine talklng.to for not telling him
more about his wonderful sister and
warning him about her nickname
OF course Barbara. having been
known oil her life Ms tho "Almos,
Girl" couldn't get rid OF that name
by n mere rash assertion. People
were careful 10 call her Barbara
for week or two. Then one BY
one all her friends went back 10
the old nickname, and Barbara, In
spite Of her declaration. went riFh,
on speaking to them.
But during the year that followed
there was noticeable change in
the Almost Girl She grew up
min dand all. And Barbara. grown
up. was quito a delightful person
Two or three OF the young buslnes.
men found her so. and must have