The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-11-23
- Girls and Other
Girls
BY BELLE WITHIN

but" Mrs. Phillips brought her lips
together very firmly-"I try 10 keep
him away from my Jessie."
Jack paused on the other side Of the
screen and smiled with 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
way' Why did they always '.pick on
him? why must these mothers gos-
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 a 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 man
who knew all that was best In the
world Of art A wonderful old man
was David Hartley-so learned, so 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 II 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 10
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 n football star on his college
eleven. What more could girl de-
sire?
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
a care.
In the midst Of his reflections Jack
remembered with a start that Bea and
the crowd were probably still waiting
for him. He shrugged his shoulders,
picked up the filmy 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 II Harry had
an engagement for the morning. Might
as well call him up, he decided.
A girls voice answered him: "No,
I'm so sorry; Harry won't be in till ten
O'clock"
Ye gods OF Olympus! Shades Of the
muses.! Oh, man alive! What a voice !!
Honey, peaches and cream-Jack
sought in vain for words to describe Il,
until his glance Bssted ON his violin.
He experimented with the strings and
finally drew forth low. vibrant tone
that matched the voice he had heard
over the wire. There was In It an un-
dertone Of wissrslnsss and longing.
while over II all pan trembling laugh
ter.
wonder who she is7' thought Jack.
Harry hasn't any sisters; It can't be
his cousin-she's bot mere child.
Guess Til drop In snd pay my respects
to Harry's folks Ought to. any way"
In fifteen minuAes, with the aid Of q
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
fly. Sense OF duty! OF coursel A
fellow had to devote some OF his time
to his roomma<e's folks. Only decent
thing to do!
The afternoon found Jack at the
Pages, talking in dazed manner tc
Harry's cousin--big-eyed, wistful, little
Jeanie Page. How the mere child
had changed! Eighteen. Of course
What q winsome little thing she was
with her tiny face and nsure-he tow
cred majesticaiiy above her-and heI
hair-and the color Of II ~ abe stood
by the open Are! Color Of maple
slrup-molasses Oh. what an idiot h,
was, TO be sure! Her hair was colder
fiame-chestnuA--s gold, that was n
Yes, she was Q winsome lktie thing
and her yoics - she saag for then
was exquisite. ~ u wasn't hel
beauty or her nsae that made Jaci
regret his unsvss1AhIs peturn 70 duty
II was something IN the strNisht. tru,
look Of her vistfui syes, something
that promised VAIN fviendiinsss.
Here was . real ~ st last. Sh'
wouldn't nist vnkh han. Nor woult
she expect hin always to Be me Jael
Hartley tAe ether Eras liked-tbe Jaci
whs danced - nirtsd and fritteret
away his vaesaioas because there
wasn't anything - 10 DO.
80 AA-Ae e~~A - ks~n -