The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-08-20
Wants ColSworn In Again

Awful serious. now. elem who
10 aheg'
There was a hush Of expectancy.
Each Of the women was hopeful.
score Of mouths prepared 20
smile The life OF the party took
his time searching for "A good
answer. Promise you won't tell
soulg" he said 10 the crowd.
Their amusement az this sarcasm
gave him another minute 10 think
then the hush descended on them
once more. Finally he hit on "a
name sufficiently incongruou
when coupled with hls-the name
OF queer" giri with a hare
lip. who had once been Il iimid
member Of the gang. but whose
consciousness Of her deformliy had
long made her a stranger 20 most
Of them
Glenn put n thick foronnEtr In
his mouth demurcly closed his
eyes, eoyly oaclllated his shoulders
wriggled In his chair like "A school.
girl-in short. went thru all the
accepted contortions OF cmbbrraHs.
ment. before replying:
"suke Damor."
lie was prepared for an e1plo.
sion of mirth-it was an he could
do 10 keep from smiling himself.
But no explosion came Instead.
a few antieIpniory gigglcs were
suddenly suppressed By little gasps.
A long. uncomfortable silence
was broken By atrident feminine
voice behind him.
Thinking Of marrying her,
Glenn"
BY a quick answer he might
lhe music atone FOR his first un,
accountable failure. A. luck would
have u, the anHwor came.
Sure he said. confidently
FOR her iooksr
strangc' Again no failed: they
only looked acandallzed. II could
not DO that they resented his a.
fusion 60 suko'8 deformed mouth
II could not be. They themselve,
had certainly discussed her freel,
enough IN former days.
But he had little time 10 wonder
al their coldncks toward his jocos
/ ny From behind an old.fashloned
high'baeked sofa where she has
been sitting IN silence. he saw suk,
Damer rise and move toward him
There was peculiar light in hel
eyes and her right hand vas hel,
TO her breast. II dropped aa ah,
stood before him and looked al
him With tlmldantmal eyes.
Glenn. did you really mean yol
don't mind my l- l mean ms
thiB7" Her gesture was on,
Of repugnancc. her voice. almost
inaudiblc.
Glenn could not move nj first
lie tried TO speak. but his mouth
only opened and shut sonndlessly
Finally he managed To get TO hlr
feet still dumb
! You're tho only one" she con
tinued. now smiling family and be
I ginning 20 blush. '"rhe only one
But saii the time knew Her
voice went still lower. 7 knew
Glenn. You was always 30 Jolly,
like and full OF fun. and-snd 90
kind Oh. knew. all right !.
a minute ago. Clcm-before you
came thoy-oh. they asked me al
these questions, Glenn. and told
1 'cm-told 'cm about --about you
and-how / felt about you--and--
/ arc all. and thcy-wcii. thcy
didn't laugh right out exactly. bui
they did Ike when you told EN-
kind Of scared TO laugh. guess.
Contempt Of their eautiousnes,
curlcd her mouth grotesquely. The
too OF her boot made slow spIrali
on tho faded carpet. But ",
don't caro- about that, Glenn. do we
So long as we know. you ans
me7" Her arm wns lifted again
this time 70 rest on the lapel O
his coat. Glen. It's all right now
amt III You were on the square
weren't you. like you always are
You meant what you said. didn'
/ you. Glenn"
cicm's mouth was working
twisting. but there were no words
Glenn. Didn't your"
Sweat broke out on Clem's tom
pies. His head hung down. hi
shoulders atooped forward.
Glen. Glenn. Amt you soinl
to tell 'cm7 Never mind thel
knowing. Glen. never mind.
ciem! You did mean it,
Glenn raised his head. The gan
lnsiinctlyely leaned forward I
catch the answer. How could h
ile7 Yet II seemed Amos
harder 10 tell tho truth. Agai
his lips opened. soundloss. roundl
stupid. He raised his lowered lid
in an attempt TO meet Sukc'
pleading eyes. For n fraction Of
second he succeeded, but quick
turned his gaze beatc
and sank back into his chat
There was not word froi
Suke. no cry. Simply. she turne
and left the room. The gang hear
her fussing with her coat m,
ment; clicking sound told thei
she had even remembered he
overshocs. Then the street doc
opened. and in the noise OF II
closing they Just caught tho burr
Of conyulsive. long.smothoro
sob.