The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-06-29
In Search of,
Romance
By RUBY DOUGLAS

else would add the name of Glenn
Buck. Gloria and Glenn-the names
were inseparable.
"Aren't you tired to death of being
30 prosaically attached to the same
girlT" Gloria asked him one evening
as they, sat. together before the family
fire doing nothing at all.
Glenn /mended the fire before he re-
piled. "W-why-no. l don't think SO.
What makes you ask, Gloriar
Gloria laughed. IF / hadn't known
tion, should know 1t now," she said.
didn't you notice how eagerly you
jumped to reassure me that nothing
In which played part could possibly
tire your" Her sarcasm was obvious.
Glenn caught the point and echoed
her laugh. 1--WE are a bit cut and
dried for lovers, I'll admit, but"
"But what? You are comfortable
and you don't need to worry about any
one else wanting me. It's habit to go
about with memo effort whatever. /
now ] am just girl enough to miss
something. l seem to be having no
romance, none Of the trimmings that
story-book girls have. Frankly, Glenn,
I'm bored with being eternally coupled
Off with you. Either you and l are
going to act little less like stereo-
typed married couple or-Fm going to
seek my romance elsewhere"
Glenn looked at her quizzically. He,
himself, man though he was, had be-
gun to be conscious of lack of thrill
In their companionship.
what would you suggestY he
asked, passing the responsibility of
solution to her.
"Oh. anything but this sitting by
the fire every third evening like Darby
and Joan listening to the phonograph,
the radio or mothers knitting needles r.
"You have a saving sense Of humor,
anyway. Gloria"
'More than you have Of romance"
she retorted.
Neither of them spoke. Were they
going to quarrel? That was the un-
spoken question in both their minds.
Across the ether, from point many
miles distant, came the strains of a
violin. The radio apparatus had been
set for station which was broadcast
ing a wonderful music program. The
great speaker in the far corner Of the
room was so placed as to let the finest
notes reach their ears. Someone was
playing Romance" Gloria turned i'm
patiently in her chair. Glenn seemed
not to be moved even by that marvel
Gus composition. Possibly he did not
know its name-did not recognize 1t.
"The man who wrote that had ro-
nance in his soul and the man who
Just played Il must have 1t or he could
not have interpreted 1t so appealing
ly."
that's right" said Glenn.
Gloria looked at him, displeasure in
her glance. Thrilling, aren't your
she asked.
81 enjoyed 1T, yes: but I'd just as
soon hear Mccormack sing Parted"
Glenn replied, unmoved by the girls
impatience.
Hopeless-hopeless," sighed Gloria.
The evening wore on, and when
Glenn said good night Gloria told him
that she would not be, expecting him
on Thursday.
"No?" he asked, mildly surprised.
"No." she said, shortly. "Good night"
Thursday came and went. Gloria
had hoped that Glenn would telephone
TO ask her to reconsider her decision.
She missed him, to be sure, but she
would as soon be lonesome as to be
bored, she decided.
On Saturday box Of flowers, bear
ing no card, reached Gloria's hands.
She suspected Glenn, but it was very
unlike him. He had never sent her
roses.
A note In the afternoon mail asked
her to go down the little valley lane
leading to the country club and be-
meath the white birch tree on the left
of the pathway to look for message.
Gloria was thrilled like schoolgirl.
Who but Glenn could have done It?
And yet-it was the last thing she
could imagine him doing.
Down the lane she went in her little
runabout. She saw the white bark of
the tree looming up in the distance
and her heart beat a merry tune be-
meath her simple sport sweater.
The stones had been placed freshly
against the roots Of the tree and she
removed them to find bit Of paper.
All the time Gloria was feeling like
a story-book heroine, not her real
self at all. Her cheeks were flushed;
her eyes sparkled.
One after another things like this
happened to her.. but she did not get
message nor a word from Glenn hip-'
self. II these notes, these flowers, this
candy, these violin records-all the
anonymous attentions were not from
him. where did they come from?
II myself shall be at the white birch
tree this afternoon" said the next
note. "Come at 4-please"
Gloria, sure that II would be Glenn
who would be waiting for her be-
meath the slender tree, drove quickly
to the place that had become tryst-
Ing spot. 4
He was fhere-the writer of the