The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-08-15
Love and
Alice May
By JESSIE DOUGLAS
% by Mcclure Newspaper syndlcate.J

known him anywhere the way he car
ried his dark head, the humorous CLINT
In his brown eyes, the sudden smile
that showed his very white teeth.
She wondered whether she could
avoid him.
"Why, Alice Mayl / haven't seen
you for blue moon I" he cried, drop
ping his bag and taking her little
gloved hand In his.
"a blue moon four years old" she
answered.
Then she could have bitten out her
tongue for admitting it.
what are you doing hereT Billy
Rogers asked with that engaging way
Of his.
II live here now"
"Oh, yes. You're married, Of
courseY'
"Yes," she answered. Crimson swept
over her cheeks.
In that moment she had covered
over all the hurt of four years of re-
membrance with a Eyes" Somehow
she could not have Billy pity her. have
"And how is your wffe?" Alice May
asked.
"Oh. very WELL" Billy answered alb
ruptly.
He turned to her with his old eager
way.
II want to hear all about you. I've
got to wait here for two hours for the
next train. You coYldn't-you wouldn't
that is, would you have tea with
meT'
"My-my husband Is very broad
minded, but what about your wifeT
Alice asked quickly.
"Oh. my wife's heard all about you.
Shed be glad" he answered.
They walked up the main street to-
gether, Alice hot and cold in turns at
the monstrosIty of the lie she had told.
And yet at the moment 1t had seemed
the only way to save her pride, the
only way to be on equal terms with
Billy again.
For she wanted TO hear about him,
what he did what he thought, what
he felt. Surely 1t would be no disloy-
atty to the woman Billy loved-his
wife-to spend just two hours with
him on their old terms Of comradeship
and understanding
Alice looked up at him shyly. How
good he was TO look at She liked the
seriousness of those brown eyes. the
clean-cut mouth, the brown cheeks,
even the way his hair grew.
He smiled down at her suddenly.
''Where are you taking me, Alice
sfny?"
Here" she said.
Here" was tea shop with crispy
fresh dotted swiss curtains at the win
dow. and once they had pushed open
the door Billy cried, How jolly"
1t had a wide, white fireplace with
shining andlrons, oval rag rugs. a
spinning wheel and round tables with
a pot of primroses or wild violets CEN
tering each.
They chose a table by the window. |
and Alice watched Billy shrug out of |
his coat with that old familiar gesture |
and fling himself down in the settle
beside her.
Il believe he said with that CLINT |
of humor in his eyes. that you brought
me here because you knew how becom-
ing 1t was TO you"
1t was becoming to Alice. The neu-
tral-colored walls, the pleasant old
time furniture, seemed to be her back
ground She was not exactly pretty,
but something more than pretty.
"Alice May" Billy said thoughtfully.
when their tea and crumpets and mar
malade had been brought and Alice
poured with that dainty precision of
hers, 81 want to know all about that
house of yours and those chubby
children"
She blushed again.
Eyes, two Jumps; how did you re-
member? I know you have sunny
rooms and that Powered stuff beside
the windows-and plano overlooking
with music and flowers everywhere
now. haven't you? And two rosy
in INTERPRETATIONS"
I'll tell you all about that" she said
quickly, but first 7 want TO know all
ABOUT you. HOW your "orh aHu- ,
and your wife?"
"Oh. my work?" his eyes lighted up.
'I'm going down to Mexico shortly.
Think of 1t, Alice May-the adventure .
putting new bridge across the
A company's sending me
down there. but It's at my own risk.
I'm keen about It" he stopped. ,
There, I'm boring you to death"
"And your wife7" Alice persisted.
He stirred his tea absently and for
rot to drink It, Alice knew all at once
hat he wasn't happy, that this woman
Who had married him was not the
woman for him She hated her in that
moment. +
She thought suddenly Of her friend
hip and Billy's. They had walked
md skated. danced and leased each
ther. They had exchanged books and
pinions: Alice had made chafing-dish %
uppers and Billy had brought her rib II