The northwestern bulletin., 1923-10-20
Oh, Tom, How
Could You?
By HATTIE OXFORD

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
C. 1919. By Mcclure Newspaper syndicats)
Tom Marshway sat on the veranda,
with brain too busy elsewhere to note
the effect on his senses of either the
rose and honeysuckle scents of June
or the brilliance Of the evening sky.
The sky tints faded; the landscape be-
came indistinct; he also. but he hardly
realized 1t. until
Kenneth Dave, his roommate, came
briskly up the steps, whistling happy
measure. He laid q friendly hand on
Toms broad back. Kenneth was but
two years younger than the other, but
his slenderness and his boyish ways
made him seem much more immature
than his friend Of the big. well-flled-
out frame.
"Still shivering on the brink, Toml
Let's see If I am right"
He snapped on the veranda light.
Tom deliberately turned his face to-
ward him so that he could see plainly
the network Of worry lines, the doleful
mouth, the melancholy eyes.
I'm right. How many times lately
have I found you like this? Brace up.
It's not hard getting a girl to say
Yes"
"Well, WELL" came the deep voice of
the big man. showing some interest in
my affairs at last"
"You know I'm interested"
"Shucks! Since your dear girl prom
ised to make you happy for life, you've
made me into an acutely inflamed re-
csptacle of your condolences, so con.
stant, so burning have been your re-
citals of your rapturous reactions to
the magic little Yes you brought back
from the dearest. the brightest, the
prettiest. the sweetest thing In your
whole universe. Have q heart, Ken.
How do you suppose 1t makes me feel
to have you dangling your happiness
before my miseryT
"But I want you to be happy, too.
See your Gwendolyn. She's home.
Game on the noon train"
"How do you knowr
"Jean told me-"
"Just been to seen Jean7 And can't
you understand yet how such an angel
from heaven could condescend to such
q clod as your
"Oh, let up, Tom, will you? Don't try
to make out I've been talking such
drivel as that"
Tom looked at the boys flushed
countenance and discharged a volley
Of heavy ha has, which he repeated at
short intervals. Kenneth wondered
how q miserable man could laugh with
20 much spirit.
Suddenly Toms mirth gave way to
melancholy. His face assumed its pre-
vious expression. He groaned: "This
u awful, Ken"
Putting 1t OF only makes 1t harder
for you. "A coward dies q thousand
deaths, q brave"
"rvs died that many already"
But you were the bravest Of the
brave at the front. I shall never forget
how you put the heart into me. wish
II would do anything"
'Bless you'll You shall be my proxy.
Interview Gwendolyn for me. Flushed
with confidence from your own recent
victory. you couldn't fail for me. Boy,
you looked scared to DEATH"
But Tom, that sort Of thing always
falls"
1T won't this time"
Finally Toms insistence pushed Ken.
meth OF the veranda and sent him on
his way, with cold perspiration on his
brow, heart performing antics, throat
parched. He felt Just as II he were re-
peating his first experience in the front
line. But Gwendolyn Bly's cordial,
friendly manner put him Immediately
at ease, temporarily. She declared
that she was glad Tom had sent him
In his stead. Kenneth imagined that
he saw q gleam Of mischief dart from
her eyes, but she became serious Of
countenance 30 quickly that he con-
ciuded he had been mistaken.
II want to ask some questions about
Tom before 1 decide" she said; "now
you'll be frankT
There's not one thing about Tom
I'd be afraid to tell. He's Just the best
old chap" His tones were joyfully
confident "He was 20 brave In battle.
He's the straightest, most loyal"
I'm not afraid he'll fail me In any
big way, but little things do so much
to make or mar married life"
Then the inquisition began.
In answer to her first question, he
could not tell her that Tom was inva-
riably tidy, that he felt sure that Toms
wife would not have to run around
after him, picking up and putting his
things where they belonged. Next.
Kenneth had to admit that Tom some
times gave way to bursts Of anger and
impatience. He didn't carefully con-
slider every cent before spending. Ken.
meth couldn't truthfully deny Toms
love Of practical joking, and wasn't
certain that even his wife would be ex-
empt from those Jokes. Tom did love
his stomach.