The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1927-03-17
June Really Loved
Rodney
By JANE OSBORN

- rather shabby little bedroom,
pen in hand, a sheet of note paper
spread before her. She intended
to write to Rodney Mapes-but she
found herself absently filling the
sheet with the initials J. e. D., slim
Edgerton Darrow, Jim Edgerton
Darrow," she whispered to herself.
! Yesterday had been her birthday
and Rodney had sent there to the
/ girls boarding school, where she
served as an instructor, box of
gorgeous red roses and a brief
little note in which he had told her
Of his love, and begged her to be-
come his wife. Jim had let the
day pass without even a note-yet
June knew perfectly well that he
had known it was her birthday. OBJ
viously Rodney loved her-and Just
as obviously Jim didn't. During a
wakeful night June had almost de-
cided to write accepting Rodney's
| proposal-there was so much about
him that she admired, so much that
| she almost loved. June tore M
the note paper into fine scraps and
threw them into her wastebasket.
| 1t was late afternoon. She picked
up an afternoon paper and idly be-
| gan to scan it's pages. There was
section OF one page devoted to
rather inane sort of advice to the
lovelorn. Sleepily June began to
read. There was an answer to
young woman obviously suffering
from the pangs Of unrequited love.
II am sorry to say ran the adj
vice, "that there is no way to make
a young man fall in love if he is
not disposed to do so. The best
thing to do is to try to forget
June did not read the rest of the
answer, but her sleepiness van
| ished, and in it's place came a deep
| feeling of resentment toward the
woman-or man-who wrote the
advice. OF course it was possible
to make man love you. June had
read once that any girl, providing
she was not positively repulsive,
could win the love of any man who
was not really in love. June firmly
believed it. If the girl di not sue
coed 1t was because she did not
use the right tactics. Take Jim
and herself. OF course she could
make Jim love her. The only trou-
BILE was that she had not gone
about it in the right way. She had
already tried to win Jim's love by
making him jealous by being
cold and Indifferent. She would
now try the effect Of making him
think that she really did care for
him. Without difficulty now she
went to her desk and wrote a little
note to Rodney, in which she told
him as kindly as possible that
while she was very fond Of him,
she did not want to marry him. She
mailed 1t and then called Jim up
at his office.
Hello, Jim," she said archly.
"You know yesterday was my
birthday. Somebody sent me some
lovely red roses, but didn't even
send a card" She paused, almost
terrified at her own holiness. Jim
was making excuses. He had been
very busy. He didn't think she
cared about him, anyway. In fact,
he had actually forgotten that it
was her birthday. There was
note of fiattered self-love in his
voice that June did not exactly
like, but this made 1t all the easier
for her to go on. Really, was
only teasing YOU" she said. II
didn't expect you to remember
only it's terribly dull here at the
school. and If you should ask me
to go to the movies tomorrow night
think I'd say yes"
The next afternoon came box
Of orchids with Jim's card inclosed.
On the back June read: with sim
cere apologies for dear little June
There was tone of, conceit about
1t decidedly irritating to her.
The following Sunday afternoon
Jim came for her In his car to take
her motoring. Somewhere on
lonely country lane he stopped the
car and drawing June to him kissed
her, and only laughed rather trium-
phantly when she protested.
"Poor little June" he said when
he had let her go and sat there
stroking her hand. I'D always
liked you lot. But, Great Scott,
1 never thought you cared so much
for me. You know / wouldn't do
anything to make you unhappy. /
don't know as it's good plan to
become actually engaged now-it
might make trouble for you at the
school. But suppose we have a
sort of trial engagement. Wen
play around together this winter
and In the spring, If you still care
for me the way you do now-why,
I'll get you the incest engagement
ring you ever hoped to have"
June did not show her resent
ment-did not even withdraw her
hand. Instead she looked straight
In his eyes-eyes that beamed with
| gratified conceit.
"Jitn, dear, / hate to hurt your
feelings. I've always liked you a
lot. Only as you said real en-
gagement would be awkward"
| Jim looked a trif1e nonplussed.
"Perhaps If I'd come right out with
| q proposal you'd have liked it bet
ter" he grinned.
Perhaps" agreed June.
Back in the school June lost no
time in telephoning to Rodney. She
| simply asked him to come to see