New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-06-02

off that boresome old train / should
walk straight into . young man a,
satastying - you"
CHAPTER VII
Males Joaes Also Crows Up
Rodney Maxwell loungsd against
the big elm teee that had stood
sentinel In front Of the house acros,
the street from thu homo Of Natlea
Jones ever since he could remem.
Der.
7 Rodney was not very happy, for
he had loved Malice quite a. long az
Wynus Tracy had but was coming
now to understand that Malice loved
only Phil.
A. children the three had grown
UP together forming youthful tri-
angle from the time that he and
Wynne were s and Natlee was
years old.
Rodney. being = rather stolid boy
Of a one-track mind. had never
swerved from hts allegiance to her
even when he recognized that
Wynne has her first. choice.
He seemed satisfied to take what
Natlee gave him from time to time
when Wynne had one Of his periods
Of neglect
The truth Of the matter was that
although Rodney Maxwell was yet
too young to know 1t, he had a
genius for friendship insteat Of love.
Such men 20 through life Just
Thinning in"-they try to heal the
wounded hearts and the pride OF the
girls their friends throw away-they
even try to heal tho breach between
the girls they love and the friends
to whom they give loyalty even
while they disapprove Of their
thoughtlessness.
They do this because the love of
such men il always unselfish. hav-
ing more Of friendliness than pas
sion in 1t. They are always giving
more than that for which they ask.
They want the girl they love to be
happy even at their expense.
Rodney suspected nothing queer
about taking Natlee's invitation to
her In the peculiarly informal way
that Phillip had given it to him.
It did not enter his mind that
formal Mrs. Tracy would not invite
any one to her house to q party
through another person who was
asked to say nothing about 1t even
to her.
He had accepted Wynne's ex-
PLANTATION without a shadow OF
doubt that Mrs. Tracy had sent him
to Natlee with the message.
From his vantage place at the old
tree he saw her come out Of the
house and he called to her softly:
ooh. Nat"
He was surprised to find that she
been crying. Her eyes were red and
swollen. She did not answer him
but silently pointed down the street
and Rod. obeying the command as
he had often done before. walked
quickly ahead and turned the first
corner.
As soon as he was out of sight OF
thS house he slowed up and before
he had gone half = block he was
joined by the girl.
Did Wynne send you to me,
Rod?" was her first question.
"Yes-how did you know"
Il thought 1t would be just like
him to send you and just like you
to come.
He has not been near me since
we went 20 Arrowhead Inn in his
new car"
He told me. Natlee. that your
father had promised him a horse
whipping II he came to your house
or your father saw you together"
Il never knew before that Wynne
was coward" the girl remarked.
bitterly.
HE isn't Nat-he isn't" Rodney
earnestly came to the rescue OF his
friends reputation.
HE told me that threat Of your
fathers meant nothing to him. but
after your fussy old daddy had gone
to his mother and spilled the beans
he could hardly get into a row with
your father over you again."
in other words, Wynne does not
think l am worth the risking Of a
fight"
What's the matter with you this
morning Nat? You've got it all
wrong. Wynne is thinking Of you
every minute and is willing to risk
everything for you and so is his
mother. That is the reason they
sent me to you"
I'm sure that's very nice Of
Them" said she dryly.
Don't be silly Nat" broke in
Rodney with as much impotence as
he ever used to any one.
You know as well as ! that Phil
lip Wynne Tracy ~ thinks the
world and all Of you. Why. you and
I are the only ones on earth he al
lows to call him 'Wynne.' You re-
member the day you said you were
going to call him by his middle
name and he answered that he
wished both Of us would. as that
would make everyone understand
that our three-cornered friendship
was eternal and that we considered
him our best friend--a little nearer
than any of the rest Of the boys and
girls"
Eyes, I remember" confirmed
Natlee. but she did not add that
even at that time she had not
relished the idea Of Wynne letting
someone else-even If it were dear
old Rodney-use the name that she
had hoped would be exclusively hers.
Now look here Nat. be yourself
for minute. Wynne sent me to
you with a wonderful plan. His
mother is going to give a party to
all the sons and daughters OF her
friends and she wants you to
come"