Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1928-01-26
CHAPTER VII.

| ST1HT En- vile
The first little costume dance wasI
"a tremendous success, for everybody
but Tommy Spencer. He danced once
with Helen, and he thought her ire
mendously kind to him. He had rather
that she had not been. 1t hurt, lit
tle to have her treat him with sol
much grave consideration. 1t seemed
to him that she, too, had quieted some,
what in the past winter. He found
her eyes fixed speculatively on him
more than once, and he thought them
almost wistful at times.
He slipped out for a smoke after
that dance. Somehow, he wanted toI
be alone, and he took a seat in dark
corner of the little side porch. The
tntermissions were rather long, for a.
lonely person, and in one Of them he
saw Ames and Helen come from the
house, arm in arm.
Tommy felt pang at his heart al
he realized what an unusually perfect
couple they were. This was Louis
Af1 anu DOlA AuCo anu 44SAOA
were all in white; Helen with her
powdered hair and cleaning Shout
ders, and a wide spreading satin
gown, and Ames particularly tall and
graceful in his pigtail and his knee
brooches. They were like a ghostly
pair from an old tapestry, as they
stepped into the moonlight and Ames'I
head was bent low over Helen. He
was holding her hand in his, and heI
was talking to her in a very low
voice, while Helen's head dropped and
her eyes were averted.
Tommy jumped down from the bal
cony as soon as they had passed, and
strobe in the opposite direction. Hej
felt the need of rapid exercise, and he
walked briskly down through the
grape arbor and across through the
flower garden, and back up to the
fountain. He had just turned the cor
ner of the summer house when he all
most ran into Ames and Helen. The
tall white courtier was standing In
front Of Helen, holding both of hel
hands in his, and just as Tommy
came upon them, Ames bent forward
Helen upturned her face to his, and
he kissed her on the lips.
Tommy mumbled a hasty apology
and started to hurry away, but they
both called after him, and gulping
down the lump which had leaped in
his throat, he turned and came back.
"Tm just bidding good-by to the
prettiest girl in town, Tommy" said
Ames, in a serious tone. "Helen and
I have been tremendous pals, and I'm
going to miss all the rest Of you more
than can say"
You're not going away" protested
Tommy, bewildered.
Eyes, I find I can't stand it any
longer" laughed Ames. 'The fun'sI
all gone. see the same old freight
cars backed up on the same old siding
every day, and the same old churns."
"But you can't go now" protested
Tommy. ''The business is just begin
ming to yield profit"
81 can find profit any place."
smiled Ames. You see, Tommy, the
churn business never interested me.
l only cared. for the problem Of
Strengthening out its difficulties, and
now the puzzle is solved. The blocks
are all fitted together, and the only
way to enjoy them any further Is to
tear them all apart again. Better still,
for a rover like me. is to wander on
and find a new puzzle"
81 thought you were at home here"
argued Tommy.
II don't think I shall ever have q
real home," laughed Ames. II belong
to the air, and have to be free. The
only regret I shall have in leaving 10
for my good friends" and he reached
out hand to both Helen and Tommy.
Helen slipped her other hand In
Tommy's arm.
"What about Helen" Tommy sud-
denly demanded. "Ames, when fell
low monopolizes girls entire time"
"Why, you silly Tommy flared
Helen, dropping her hand from his
arm. 'Ts that why you've neglected
me all winterr
swell, you know, I thought" STAN
mered Tommy.
"And you know I thought" breath.
lessly interrupted Helen.
"Oh, tut, tut" laughed Ames "Th(
music's beginning. Helen, will you Id
Tommy take you to the rest Of thu
series Of dancesT
Helen and Tommy looked at ead
other, then suddenly laughed. Ame
turned away and Lit cigarette.
"Helen, that's our two-step." he
said. "rll give It to you, Tommy. Run
along"
He laughed as he watched them
run into the house, arm In arm. He
blew a wreath Of smoke at the stars.