Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-12-14
Sparing Bills
Feelings
By H. LOUIS RAYBoLD
(Copyrightl

flirtatious Francesca-was honest
to-goodness worried. So worried was
she that her fair brow was puckered
in three fretful wrinkles. How under
the sun was she going to get rid Of
poor old Bill?
You see, Bill Thorpe was the very
first one Of Franeesca's vlctims-and
there had been many-to cause her so
much as the tiniest twinge Of regret.
Perhaps this was because she had
known him since kindergarten days,
or perhaps It was because she had,
f1guratlvely speaking, walked over his
PROSTATE body with a more heartless,
roughshod tread even than usual, pre-
Stunning on his infallible good nature.
However that may be, the fact re-
mains that Francesca was experience
ing a real desire to spare Bill the
pain she felt was In store for him.
MAY / run up this evening" Franz"
he had telephoned her. 81 have some
thing that's-well, something I want
to tell you" And even over the coldly
impersonal wire his voice had rung
strangely vibrant. It had come at
fast!
Now, between you and me, deep
down under her genuine concern for
Bill, Francesca harbored a motive
other than altruism In breaking def
initely with Bill. For how could she
expect, as long as he hung around her
like faithful watchdog. alert to
fetch and carry, that Roger Bene-
dict would propose? Roger was not
the sort of man to interfere with
rival. And meanwhile there was Bet
ty Lane, the prettiest girl in the gay
town crowd which included Francesca
and Bill and Roger. oh, she must
be very firm with Bill. for his own
gOOd-and hers.
Arrived at this decision, Francesca
qulckened her step a bit and hummed
a gay little tune beneath her breath.
Bill was faithful and friendly and
ever dependable, but Roger - oh,
Roger was young Lochlnvar and
Prince Charming rolled into one. II
only Betty
Betty Rounding a corner Fran
cesca pulled up short as she all but
catapulted into the object of her not
exactly charitable thoughts. Betty
Lanel Haven't seen you In a very
dogs agew She was almost-not
Qulte-jealous Of this trim little Bet
ty, so attractively gotten up in her
tailored suit and smart little neck
piece and cocky yellow felt turban,
but not for worlds would she have
betrayed a sign Of so base an emo
tion. run over and see me, dear"
Betty nodded, her brown eyes mys-
teriously radiant. 81 will, frankie,
and when I do-oh, can't tell you
yet. but Pm-Tm going to have glor1-
Gus news. You'll seer The words
fairly bubblcd forth and then Betty.
all unconscious of the havoc she had
wrought, swung gnyly by.
Something to tell me-somethine
gl0rious-that means. oh, MOI Betty
and Rogerl Why-why, l was worry
Ing about sparInG Bill, and now he's
all I've got left ("
The Bill that Francesca found that
evening when she came downstairs
was a Bill who acted precisely as
nervous lovers since time immemoria
have been supposed to act--walkinp
jcrlily about the room and examining
pictures and books and various OBJ
jects with unseelng eyes.
With start he gathered his wit,
together at Ter entrance.
"It's-it's n wonderful night. Frank
just wonderful. Moon and all. you
| know"
"Yes" encouraged Francesca ever
so sweetly
"I-I-hang It, Frank, I've got {,
get 1t over with" Bill. looking quit,
miserable, paused In what he wa.
saying. Then he briced himself ant
plunged. We've known each othe
for years and years and years and
"Years," completed Francesca. Eyes
BILL" After all. with Roger gone I
might be the sensible thing to ham
on to Bill for while.
swell, I've always thought, Frank
1t would be you and me. but-well.
Isn't! I've gone and got engaged t
another girl and-and. doggone II,
love her"
Francesca rose slowly, not so mucl
In dismay as In utter perplexity. Bill
her property, engaged to another girl
Good heavens, and she had been wor
ryine about sparinG his feelings! An,
was this the way II felt when some
body turned you down-the way sh
supposed her victims OF the past ha,
felt-yes, as she had expected Ri
himself would feel this very evening
Well, she was merely being paid 4
her own "oin. II was up to her 4
be sporty, as Roger Betty's Rogc,
would say.
Congratulations, Bill" she mar
aged with II brave smile and held ou
her hand as II some one | know?
"Know? Why, who should II be bu
Betty Lane?"
"But-but-"
"She told me a little while ag
that she almost let the cat out Of IN
bag this afternoon and would hay
only-well, she knew was comm
tonight to tell you myself"
you're in luck and she's darling !
There was no doubling the enthus
assn in Francesca's voice.
But several nights later, as, In tn
arms of Roger, Francesca told III
whole story, she finished with vo,
that was solemn II brief. "Neve
again for me, Roger! Tn throug
with flirting"
'OThank heaven" said Roger. 1T
promise I'll SEQ you keep"