Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1930-08-08

night, DOtnaF 4f
His clear gray eyes smiling at the
girl in the hammock, John Mason
paused at the steps of the cottage.
II thought we might paddle down the
Lake. It's Rubio Velasquez in some
thing or other. You know, the Shoot
ing Star" ..s
Dotha shook the dark curls from her
eyes. I'D love it. I'm just crazy about
him."
The Mooseville town hall was
packed to capacity with the native
population. Dotha was so absorbed in
the acting of the stunning dark-eyed
Rubio Velasquez with the black mus
tache that She was oblivious to her
surroundings, including John.
Two days later she ran GREATNESS
ly up on the porch of the Masons'
cottage, where John, in a sober blue
bathing suit, sprawled in the sun.
Have you heard?" she cried, her
brown eyes wide.
"What?"
ats so exciting 1 can't hardly even
talk. He's herep
"Who is?"
HE is-Rubio Velasquezl He has
rented that little shack up In the
woods past the island. And we're 60
ing up"
"Who said so? He invite us?"
"W-well, no, Of course not. He
doesn't know us. How could he? But
-but-we'll just take the canoe and
be padding up around there :"
John shook his head. mot l." he
said firmly.
Dotha shook her curls defantly.
"AlI right, then. I'll go alone. guess
/ can paddle my own canoe"
An hour LATER Dotha headed her
little red canoe up the lake in the
general direction of the island. Sud
denly she heard the put-put-put of
motor boat behind her. Speeding
toward her was low, blue streak.
and at the rudder a tall, slim, distin.
guished man with black hair and
mustache Rubio Velasquezl Before
She could collect her thoughts enough
to swing the canoe around to take
the waves he had shot past, and the
high wash caught the canoe broad
side, rolling 1t swiftly over.
The next thing that Dotha remem.
bered was opening her eyes and look
ing straight into the mysterious,
haunting dark eyes of Rubio Velas-
quez. Her head was resting on his
shoulderl
81 am so con-trite, $3.50 sorrow.
full, my DEAR" he said softly, In a
careful, hesitant English with a thrill.
ing accent.
Every day after that Rublo We.
lasquez came to inquire sollcitously for
the health Of Dotha Hartley, and re-
mined TO be adored.
Dotha lived in dream of delight.
One day he brought down a bright
new pistol of FURNISHED gold (real
gold, he assured her) with a mono
gram RV in bright blue on the barrel.
He wanted to try II out. He had
brought along scarf of blue and
gold tule. It would be a rehearsal
for one of his forthcoming big scenes,
he told her. She was to wear the
scarf in butterfly bow on her
shoulders. with tiny little bow In
her hair. Rublo was to shoot right
through the butterfly wings of the tiny
little bow on her head. He placed her
to stand gracefully under the droop.
ing bough Of a birch tree; he levelc6
the pistol at the bow.
There was shot, and then Rublo,
coOlly, with self-satisfied smile,
walked over to the still rigid Dotha,
and united the bow from her hair.
See" he said with pride, holding UP
the butterfly bow with a buIIet-hole
neatly through one wing. "He Is a
good shot-your Rublo-yes?"
That night Dotha lay in the couch
hammock watching the silver path of
the moon across the lake. Then there
was the familiar put-put-put Of a mo-
tor boat, and there was Rublo stand.
ing between her and the moon. ITO
night | go back-back to the CITY," he
whispered Come. You shall be the
little butterfly wife OF the great Rubio
Velasquez, yes"
Suddenly she was in his arms, felt
herself carried breathlessly down to
the wharf, laid gently In the boat.
Rubio spun the motor, and they we're
off
Then DOtha found her voice. II
don't want to CO." she said. "Stop
stop the boat Take me backp
RubO was silent.
All at once she knew what It was
that she did want. She wanted John.
Then suddenly across the water
came the put-put-put of another boat.
Faster and faster It came. II drew
alongside the blue boat, an arm shot
over, snapped the switch, and RubIo's
motor was suddenly still. The man
In the other boat was John.
Rublo Velasquez's eyes flashed fire.
'"The girl, It is me she Iove-me, RubIo
Velasquez lw
TASK her" said John, half.llftlng
Dotha into his own boat.
ut Is me, little butterfly, yesr
Dotha waited until she was safely
seated beside her protecting John.
Then she said softly, III is not you,
no. It is this one, this John, yesl'
After the put-put of Rublo's boat
had died away, John turned to Dotha.
Look, Dotha," he said softly. point.
Ing out over the still lake. silver under
the quiet moon. There's n shooting
star DO you know what that mems
-
"That.' said DOthn tenderly, is the
right kind Of Shooting Star. Il
means"
III the silver silence thei lirs met.
DIR. Y. ERNEYHOUGH,
HU.spur,UNf A na