Smyrna times., 1931-04-29
WEEKLY SOCIETY STORY FOR
EVENING ROUND THE LAMP
READING TO WHILE AWAY
TIME AFTER DAYS CHORES
"Peter Not Fond of Picnics," An
Interesting Short Story Writ
ten by Jane Osborn

IRENE tore open her brothers let
ter as she made her way out OF
| the crowded little post office and,
because her eyes were preoccupied
with the pages in her hand, she col
lided with a young man coming
| into the post office in haste. But
he was rather nice person to col
lide with.
He mumbled an apology, made a
quick gesture with his hand to-
ward his head and, remembering
that he wore no hat, buried the
hand deep in his pocket and contin-
ued his way into the post office.
Irene smiled and again began to
read her note.
my old friend Peter Yard ex-
poets to be down at Sandy Beach
for a few days." the letter in
formed Irene. Hes gone down
to visit a rich aunt who has
place somewhere down there, but
/ gather there's no life around the
aunt's place. He dreaded the visit.
/ gave him your address and told
him to look you up. Hes fine
fellow and I'll appreciate anything
you do for him. By the way, Pc
ter's wild about picnics"-
BY this time Irene had reached
the general provision store where
she had to see about laying in the
DAYS supplies for her family, and
cramming her brothers letter into
her sport pocket she thought no
more about it.
Irene was bending over a barrel
of green corn, trying to select a
dozen ears that were worth cook
ing. Suddenly she looked up and
narrowly avoided second collision
with the young man in tweed. Again
he muttered an apology, and then
going toward the proprietor of the
store asked him whether he could
direct him to the Bronson cottage.
I'm Irene Bronson" said the
girl, coming forward.
1t turned out, of course, that this
was Peter Yard, and he was los
ing no time in finding the cottage
belonging TO his friend, Ned Bron-
son.
s'I'm so glad you found me-" said
Irene. Because, you see, we're
getting up "a picnic for this eve
ming and we need another man. We
go down the beach to the dunes
and eat our supper there. Could
you come with us?"
Peter said he would be delighted,
and then, finding no excuse to take
up more of pretty Irene Bronson's
time, he sauntered back TO his
aunt's imposing summer home
some way inland. Then Irene bur.
ried home She sought out and
found her aunt, who was for the
time being staying with Irene there
at the cottage. Irene told her aunt
of her plans for a picnic.
Honestly, Irene." said the aunt,
lit seems as if couldn't stand an
other picnic"
Irene did not urge her aunt to
go, but she did not change her
plans. Next she telephoned to a
friend named Alice. She told her
of the proposed picnic.
Irene. you're crazy" answered
Alice. "You said only last week
the sand always got in your sand
wiches and there were sand fleas in
the deviled eggs. Honestly, ]
loathe sandwiches, and | couldn't
look another deviled egg in the
face" However, Irene was persist
ent and Alice gave in.
II was a week after Peters ar
rival at Sandy Beach. Peter and
Irene sat facing the ocean while
dunes at their back.
Irene, Irene" Peter was say
ing in a boyish, impulsiye manner
that quite captivated Irene. This
has been the most wonderful adven-
ture in the world. | first saw you.
ran into you, in fact, scarcely a
week ago, and after seven glorious
days | have dared to tell you love
you-and. Irene. | don't want you
to say you do unless you really
mean it,
Irene protested that she really
and truly meant what she said and
that from the time she ran into
Peter at the post Office she had
loved him. "And as soon as
knew that you were the Peter my
brother mentioned in his letter
made up my mind then and there
to have picnic-and I've had pic
mics every evening since. No one
else will come to them now, Peter.
They're all so sick of picnics, but ]
love you so much | have forgot.
ten how felt about them"
'It just proves that ! really love
you," went on Peter, "feeling the
way | do about picnics."
"But. Peter, Ned said you were
crazy about picnics. Ii was in that
letter was reading when
bumped into you
"Me-crazy about picnics?" asked
Peter. Lets see the letter.
Irene put her hands deep into the
pockets IF her sports coat to find
the letter that she had never fin
ished
.Peter's wild abou. picnics-he
said he didn't want TO go away
for his vacation for fear he'd have
to go on picnics He's just come
home from an expedition across the
desert. He was gone for a year
and didn't eat at a table all thai
time. SO don't try any of your
sandy suppers with Peter. He'll
froth nj the mouth and hate Won IL