The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1932-02-05
EK*** *# r + + 4 + + = Z + MI
An Interrupted
Poetical Recitation
BY JANE OSBORN
y ~ ~ " " " !" " ~ " ~ " " ~ " " ~ " " " " ~ " y ~ 2
&c. 1881. Mcclure Newspaper syndicats.p
(WNU Servicel

hLliC gill udfluS uCF OWn way
when she told John Horner that he
might see her home that cold clear
night In February. AS usual there
were several Of the young men who
had expressed the hope that they might
walk the two blocks with her that day
between her house and the club house,
where those informal neighborhood
dances were held twice week all
winter. There were Tom and Ken
drick and Rodney. She knew that IL
she accepted any one Of them, the 9TH
er two, while in measure disappoint-
ed, would have approved. They were
birds Of feather, each In the estima-
tion Of the other a regular fellow"
But John Horner was a queer fish, to
put 1t mildly. He read too much, stud
led too hard and loafed too little.
Now he was working In q magazine
office somewhere In the city and 1t
was said that he had sold poetry and
was writing novel.
When Sally first danced with John
that evening at the club she was
little embarrassed because she felt
that she was taller than he. She felt
relieved when she saw In a mirror at
the end Of the room that they were
practically the same height. Still,
Sally wished that John were just
trifle taller. Tom Kendrick and Rod
ney were all six foot feet or more.
But when she sat talking with John
after that first dance she forgot his
stature.
He was telling her an amusing Incl
dent Of his short stay In Algiers the
summer before. Later they spoke of
poetry-and Sally asked him If she
might some time see something that
he had written.
I'm recite it to you II you'll let me-"
said John.
He asked IL he might walk home
with her and she said he might.
I'm glad" said John, because
want to recite that poem to you. AS
matter Of fact, wrote to you. But
can't say it In here. / have to be
outdoors"
Sally laughed and told him she
hoped 1t wasn't long poem because
1t was only two blocks from the club
to her house, and John said 1t was
only eight lines long.
Sally and John were among the first
out Of the clubhouse that sharp Febru-
ary evening. Deep ruts In the snow
and smooth glaze of Ice over much
Of the road made motoring uncertain
and almost all Of the dancers chose to
walk home.
Sally was aware that Kendrick,
walking with Rodney's sister, and Tom
walking with Kendick's cousin with
Rodney In tow, were walking FIVE
abreast not far behind her.
She asked John to recite his poem
but not too loud" she warned
"some one may be listening"
John began. 1t was really rather
nice bit Of verse. Sally was too con-
fused to hear much Of the first four
lines-and the last four she never
heard, at least until several months
later. But she did catch enough Of
them to know that they expressed ar
dent devotion. The hand of the poet
holding her arm so firmly sent a
strange thrill to Sally's young heart
and then, unexpectedly, the hold be-
came tighter, painfully tight, and Sal
ly felt suddenly that the slippery
ground had been pulled out from un-
der her. 1t seemed as If the cold sky
above turned a sudden half circle and
then she landed, but on something un-
expectedly soft. When she came to a
full realization Of just what had hap
pened, 1t was to hear chorus Of
rough outlaws and raucous ha-has.
Rodney, Tom and Kendrick were
standing over her and so were Rod
neys sister and Hendricks cousin.
And Sally realized as they looked
down upon her that she was sitting
squarely and firmly on John Horner's
stomach.
I'm sure / don't see anything to
laugh at" said Sally, but apparently
John did. At least as soon as he had
scrambled to his feet he managed to
Join the others In their laughter
Kendrick suggested that one of the
brave trio had better help John home
Ito keep him from slipping
another had better walk on with Sally
"She might sit on you again." said
Rodney. Sally looked at John. Stand
Ing there beside the others he looked
very short-almost insignificant. Then
she remembered the four lines he had
began to recite. Tears came into her
eyes. Il think we can manage very
well alone" Sally told the others. So
they went on up the hill together,
walking very gingerly, arm in arm.
II won't try to go on with the
verses" John told her. Walking on
Ice and spouting poetry apparently
don't go well together"
"But think what I heard was very
beautiful" Sally said.
John stood still and held her to
him, looking straight into her eyes
that seemed like jewels in the faint
starlight "You know love you," he
said. but after what happened, of
course, you can only despite me. You
were very, very kind not to send me
off before the Others"
"But don't want to send you off,
said Sally. "John-I love you"
Trouble Is, They Don't
Jud Tunkins says there have been
enough fine commencement SnaachaS to