The Omaha guide., 1937-10-23
SHORT
S RI
STORY

SotAO
down." added Alice.
between chuckles.
1.-The mighty has fallen" quoth
Belle, sedately. with a solemn face.
Patty spoke impatiently: Come
on girls, give me the news"
"You tell her." the girls Choir
used. as they pushed Belle forward.
Controlling her amusement, Belle
told the story of Connie Benson's
peeve against Stanley Hargrave.
known as the Worm" to his class
mates.
ut all started with the Worm"
You know ever since he refused the
last invitation to our prom, Connie
has taken a decided interest in him.
She thought it was because he was
poor that he isolated himself from
all social activities.
1.-THE Worm seemed more ap-
proaehable than ever before. so
Connie really let's herself out. He
r~eciprocates by handing her the
story of his life. And such a
tale it is-full of sorrow and trouble
and privations. And-Connie falls
for it, But the best is yet to come.
He dropped his notebook in his alb
sorption, and the papers flew all
over the campus; Connie helped
him pick them up, and right on top
there was one headed, Plot for One
Act Play Underneath were writ
ten out the very incidents that the
Worm had told her. He had been
stringing her all along"
The '"Talesman," a small paper
written and edited by the goods. be
gan to display a marked preference
, for pictures and drawings of worms.
Then a series appeared dealing with
the life of Little Stephen. the Or
phan Worm"
Connie brought Little Stephen
through high school and sent him
to college. Then the real fun be-
gan. Every incident she could re-
member that concerned Stanley vas
put into print. His hermit-like hab-
its; his avoidance of all sports, and,
even his addiction to gray ties were
mentioned.
The paper went to press Saturday
and was ready for distribution Tues
day at noo
There, in the center Of the mid
die page, was a drawing of Connie,
gazing with hate and aversion in
her eyes at Little Stephen who
was almost submerged in a pool of
tears. Copious drops were oozing
from his saddened eyes. And the
text-a masterpiece of and
ridicule.
Gee, Connie, this is a knock
outi" exclaimed a crowd of boys
as they gathered around the trium-
plant miss.
"Ho-play with fire, you know"
she sang out wisely.
Suddenly there was a disturbance
at the edge of the circle. The crowd
disappeared as if by magic. Fac
ing Connie was the Worm himself.
Evidently he had turned" for,
striding swiftly up to the girl, he
grasped her forearm and, without
"a word, piloted her toward the
nearby forest. Connie was speech
less.
Now, young lady, the time has
come for a reckoning" A very de
termined young man faced a sud
denly timorous girl in the leafy
shadows of the trees.
"Tn admit l played a mean trick
on you when you tried to be nice
to me. But l didn't trust you-l
' thought you were merely having
fun with me. You see, l was in
jured In the war, so that prevents
me from joining in any sports. oh,
I know you didn't know.
II didn't mind your kidding me
through the medium Of Little Ste
phen'; on the contrary, l enjoyed
it. But l did mind the last chap
ter"
Connie was bewildered-what wa.
he getting at2
did you really mean that you
late me as much as you looked ir
the p~icture?" It burst from him sud
denly. "I couldn't stand it If yot
did; ! know / have nc right II
speak 10 you this way. but"
Connie stopped him with a gentle
hand; her eyes were very tender.
"You mustn't speak that way;
who has q better right? l have &
perfect devil Of a temper 0or which
I am grossly ashamed, and I'll ad
nit that I felt terribly humiliatec
at your treatment. But I am terri
bly, sorry I allowed my temper t.
carry me so far. I hope you viii
forgive me-and 1 really don't hate
you"
This last was murmured softly
yet Stanley heard it His thin face
lit UP amazingly, and he moved q
step nearer.
when I am through school and
my health improves. do you think
might ask a certain young lady q
certain question:"
The Certain young LADY, glanced
up shyly and put one small hand ir
his Then, with a brave little smile