The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-07-20
How do you KNOW

IL Is IN your eyes, uedf, ana Ii
the cock of your head. You and
Badly always look that way when
something thrilling happens to you.
You can't fool me-"
well, I'm not in love with him.
So that's that, Judy"
"But-it's great opportunity,
isn't it, Jane?"
'I suppose it is" slowly, "but
can't quite see it."
why not?"
sWell, he's too old for one thing" /"
"Only forty? Rich men don't
grow old. And he could give you
everything-everything. Janey." Ju-
dy's voice rose little. "Jane, you
don't know what it means to want
things for those you love and not be
able to have them. Bob did very
well until the slump in business.
But since the babies camel have
worked until-well, until it seemed
as if I couldn't stand it. Bob's such
a darling. ! wouldn't change any,
thing. I'd marry him over again
tomorrow. But | do know this, that
Frederick Towne could make life
lovely for you, and perhaps you
won't get another chance to marry
a man like that"
Life for Evans Toilette after Jane
went away became sort of game
in which he played, as he told him.
self grimly, Jekyll and Hyde part.
Two men warred constantly with
in him. There was that scarecrow
self which nursed mysterious fears,
a gaunt gray-haired self, The Man
Who Had Come Back From the War.
And there was that other, shadowy,
elusive, The Boy Who Once Had
Been. And it was the Boy who
took on gradually shape and sub.
stance fighting for place with the
dark giant who held desperately to
his own.
Yet the Boy had weapons, faith
and hope. The little diary became
in sense a sacred book. Within
its pages was imprisoned something
that beat with frantic wings to be
free. Evans, shrinking from the
program which he compelled him
self to follow, was faced with things
like this. Gee, I wish the days
were longer. I'd like to dance
through forty eight hours at a
stretch. Jane is getting to be some
little dancer. taught her the new
steps tonight. She's as graceful as
willow wand"
Well, man with a limp couldn't
dance. Or could he?
A Thomas Jefferson autograph
went therefore to pay for twenty
dancing lessons. Would the great
Democrat turn in his grave? Yet
what were ink scratches made by a
dead hand as against all the mean
ings of love and life?
Evans bought a phonograph, and
new records. He practised at all
hours, to the great edifcation of old
Mary, who washed dishes and
scrubbed floors in syncopated costa
sizes.
He took Baldy and Edith to tea at
the big hotels, and danced with
Edith. He apologized, but kept al
it. I'm out of practice"
Edith was sympathetic and inter
ested. She invited the two boys to
her home, where there was q music
room with a magical floor. Some
fivaoc &l,a ~f 4Lnx,~ ...r~n ,l~r1
and sometimes Towne came in ano
danced too, and Adelaide Laramore
and Eloise Harper.
Towne danced extremely well. Ir
spite of his avoirdupois he was light
on his feet. He exercised constant.
ly. He felt that if he lost his waist
line all would be over. He could
not, however, always control his ap-
petite. Hence the sugar in his tea,
and other indulgences.
Baldy wrote to Jane of their after
noon frivoIs.
"You should see us! Eloise Harp
er dancing with Evans, and old
Towne and his Adelaidel And Edith
and I! We're a pretty pair, if / dc
say it. We miss you, and always
wish you were with us. Sometimes
it seems almost heartless to dc
things that you can't share. But it's
doing lot for Evans. Queer thing
the poor old chap goes at it as il
his life depended upon it.
''We are invited to dine with the
Townes on Christmas Eve. Some
class, what? By we, I mean myself
and the Follettes. Edith and Mrs
Toilette see a lot of each other, and
Mrs. Toilette is tickled pink You
know how she loves that sort oi
thing-Society with big S.
There will be just our crowd anc
Mrs. Laramore for dinner, and aft.
er that big costume ball.
II shall go as page in red. Anc
Evans will be a monk and sing
Christmas carols. Edith Towne is
crazy about his voice. He sat dowr
at the piano one day in the music
room, and she heard him. Jane, his
voice is wonderful-it always was
you know, but we haven't heard il
lately. Poor old chap-he seems te
be picking up. Edith says it makes
her want to cry to see him, but
she's helping all she can.
"Oh, she's dear and a darling
Janey. And I don't know what am
going to do about it. I have nothing
to offer her. But at least ! car
worship shan't look beyond
Love to Judy and Bob, and the
kiddies. And kiss or two for my
own Janey."
Jane, having read the letter, laic