The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-08-17

Martha's little sponge cakes were
light as a feather. Adelaide broke
one and ate daintily. Then she said.
"How's little Jane Barnes?"
Frederick was Immediately self
conscious. 'sShe's still in Chicago"
Sister better?"
Much"
when is she coming back?"
Jane? AS soon as Mrs. Heming
can be brought home. In a few
weeks, hope"
Adelaide drank a cup of tea al
most at draught. She was aware
OF an impending disclosure. When
the blow came, she took it without
the flicker of an eyelash.
II am going to marry Jane
Barnes, Adelaide. The engagement
isn't to be announced until she re-
turns to Washington. But I want
my friends to know"
She put her elbows on the table,
clasped her hands and rested her
chin on them looking at him with
steady eyes. $50 that's the end of
it, Ricky?"
'The end of what?"
''Our friendship"
"Why should it be?"
"Oh, do you think that your little
Jane is going to let you philander?"
II shan't want to philander. If
that's the way you put it."
$50 you think you're in-love with
her"
II know l am,' the red came up
in his cheeks, but he stuck to il
manfully. "It's different from any
thing-ever that I've felt BEFORE
'They all say that, don't they,
every timer"
Don't be so-cynical.
She shrugged her shoulders. ''I'm
not. Well, shall miss you, Ricky,
dear"
That was all, just that plaintive
note. But Adelaide's plain.iveness
was always effective.
Jane was home again. Judy was
better. Philomel sang The world
was lovely place.
'sIt's heavenly"
Badly smiled at her. 1.-THE same
old Jane"
She shook her head, and the light
in her eyes wavered as if some
breath of doubt famed it. mot
quite. The winter hasn't been easy.
I'm thousand years older"
"And with wedding day ahead
of you"
eyes. Do you like it. Baldy?"
He leaned back in his chair and
surveyed her. mot a bit-if you
want the TRUTH shall be jealous
of Mr.. Frederick Towne."
SILLY. You know l shall never
love anybody more than you,
Baldy."
She was perfectly unconscious of
the revelation she was making, but
he new-and was constrained to
say, "Then you don't really love
him."
"Oh, i do. He's much nicer than
imagined he might be-"
"Oh, well, if you think you are
going to be happy"
II know / am-dearest," she blew
a kiss from the tips of her fingers
"Baldy, I'm going to have a great
house with a great garden-and in
vite Judy and the babies-every
summer"
Towne's not marrying Judy and
the babies. He's marrying you. He
won't want all of your poor rela-
tions hanging around"
''Oh, he will. He has been simply
dear. feel as if ! can never do
enough for him.
He rose. 81 must run on. We're
to dine at Towne's them"
eyes. Just the five of US. II
seems funny that / haven't met
Cousin Annabel. But she's able to
take her place at the head of the
table, Mr.. Towne tells me- He told
me, too, that she wants to meet me.
But I have a feeling that she won't
approve of me, Badly. I'm not fash
ionable enough"
why should you be fashionable?
You are all right as you are"
'Am +? Baldy, believe my stock
has gone up with you"
1T hasn't, Janey. You were al
ways darling. But / didn't want
to spoil you"
"As if you could" she smiled visit
fully. Sometimes / have a feeling,