The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-06-22

They came up the path.
Mr.. Towne, and will you give him
cup of tea?"
Indeed, I WILL" Mrs. Allison
seemed to rise on wings of gratifca-
ton, "only it is chocolate and not
tea"
And Frederick said that he adored
chocolate, and presently Mrs. ALI
sons little living-room was all in a
pleasant fiutter; and over on James
terrace, Evans Toilette sat, lonely
sentinel, and pondered on the limou-
sine, and the elegance of James es-
cort.
Once old Sophy called to him,
you'll ketch your death, Mr.. Ev-
ans"
He shook his head and smiled at
her. A man who had lived through
winter in the trenches thought
nothing of this. Physical cold was
easy to endure. The cold that
clutched at his heart was the thing
that frightened him.
The early night came on. There
were lights now in Mrs. Allison's
house, and within was warmth and
laughter. The old ladies', excited
and eager, told each other in fash
ing asides that Mr.. Towne was the
great Frederick Towne The one
whose name was so often in the pa
pers, and his niece, Edith, had been
deserted at the altar. "You know,
my dear, the one who ran away"
When Jane said that she must be
getting home, they pressed around
her, shifting her flowers, saying
pleasant things of her prettiness-
limiting of Towne's absorption in her.
She laughed and sparkled. 1t was
a joyous experience. Mr. Towne
had a way of making her feel i'm
portant. And the adulation of the
old ladies added to her elation.
AS Frederick and Jane walked
across the street towards the little
house on the terrace, a gaunt figure
rose from the top step and greeted
them.
Evans" Jane scolded, ''you need
a guardian. Don't you know that you
shouldn't sit out in such weather as
this?"
''I'n not cold"
She presented him to Frederick.
Wont you come in, Mr.. Towne?"
But he would not. He would call
her up. Jane stood on the porch
and watched him go down the
steps. He waved to her when he
reached his car.
''Oh, Evans" she said, "I've had
such day."
They went into the house together.
Jane lighted the lamp. Cant you
dine with us?"
Il hoped you might ask me. Moth
er is staying with a sick friend.
If / go home, I shall sup on bread
and milk"
"Sophy's chops will be much bet
ter" She held her flowers up to
him. isn't the fragrance heaven
ly?"
"Towne gave them to your"
She nodded. "Oh, I've been very
grand and rgeous-lunch at the
Chevy Chase Cuba long drive aft
erward-" she broke off. Evans.
you look half-frozen. Sit here by the
fire and get warm"
''I met both traiss."
"Evans-why will you do such
things?"
II wanted to see you"
"But you can see me any time"
81 cannot. Not when you are
lunching with fashionable gentlemen
with gold-lined pocketbooks. He
held out his hands to the blaze. 'sDo
you like him?"
"Mr. Towne? Yes. and I like the
things he does for me. I had to
pinch myself to be sure it was true"
"If what was true?"
THAT was really playing around
with the great Frederick Towne."
''You talk as if he were conferring
a favor"
She had her coat off now and her
hat. She came and sat down in the
chair opposite him. Evans" she
said, you're jealous She was still
vivid with the excitement of the aft
ernoon, lighted up by it, her skin
warmed into color by the swift flow
ing blood beneath.
'tWell, l am jealous" he tried to
smile at her, then went on with a
touch of bitterness, do you know
what I thought about as sat watch
ing the lights at Mrs. Allison's?
Well, as came over today passed
a snowy field-and there was a
scarecrow in the midst of it, fiutter-
ing his rags, lonely thing, an ugly
thing. Well, we're two of kind,
Jane, that scarecrow and l."
Her shocked glance stopped him.
Evans. you don't know what you