The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1939-09-30
SHORT
SHORT
STORY

sorts that torked OFT the main high
way.
eff that sign post were lady, it
would be most flattered at the hun
dreds of glances it GETS" Connie
unused as she saw practically every
motorist slow down at the cross
road, cast look at the white-armed
directions and then take the right
turning.
II have a good notion to go out
some dark night and kick that sign
post down-then they will all have
to stop and ask me questions. She
thought hopefully: Somebody aw-
fully nice might drift along this way
one never knows"
There was wobbly support, a
high wind and a good twist from
Comics tennis arm. The post lay
useless to motorists in the center of
its triangle of grass.
By four o'clock the following day,
which was Saturday, Connie was
ready to drop. She hadn't supposed
there were so many places in the
world nor so many motorists with
no road sense. At half-past four
she telephoned to her brother to call
up whoever the authorities were and
demand that the sign post in front
of the cottage be restored.
Then Connie went back to her
hammock and was comfortably set
tied among an army of cushions
when a young man peered over the
fence, saw who was there, raised
his cap swiftly and inquired the
way to Oyster Bay.
CONNIE beamed. This was more
~ the type of motorists she had
hoped form fact, the very kind her
dreams called for-well built, with
crinkly smile and sunny hair. She
told him slowly and with full detail
the exact roads to follow.
The young man seemed most
1oath to take up the trail that he
had been covering at high speed a
few minutes before. But at that
time he had not looked into the faith
omless eyes of Connie.
However, there was no excuse for
stopping.
''That sign post was up a week
ago." he said by way of conversa-
ton.
eyes" said Connie, 81 kicked it
down last night"
''You what? Kicked it down! Why
the temper?"
''It wasn't temper!" flashed Con-
ME. 81 was lonesome and"
"You lonesome!" There was such
world of unbelief in the young
mans eyes that Connie blushed hot
ly and turned on her heel.
GIVE as much right to be lone
some as you or anyone else!" she
informed him, and then added a
chilly Good afternoon"
''Whew! Some temper" muttered
the young man, and hoped into his
roadster with a bit of temper all
his own.
Connie pounced into the ham
mock, kicked all the cushions and
wondered why she had been so
catty. Also she wondered why her
brother didn't know any men as nice
as that one. Connie felt suddenly
as if it would not be a tremendous
effort on her part to love man like
that.
And Tommy Randall, driving his
car at a fendish speed, could see
nothing on the road but Comics
eyes and wondered what particular
crowd she roamed about with in
New York. He would spend much
time going about, he knew, seeking
her. He had no right whatever to
approach the cottage again.
IT OWEVER, the summer drifted
4 past and the first few weeks of
winter joined it. Tommy had about
given up the quest and decided that
he loved little Joyce Lane well
enough to ask her to marry him.
He wanted coy home and some
body waiting for him there with
love in her eyes. He hated to think
of Joyce Lane with her black hair
standing in the sun with him. Tom
my loved golden hair and always
had hoped that the right girl would
have it. Black hair didn't mean any
thing in the sunlight-it just stayed
as it was without any dancing reds
and Colds.
They were at a big dance that
night in December and Tommy de-
cided to make his declarations to
Joyce. He was horribly tired bach
ing it. The girl by the gate prob
ably had bad temper or she might
even be married and have children
by this time-children with sunny
hair that glinted in the sun. Tommy
sighed and turned to greet Bob Lam
caster, who had given him a mighty
slap on the back.
81 say, Tom, I've wanted for
ages to introduce you to my kid sis
ter, but she's such a sight with tan
and freckles-" He drew her for
ward from somewhere-Tom after
wards wondered where-"Connie,
this is Tom Randall-I've told you
enough about him to put you on
your guard. Now get acquainted"
he laughed and turned away.
Il wouldn't say we needed much