Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 142, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 June 1912 — Game for Two [ARTICLE]

Game for Two

Now, as he entered the parlor he. gave the Impression of a young gentleman whose hands were empty, and no matter how he was viewed the gaze flew back to the emptiness of his hands. Oh, most unmistakably empty were his hands, and absolutely innocent of either candy or flowers. Most consciously empty, too, they were, blushing a dull red as they hung by their thumbs from his waistcoat pockets in a sheepish sort of way, hanging in shame, as it were, and yet with a sort of sullen bravado, as though saying: "Well, what of It?" Yes, even thus our hero entered the parlor and said: “Hello!” And as his salutation is subdued into silence, let us look at the lady in the case and see whether the eye of circumspection can come to rest on a matter so mobile. Plump and cosy and divinely short was the lady In question, with a pert, quick manner of movement and eyes that were alters nately bright with speculation or brighter yet with conviction. ‘‘How late you are!’’ "Yes,” said he, “I made up my mind that, beginning with the new year, I was going to work hard, and that’s what kept me." i "Gracious!’’ said she, and ajfain she looked at the emptiness and the sheepishness of his hands. "I—l didn’t bring any flowers tonight," he said. “I’d been thinking it over, and it seemed such a—such a—such a—such a— that, anyway, I swore off.” “My!” said she, and swinging her foot, she asked, in a careless manner: "Did you swear anything else off, John?** "Well,” he said, avoiding her eye, ‘candy.’’ And brighter grew her glance. “And concerts,” he continued, his voice dropping a note and hanging over the edge of the tragics. And even brighter grew her glance. "Abd all sorts of shows," Hr concluded, far, far down the keyboard. "My!" said she. “You were busy!" "Yes,” he said, trying to look at her in a significant manner. "And now I’ll be able to save a little money and then—’’ • “Flowers,” she said, raising one finger. / He nodded. , "Candy,” she said, raising another. He nodded again. "Concerts.” Again he nodded. “And all sorts of shows,” she coneluded. And, nodding again, he drew along breath and made room for her on the sofa, saying: “Grace!” “No,” she mournfully made answer. "I’ve sworn off." ” ' ■ “Sworn off what?” "Sitting on the sofa like you meant I made up my mind that beginning with the new year, I was keeping you away from your work too much. So, I Just swore off.” And, shaking her head, she sighed: "No. No more, John ” - .. Whereupon he went over to her with considerable velocity of locomotion, holding out his hand and crying with emotion: "Grace!” "No," she murmured, putting her hands behiud her and shaking her head. "I’ve sworn that bff, too, John!" "Sworn what off?" demanded John. “Holding hands,” she murmured again. "You have, have you?” “Oh, dear, yes!” And still keeping her hands behind her, she looked up at him and pleasantly remarked “What a beautiful day It has been, John!” I But as for John, he marched out Into the hall. Jammed his hat on his head, and laid violent hands upon hla coat She followed him. “Goodby!” he muttered. “Goodby, John," she pleasantly answered him. Goodby forever!" ho said, punishing his coat

“Oh, that's such a long time!” she said. “So it’s ail over between us!” he scowled, turning up his coat collar and looking ferocious. And as for John, John slammed the door open, passed out into the ves- | tibule and banged the door behind him. I From the hall inside she pleasantly ■ waved her hand at him and turning to annihilate her with an awful look his eyes fell upon the solitaire that gleamed from one of- her fingers. “Here, I want my ring back!” he pantomimed to her through the glass of the door. To WUlch she plea—wtly pantomimed back: ? “I’ve sworn off giving rings back, John." And pleasantly drew down the blind. And as for John, John sat down on the top step burled in thought, from which he emerged at last, saying to i himselfI "I wonder if rd better get some flowers and candy and come right back or telephone her in the morning that FU caß for her tomorrow night and And as a certain picture arose before him of tWo persons sitting on a • sofa eatlnr ekndv together he hm\ . ■ tri ." l s w