Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 300, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 December 1919 — THE RESULT [ARTICLE]

THE RESULT

By MILDRED WHITE.

“She doesn’t think I’m worth a pleasant word,” Richard bewailed, “and I love her to distraction.” Fan’s elder sister smiled. i “Fan usually appreciates what others prize,” she suggested meaningly. “You think,” the lover asked, “that I ought to go about flirting with other girls in order to win Fan’s favor? VVell —I can’t. Besides the other girls might not be so impressionable,” “Charming modesty,” Eleanor laughed, but She realized the truth of the statement. “It is strange,” she said, “how all men young and old, flock about my little Fan. Of course, she is the dear-, est girl In the world, but she treats them all so mockingly, one would think they’d resent It. Her young heart has not „yet been awakened, Dicky,-and you have as good a chance as any. I have told you—Fan always desires the unobtainable. If you could make her Just a bit jealous ” “Of whom?” the man asked brusquely. Eleanor considered. Girls were Inexplicable creatures. Far be it from herself to bring upon this earnest friend the reproach of a broken heart. Richard broke, the silence. “I know,” he said, “great idea, if you will coincide. You shaft be the of my apparent adoration, Nell; I’ll make love to you under Fan’s saucy nose, and 4f she should become jealous we will take it for a sign.’ “Me!” Eleapor gqsped. “Oh! she wouldn’t be jealous of me. Dicky. I m too old, older even than you.” “By a few months,” the man answered calmly, “and not observable to the other’s eyes. You are safest guess, Nell. When the game is over you *can knitting. Eleanor gazed down at the colored wool in her hands. Something in the careless femark saddened her. Always, it seemed, that had been her lot. After the game was over—she returned to her knitting. At Fan’s age she had been as gay and popular as she, but the merry game had not lasted long, for the arms of her small orphaned sister had reached out to her demanding loving protection. And Eleanor had not failed in the giving. She wondered now wistfully, if Fan might not laugh at the very thought of herself as a rival. “You cannot object if you would,” Richard said, “I am determined to be your adoring slave. A certain red-gold head appears on the horizon. Kindly unwind this wool from my trembling fingers.” Eleanor laughed. Dicky had posed ridiculously at her feet with the crimson wool stretched between his haijds. Obediently she began to unwind, as he watched her. The intentness of his gaze brought a flush to Eleanor’s cheek; it was an amusing game, the elder sister desperately restraining a girlish giggle as Fan came suddenly upon them. • “I want,” Fan began promptly, “to go in my boat; please, get it for me, Dicky.” “Can’t,” Richard absently murmured. “Have to help N*ell with this wool; afterward she’s "going to show me the view from the ridge.” The young girl’s eyes widened. - “You .mean,” she asked, “that youdon’t want to go with me?” ■“N'ot exactly that,” Richard replied apologetically. was evidently embarrassed ; “Nell asked me first, you £00—” “Oh! all right,” Fan answered airily. “Bobby will be glad to take me.” ’ She-was humming a tune as she left them, but the glance she threw at her sister was inquiring. Eleanor seemed happily oblivious. Throughout days which followed, the elder sister often found that inquiring glance bent upon her. Richard persistently played his part. He formed a habit of reading aloud to Eleanor afternoons in a nook on the shore, plainly discernible from the bathing spot which Fan and her admirers , frequented. s# The ■'game grew in interest-arid excitement. When the younger sister was absent they discussed in secret enjoyment her fancied symptoms of jealousy. Then one day Eleanor came to meet Richard vaguely troubled. “Fan 4s with that Bobby person all the time.” she said. “I thought at first that she was trying merely to pay you back in your own coin. But Bobby’s a winsome lad. You’d better go back to .her, Dicky, before it‘is too late.” So Richard went to take up his old allegiance. Fan proved strangely disappointing. 'He had never before realized her lack of appreciation for literature. He and Nell had so enjoyed those old books together, and Fan was frankly disinterested in his work. Nell had grasped with wonderful intuition the details of his business. Swimming band motoring were all right in their wjay, ljut one couldn't be dragged about in that sort of foolishness forever, he reflected; so for comfort Richard went back to the elder sister. “I’m sorry for you Dicky, so sorry!” Nell began sympathetically. “Fan is ( actually engaged to Bobby.” “Thank goodness!” Richaril was startled to hear himself exclaim. He’ paused. A red golden head showed in a dborway. “I knew that you and Eleanor were meant for each other,” triumphed, the owner of the head. “But you were both so dreadfully slow—in finding it out/' (Copyright, 1919; by the Western New** paper Union.)