Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 74, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 December 1911 — “BECAUSE” [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

“BECAUSE”

By MARIAN L. WATSON

(Copyright. k&ix. by Associated Literary Press) “Tell me! You must!” Eldon said masterfully. “How can I? When I don’t know?" Mavis answered hesitantly. They were on the lawn, In sight of the rest, but well out of. earshot Eldon shook himself Impatiently. “Women are all alike,” he said. "They care only for the game, never thinking how It hurts.” “I don’t play games—none worse than tennis,” Mavis protested, with the least pout. Eldon looked at her, his mouth setting grimly. “Then —I am either blind or crazy," he said. “You have played with me—played fast and loose, now for six months. The game has got to end.” "Oh! Has it?” Mavis asked saucily, as if she would leave him, but turning back after the third step. He had made no move to follow—instead, stood with his hands clenched and hanging at his sides, his eyes blazing, and his mouth still set. “I wish I had a mirror—-to show you how ugly you look right now,” the girl went on, drawing nearer and looking at him. Finding him silent, she added, half under breath, “I—I — would tell you things—if I rightly could. But, indeed, I can’t! All. I care about is to have good times—to be friends with you—with Clem and all the rest —and keep you away from the other girls.” “I see! You are a monopolist,” Eldon answered bitterly. “Otherwise a coquette, as heartless as you are vain, the sort that kills a man’s faith in womanhood —and sends him out into the world, little more than a beast.” “Dear, dear! All this tragedy wasted on just me!” Mavis apostrophised She was a bit frightened—then fore she, meant to carry things with high hasid. Very pretty, sadly sr.iled, rich and willful, she had never had a serious moment, nor the shadow of a serious grief. Conquer cam< natural to her—she had 1 -an f coquette in the cradle. Truly the v,s

so much in love with love, she thought she had never carfed supremely for any of her lovers. Eldon

had come nearer than the others to getting inside her heart. Therefore , she held him at a distance. She did ; not mean to marry anybody so : ages. Why should she, when the whole world of pleasures lay enticingly open to her? i “The curtain is falling. Good-by!” j Eldon said, turning from her but npt offering his hand. She caught it between both her soft palms, saying roguishly, “It shan’t ‘forget its manners! No, indeed! Nice ' little boys always shake hands—but ; then nice little boys don’t leave a ; party in the middle of things.” 1 “I have nothing to do with nice , little boys—l mean to have less to do ’ with nice little girls,” Eldon flung at her, snatching away his hand. He was trembling—he did not mean Mavis should know 7 it, She looked at him with w’ide, wondering eyes. “Why! Are you really going? And going angry?” she asked. “I thought you were only fooling—because you were a little bit vexed.” “It is rather ‘vexing,’ ” Eldon said tensely, “to stand Jy- for two hours, getting hardly a look, and seeing the girl you love fling herself at another fellow’s head. You can’t deny you’ve been doing that! And such a creature! Clem Allen should not be permitted to come near a decent girl—", “I don’t care about him! Nor about you!” Mavis cried angrily, snapping her rosy fingers. “If you can do nothing better than insult me you had better go away;” “I shall not come back—until you send for me,” Eldon said, turning away. _ Mavis laughed—her flash of temper was ovdr. “Yes, you will!” she called over her shoulder as she ran to join" the others. ’ Clem Allen stood watching her. As she came up to the group he tried to ?*at her apart from the rest, but she evaded him and plumped down at her mother’s elbow. After a minute eyes began to dance wickedly—-

somehow she always gathered courage, after the manner of spoiled children, in the warm. uncritical motherly presence. Allen was saying floridly: \ “What can 1 do for you, Miss Norton? Shall it be punch? Or a cup of tea? Or a cushion for your feet? I’m ready to fetch or carry—anything." "Then —go fetch back Frank Eldon. I am just finding out I want him a while longer,” Mavis answered, her •yes wickeder than ever. Allen looked disconcerted. “I think Frank ought to suffer for his bad taste in leaving us," he began, tentatively, but Mavis broke In imperatively: “Never mind that. You go and bring him to me! Quick! It won’t do to let his horse get too much the start of your car.” “D’ye mean that?” Allen demanded, pursing his lips. * “Cross my heart?” Mavis answered, with her most ravishing smile Sb 3 did not In the least know why f 1"» was sending him upon such an errai'd —only that it had suddenly come to fier she hated the sight o r him.

Ten minutes later Allen was shouting to Eldon“ Hi. there! You’re wanted! Back at the tennis party!” “Who says so?” El-on asked, not drawing rein—he had set his ho-e galloping as soon as be was on the highway. Alien leered at him knowingly. “The queen herse’i' said so—rhe sent me—Queen Mavis, you know. Her motto seems to mo: 'Let ro attractive man escape? Wise young person, that—mighty vise! 11 we hook up in double harness I s’ all have the time of my life teaching her not to be so wise.” > "No dcubt!” Eick n said, through his set teeth. He lad but half heard. Words get tattered between galloping !?< ofs and the burring of'a motor. “Go back and say I won’t came—you km v you can’t make me.”

‘Oh. I think., I can!” Allen muttered. rendi- 3 the car recklessly a-r? l. A 1 undred yards in front of El- on, he turned squarely across the ro stoT';-?:i and shouted: “Be good! Yi ; can’t pass me—and your horse up to jumping the fences. Go La- i: ind face the music—and the Mavis." “I will —but not until I’ve thrashed you soundly,” Eldon said hoarsely, k ?p ag from his saddle. /Jion was alone; he had not waited to call his chauffeur. Before he could start the machine Eldon had wrenched him from his seat and was shaking him as a terrier shakes a rat. “I ought to kill you,” he said vefy low. “I would do it—only you are just a catspaw. Fight now—defend yourself—if you’re any part of a man I’ll give you a man’s chance, little as you deserve it.” “Why, Frank! I —I —you know we’ve got no quarrel!” Allen sputtered ruefully. He was taller and heavier than Eldon, but gross of ' habit and in soft, ill condition. “I carrie after yob all in fun. Queen Mavis— —•” “If you dare name her again I shall have to kill you,” Eldon interrupted, but turned away as he spoke. Very shortly they were on the Norton lawn again, standing a little distance from Miss Mavis, who beamed' at the sight. ’ Allen said subduedly: “You see, I brought him,” but got no farther. Eldon had gone up to the girl and j stood holding her hands and asking, 1 “Why did you want me back?” “Oh, just because!” Mavis answered, saucily, but moving apart from the rest. When there was no danger of eavesdropping she added softly, “Because I found out all at once you had taken the sunshine with you—and I wanted it back again.”

“You Had Taken the Sunshine With You.”