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cheerfully, smiling out upon the world, which
indicated its presence to him through an open window, read the
curious bits of news or opinion or local advertisements as he set
them up, and dreamed of what the world might have in store for him.
He was not vastly ambitious as yet, but hopeful and, withal, a
little melancholy. He could see boys and girls whom he knew, idling
in the streets or on the corner squares; he could see where Ted
Martinwood was driving by in his father's buggy, or George Anderson
was going up the street with the air of someone who would never
need to work. George's father owned the one and only hotel. There
were thoughts in his mind of fishing, boating, lolling somewhere
with some pretty girl, but alas, girls did not apparently take to
him so very readily. He was too shy. He thought it must be nice to
be rich. So he dreamed.
    Eugene was at that age when he wished to express himself in
ardent phrases. He was also at the age when bashfulness held him in
reserve, even though he were in love and intensely emotional. He
could only say to Stella what seemed trivial things, and look his
intensity, whereas it was the trivial things that were most
pleasing to her, not the intensity. She was even then beginning to
think he was a little strange, a little too tense for her
disposition. Yet she liked him. It became generally understood
around town that Stella was
his
girl. School day mating
usually goes that way in a small city or village. He was seen to go
out with her. His father teased him. Her mother and father deemed
this a manifestation of calf love, not so much on her part, for
they were aware of her tendency to hold lightly any manifestation
of affection on the part of boys, but on his. They thought his
sentimentalism would soon be wearisome to Stella. And they were not
far wrong about her. On one occasion at a party given by several
high school girls, a "country post office" was organized. That was
one of those games which mean kissing only. A system of guessing
results in a series of forfeits. If you miss you must be
postmaster, and call someone for "mail."
Mail
means to be
kissed in a dark room (where the postmaster stands) by someone whom
you like or who likes you. You, as postmaster, have authority or
compulsion—however you feel about it—to call whom you please.
    In this particular instance Stella, who was caught before
Eugene, was under compulsion to call someone to kiss. Her first
thought was of him, but on account of the frankness of the deed,
and because there was a lurking fear in her of his eagerness, the
name she felt impelled to speak was Harvey Rutter. Harvey was a
handsome boy whom Stella had met after her first encounter with
Eugene. He was not as yet fascinating to her, but pleasing. She had
a coquettish desire to see what he was like. This was her first
direct chance.
    He stepped gaily in, and Eugene was at once insane with
jealousy. He could not understand why she should treat him in that
way. When it came to his turn he called for Bertha Shoemaker, whom
he admired, and who was sweet in a way, but who was as nothing to
Stella in his estimation. The pain of kissing her when he really
wanted the other girl was great. When he came out Stella saw
moodiness in his eyes, but chose to ignore it. He was obviously
half-hearted and downcast in his simulation of joy.
    A second chance came to her and this time she called him. He
went, but was in a semi-defiant mood. He wanted to punish her. When
they met in the dark she expected him to put his arms around her.
Her own hands were up to about where his shoulders should be.
Instead he only took hold of one of her arms with his hand and
planted a chilly kiss on her lips. If he had only asked, "Why did
you?" or held her close and pleaded with her not to treat him so
badly, the relationship might have lasted longer. Instead he said
nothing, and she grew defiant and she went out gaily. There was a
strain of reserve running between them until the party broke