Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1889-10-18


felt Phil's big, blue eyes upon her, but
she did not meet them.
She had no patience with him-a sim.
pleton who would let shallowa firt1make @
an idiot of him
"What's the matter, Mary9"' he sstam
mered, at last. "I-I-you donteseem
to like Miss Perry much, Mary"
That was too much.
"No, don't, said Mary grimly.
'I think she's jolly, you know" said
Phil timidly. "And I'm sorry forsher-
awfully sorry!'
"It is only scratch, " said Mary,swith
forced calmness
II don't mean that" said Phil He
took Mary's elbow to help her up the
grade, but she pulled it away. "Not
that, you know. You,see, She Won
der if she'd mind my telling you-just
you?"
~ don't want to hear it," saids Mary,
in agony.
stShe wouldn't mind,' Phil insisted.
eff she told me, she'd tell anybody It's
about her Marmaduke--he isn't hers,
that is, but she'd like him to be. They've
been going on together for years, gath
cred, without it's ever coming to any
thing; and she doesn't know whether
Olney wants it to come toaanything. He's
so careless and lazy, she doesn't know
whether he likes her or not. But She
likes him. She told me thataright ou1,
Mary, as innocent as baby, seemed to
want somebody to tell it to. And she
cried when she said it Just cried. That
was why she went on like that when we
came up with you-made all that fuss
about the flowers, and went down the
bank-t to take his attention Off her red
eyes. She says she can't marry anybody
else; and then not to be sure. hes cares for
her-well, it is tough. If he don t want
her. don't know what he does, want, !"
said Phil, Indignantly.
Mary Lane was looking down at the
grass.
s'Was that what she was saylng2"
she murmured. ''He-he said dsshe was
flirting with you'll"
s'He did?" said Phil, warmly. ''He
wants throttling. I've mind to do 1t
for him. He doesn't deserve her, the
puppy"
Il thought so, too, Mary faltered. on.
'I thought she was. And l was so
angry with her for doing it'
Phil laughed
''And did you think was flirting with
her, Nary" he demanded.
Eyes" she owned.
''Then you need throttling" But he
contented himself with soft shake of
her shoulder. MARY, did you think I
could firt with anybody but you Don't
you ksow | like you, and always have2
and mean to marry you-you, nobody
else? Mary, for shame! Didn't you
know it?"
The grass seemed to swim befor
Mary's eyes.
'I-I had hoped so, Phil" she whis-
pered. "Oh, Phil, it was that!
thought it was just pity for you, Phil,
and indignation and all, that made me
D,.4 - II tS,I
you, It was that. She might have
firted with anybody else, Phil, and [
wouldn't have cared" she ended, amazed,
ioyfully amazed, in the sudden lighe
which broke over her.
"Oh" said Phil, eoquently.
A common impulse made them turn
and peer at the pair behind. One look
was enough. Miss Perry's face, sweetly
aglow, was lifted to that of her step
fathers cousins nephew, while the neph-
ew bent his lazy, handsome head above
her, and clasped the hand clinging to his
arm. The beauties of the Oak Walk and
the river were nowhere.
''She's got her Marmaduke!" said
Phil. with a silent laugh
; Eyes. Their mixed relationship will
be simplified now," said Mary, in an
ecstasy.
She looked back admiringly, remorse-
fully.
''Dont you think she's the cutest
girl?" she demanded, her throes of the
last half hour flung to the winds.
''Theres only one cuter," said Phil,
overlooking her inconsistencies. "You!'
SATURDAY Night.
A little girl sent out to find eggs re-
turned without success, complaining that