Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1890-08-22

was 81 dSUOitibucU Uudb buo rdCQueb l5Il
to the floor with a clatter. and as she
and Dick both stopped at once to pick 1t
up their heads bumped together yilely.
Both apologized profusely, of course.
Dick had a rather guilty look when he
faced his friends at dinner an hour or so
later When the four were seated on
the porch in the twilight he bowed with
great politeness at the girl across the
way.
"Who's your red-haired friend?" In
CURED Tom, surlily.
"A young lady know" was the in
different response, as Dick thrummed
carelessly on his mandolin.
Take care" mouthed the other three
in unison, seeming treason. And then
the regular evening concert proceeded.
~
The four friends had box at the Au-
ditorium for one of the Strauss concerts,
and Tom found his gaze wander every
now and then to the face of statuesque
beauty who sat in the parquet next to a
girl with red hair. He was certain he
had seen her somewhere, but could not
quite decide where. She wore fluffy
white gown with wonderful pulled
shoulders, and he was forced to confess
that she was provokingly pretty. In the
foyer, during the intermission, he
strayed away and found friend who
introduced him. He was little sur
prised to find that she was spending a
vacation at the home of the girl with
red hair who lived opposite to him.
Both young ladies were very inquisitive
as to how he and his companions got
along in their bachelors hall, but he
parted their questions with the adroit-
ness of an old stager. 1t was with diff
ficulty, however, that he dragged him
self away and joined his friends in the
long room near the cafe where more or
less inviting liquids are dispensed. 1t
may readily be surmised, however, that
he made no revelations as to events &C.
curing in the interim.
That night, just before the Vassar
girl dropped off to sleep, she whispered
to the red-haired girl: "You see, dear,
was the first to get an introduction to
one of your dudes, after all"
Nonsense, DEAR" croned the red.
haired girl, with a suggestion ~ tri-
umph in her drowsy tones. 81 have
been on excellent terms with the little
one with the sash for over week"
Silence.
Somehow or other a sort of cloud
hung over the house where the foui
young men dwelt. There were fewer
evenings spent by the four toge Their,
and tinge of restraint seemed to have
fallen over the party. Harry and Jack,
two of the handsomest and best
behaved boys in the world, who hac
hitherto been the life and soul of the
quartette, spent good many evenings
out as the summer wore on, and when
they did stay at home were less CHEEKY
and light-hearted than formerly. They
smoked necessarily and assisted yer.
littlein the conversation.
By the merest accident one Afternoon
'Tot," returning from slashing tennis
tourney at the park, saw Harry, al
about whom Dick, of course, had tol(
her, emerging from the house of one o
| her friends three blocks below her owl
| home. She hid behind her terrier unit
the youth had passed from sight anC
| then bounced in on the aforesaid friend
pleasing miss with pair of wicked
swapping black eyes.
''How long have you known him?
was the fair callers greeting.
Without detailing the conversation i
may be stated that the black-eyet
beauty confessed to six-weeks' &C
quaintance with the departed one, ant
from that the talk grew very confiden
tial.
"But do you know, Tot" said tn
little hostess, as the red-haired CIR
rose to CO. that there's somethin,
queer about that boy. If ever a felloy
loved me"-the black eyes glistened-
she does, but he seems to have some
thing on his mind. Tot, am ashame
to say it, but he has sworn he loves m
to death, aud has never let fall so muc
as a hint about marriage. And NOR
than that, his friend Jack. who live
with him, goes about with lilly here
my next-door neighbor, and she says h
acts in precisely the same. way"
During this speech ives gray eye
had been growing bigger and bigger
while each particular red hair shon
with added brilliancy. MAUD" sh
gasped, another of those dudes-th
one with the black sash-is in love wit
me- and his actions are precisely thos
you have described in the other tw,
There is mystery here, and we'll III
ravel it. Come up to my house Satul
day night and bring Tillie with YOU"
The black-eyed one agreed and the
parted.
"Dick," demanded the red-haire
girl, 'do you love me or do you not?"
They were standing in sequestere
spot in South Park on the scorchin
Saturday afternoon. The young ma
fumbled nervously at his sash. "Yo
know do, Tot" he observed, meekl,
Then" answered the red-haired gi
unabashed, will you marry me?'
A piteous look came into Dicks fac
Dbl" he stammered and could q
no further.
"You monster, you'll" calculated tn
red-headed girl, in white heat of pa
sion. You would have me woma
scorned, would you? You say you 10,
me. You Bah! l asked you to MARI
me for a bluff, so l did. Marry not
ing. You're milksop, dude. Yc
pretend you love me because you wal
a summer girl. wouldn't marry W
now if you got down on your knees al
begged me till you wore two holes
the grass each big enough to bury "
in"