The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1895-07-13

the servants were there-and-oh, il
would be awful"
l put my hands in my pockets and
surveyed Flo.
What should we have to do?"
asked, with curiosity.
Make a loathsome p%retense of-ot
still caring for one another, l suppose
said Flo, with a groan of prospective
horror.
But what should we have to do?" l
persisted. ] wanted details. SHOULD
we have to talk?"
Yes" snapped Flo.
SHOULD l." l pursued, taking q
step towards Flo, "have to kiss you?"
"Oh, 1 suppose wonder why you
don't go!'
And would you have to kiss me?"
To this question 1 received no an
swer at all. But 1 was bound to ex-
tract ope; l could not leave the matter
unsettled. So l rang the bell.
What are you ringing for?" said Flo,
facing round suddenly.
For the footInan," said I, nodding
my head.
l SIlOu1u JldNo JllolRhO NOu SOu4u
find your way out" and she right
about-faced again.
Then William opened the door.
Did you ring, sir?' he asked, OBJ
| serving, l suppose, that Flo did not APP
pear to want anything.
Yes, William, l rang. l want"
ats a mistake, William" came sud-
denly from the window.
"No, it isn't" said !. 81 must ask
William"
Nonsense, Dick! It's only Mr.. Van
sittart's joke, William"
"Well, them" said I, ''can we do it
without William? If SO, he can CO."
There was the slightest of pauses.
Then Flo said:
Yes, you may go, William"
William, looking somewhat puzzled,
withdrew; and then Flo, muck flushed,
turned round once for all.
81 can't think" said she, chow you
can be SO foolish. l don't know what
you'd have done in another minute"
~ should" l answered, ''have kept
up Appearances"
FIo's lips twitched a little. / saw it
in a moment.
at is perfectly useless for me-" l OBJ
served, plaintively, ito try to escape
from you. Your resentment is not to
be relied upon for a quarter of an hour.
l am nearly heart-broken about Phil
ippa MardA."
"Well, I'm most sore about Capt.
Worsley."
But" said I, I'm going to be a man.
I'm going to forget Philippe and keep
my word to you. Will you put the cap
tain out of your hearth"
"ru try" said Cousin Flo.
Because you know if, after we are
married, you speak of him with re-
greet"
''Or if you seem to wish Philippa
had"
"All those terrible things will hap
pen"
Yes, l know. Dick. Are we really
wise toto risk it2"
knitted my brows. It was really a
serious question. l studied Flo's
features.
I'm puzz led" I answered. You're
very charming, Flo, but"
Il don't trust you, Dick"
There was a long sad pause. Flo
held out her hand with a gesture of
farewell. Hooked in her eyes. ! took
the hand.
1T is really best" said Flo, gently.
81 suppose it is" said !, rather for
lornlv. squeezing her hand,
Marriage is such an irrevocable
step" Flo reminded ME.
well, anyhow, it's very trouble
some to-"
land if" interrupted Flo, when it
was too late, when we awoke to the
fact-No! G~-good-by. Dick"
"Good-by, Flo" said 1 much moved.
Thus we parted. l took my hat, and,
without a backward glance, started
for the door.
At this moment, ~curiously enough,
the door opened. William came in.
please, miss" said he, teas ready
in the drawing-room."
Thank you, William" said Flo, in a
very low voice.
William withdrew. I stood media
lively in the middle of the room. Then
l put my hat down.
Hang it." said l, resting my eyes on
Flo's face, I'VE shall always have the
servants!"
The servants?" murmured Flo, in
question.
why, yes" said I, and l began to
smile. And, If the worst comes to the |
worst, we must" I paused and took
Flo's hand again.
"We must what, Dick?" she asked. |
1--WE must" answered, rub along
on keeping up appearances"
We were disgracefully late for tea
Idler.
He who always prefaces his tale '
with laughter is poised between i'm !
and folly,-Layater.