Middletown transcript., 1896-01-25
Norton helped her 10 mount her cycle

hiJ thdt C3uiCdi uIctcu, S0uTl
ney was the reply. ..He is a regula
Diogenes, and ought TO be shut up in
: btufor the remainder of his natura
8 existe nce.,'
"Ob, do you think sop" replied Flor
a ence. II like Captain Courtney immens
: ly. "There is no friyolity or nonsens
about him; he always says what h
! means,
"Yes, and too plainly sometimes,
observed Norton. little bitterly. "a
a matter offact, don't think he is
good companion for any young girl
land wish you wouldn't encourage
, him quite so much.
Encourage him?v repeated Flor.
ence, with the slightest possible touct
of hauteur in her voice. "What do yor
mean?'
"Wby at the Dawsons' ball the
other evening you danced twice run.
ming with him, and then let him take
20 out to supper"
"And why? Because you were so
busily engaged with Laura Lifferton
that you forgot to come and fet ch me
as you had arranged"
my dear Florence" demonstrated
Norton, s'thas was misunderstand-
Ing, can assureyou. As explained to
you before, I have no recollection of
having made any arrangement with
you as to supper"
"Oh, well, don't let US quarrel about
it," interrupted Florence. '.Let us
change the conversation. What did
Captain Courtney say to upset you to-
day2n
"Ob, lie was chatting me about our
friendship"
>Yes?" inquired Florence eagerly.
"And what did you say?n
"Oh, ttold him that if burnt my
wings it wouldn't be your faultl'' re-.
piled Norton almost savagely.
Florence gave him a quick side
glance, and then, after a moment s
hesitation, observed: "That was a
somewhat silly remark to make, wasn't
it? 1t might lead him to think that
our alliance was not such success as
it undoubtedly ISL
81 don't think so,n answered Nor
ton. II gave him to understand that
we had not altered our opinions in the
least.''
"Oh that's all right, then! By the by, |
/ hope you did not forget to invite him |
down for the bazaar?''
''Oh, no, didn't forgell And that
reminds me-did you think of asking
little Laura to help?''
Whom do you meanp The Liffer-
Ton girl? have not asked her yet, for,
to tell you the truth, don't much
care for her. She lacks stability
and-well, to put it mildly, she's
somewhat too Eighty for my taste.''
"Oh, | hope you'll have herl"1
pleaded Norton. "She's a jolly little
girl, and always full or
''If you want her to come SO partic-
alarly," interrupted Florence, "InI
write to her directly we get back. And
-er-er-1 think we had better be
turning now; it looks as though it were
.oing to rain. y
The bazaar in question was one of
hose innocent conspiracies between
he parson and the ladies whereby GER
ain masculine creatures whose lazi-
less on Sunday morning prevents
hem from offering their aims and OBJ
ations, are wheealed. persuaded and
ajoled into assisting in the restoration
f the spire or some other equally t
ecessary and laudable object. y
On the eventful day the school room q
here stalls had been fitted up was a
srfect picture; what with pretty girls, .
farming dresses and lovely flowers, =
le effect upon the more youthful u
ichelors was bewildering, and the
lie of fancy articles, at still mole ~
ICY prices. Walt Oh apacs.
Captain Courtney was 5 anling near
= door, watching Florence and Nor II
II, and there is great deal of truth
the old adage that "Lookers on SEE st
ost of The game," especially when ar
g game is love. OF
5 rolling toward Norton, Courtney se,
i'd: Med, can I Pave two minutes, m
ation with you-quietlyP" be
"fes. dear boy, ceitainly,n replied a. a.
'rton. "Come this way. Now, what Sc.
it?'' SKI
Excuse me for putin, the question ae og
Iinly to you." commenced Courtney. ho
ut when two peoples happiness de- the
IDS upon the answer one may be ny
,doued for little bluntness. N. M
MT to know what your position is Boz
ID regard TO Miss Masters. - Ad
My positionf" repeated Norton. 0''
t flushing up his eyebrows and then
ming deathly pale; "I-I-I-don'tl !
te understand what you meanln day
Why, is that platonic arrangement thr
t you made In the sum mer still in =
'tence, or are you something nearer for
dearer than mere friends? Forgive
for catechising you in this way, but
know me we'll enough to be aware A
should never take such liberty Win
OF mere curiosity. I am sure for
! say no more; you will understand OF
and appreciate my motive when l ,ecs
lire whether. you are engaged to 80 = :
3 Masters, or if your feeling is still plsa, M
lily platunic.'' In :,
orton 'gasped two or three times tie. 5
q fish out of wal or and fho,. he ask