Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1897-06-23

done so, and | wonder you can't see
what pity Ii Is to go on talking about
them till they become anything but
source Of pleasure. 1t is so silly, and
50 very gratuitous."
But assure you, my dear girl, that
l did not send the flowersm said Jobu-
ston, with desperate earnestness.
Gertie whistled, and Mrs. Wilkins
looked grave
Really, Dick, this Is too much. II
you Will insist in continuing to amuse
yourself in this way, 1t shall not be at
my expense. When you think the joke
Is exhausted, you can let me know"
With this Miss wilkins swept out of
the room; and Johnston feared by the
look on her face that her anger would
not be easily appeased.
There was silence for some moments.
why don't you own up?' said Ger
tie, as she followed her sister out of
the room.
When she was left alone with him,
Mrs. Wilkins appealed to Johnston
again.
Really, Richard" she said, with tho
sort of kind severity one would ex-
tend to fractions lunatlc, II think 1t
Is Il pity that the evening should be
spoiled in this way; especially when it
promised to be so pleasant. Whatever
your reasons for this obstinacy may
be, Is 1t worth while making us all un-
happy?"
Poor Johnston looked dismal and des-
perate enough. The joke had evidently
lost It's point for him.
May tell Gwendollne when go up.
stairs that-the mood has passedy
continued Mrs. wilkins.
THAT the mood has passed." 1t was
too much for poor Johnston's temper.
YES" he said. Say I'm awfully
sorry that l didn't admit at once that
l sent the flowers" This was strictly
true.
THAT'S right" said Mrs. wilkins
eheerfully, as she left the room
Johnston was sore and savage; but
he did not see why other peoples un-
reasonableness should spoil his even
ing. If they We're so determined that
he had sent the flowers, he would con-
tradlct them no more.
Presently Miss Gwendoline reappaer-
ed. She had evidently determined to
overlook Johnston's perversity; and he
soon forgot his troubles. When that
peculiar degree of tenderness had been
reached which prompts lovers to ad-
dress each other in the third person,
Miss wilkins began playfully to i'm
prove the occasion.
"And he won't be a silly boy any
more?' Qnterlude) "And he won't
tell any more naughty stories?" Can
other interlude. Say, 4 send the
flowers" attempted interlude) NO,
not till you've said it,
At this happy moment and before
Johnston could reply, Gertie burst into
the room with the simple ejaculation:
"Wenw
She stood in the doorway regarding
poor Johnston with stern accusation In
her eye; and he quailed before that
glance, realizing instinctively that he
was "in for it, again
You really must not bounce about
the house like that Gertie," said Miss
Wilkins, with some irritation; ''you
make one think that something dread
full has happened. Whatever is the
matter?"
ASK him." said Gertie, pointing to
the miserable Johnston, who awaited
his fate with the fortitude of despair.
1T was a good Joke, wasn't it z" con-
tinued the mistress of the situation.
mo wonder you laughed so much.
What a pretty pair of fools we must
have seemed, Gwenr
What do you meanP' asked Miss
wilkins, with rising lmpatience
why, l mean the flowers, of course"
"'Then allow me to tell you that we
have agreed to let that subject drop
once and for ALL"
"Oh, have wei" replied Gertie. "Un-
fortunately, there Is someone at tho
door who won't let it drop. The boy
Is here again"
What boy?"
1.-The boy who brought the flowers"
"WellW
"He wants them back. There's been
a mistake. He ought to have left them
at No 8 instead of No. 10"
Conscious of the Indignation kind.
ling in his sweetheart's eyes. Johnston,
with the inspiration of despair saw
that there was only one course poSsi-
BILE to save the situation
He burst into as plausible an affecta-
ton of hearty laughter as his nervous
ness would permit. The ladies looked
mystifled, but unrelenting.
BE good enough to explain your
self" said Miss Wilkins.
ITS awfully funny, isn't it?' said
her sister sarcastically.
1T Is. 1t is," laughed Johnston.
Don't you see? It's part of the joke,
telling the boy to come back for the
flowers. Ha, ha, ha! 1t was to make
you believe that 1 didn't really send
them" And leaving no time for ques-
tioning, Johnston rushed downstairs,
thrust sovereign into the boys hand,