The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-31

YOU'D better catch some more It'd
dlers," she remarked, with q naughty
light dancing in her eyes. That's the
sort of thing for boys--silly, big boys!
A bad-tempered lad would have
grown angry, and a dull lad would have
felt humbled; but Ralph was neither.
So he just pinched her ear slightly and
leased: I'll you found NE very nice
girl, I'd try
The hot color rushed all over poor
little Maudie's face, and something
choking surged UP in her throat.
Ralph was so big and strong; she d!d
admire him so much, and lCoicd upon
him as quite her property. y tear came
up III her eye, almost, that he should
want some one nicer; but she didn' say
anything.
perhaps l ought to find a girl for
MYSELF" he suggested. She nodded,
constrainedly.
''She ought to be bit younger than
-"
''Of course
'And pretty and nice"
"Certainly."
"Weii, who shall it be?" There was a
mischievous twinkle in his dark eyes.
lie knew very we'll that there was no
girl so nice as Maudie. Il know. Eve
just thought of one. Guess!"
81 don't want to know" said she, sulk-
lily, plucking viciously at the long
grass.
shes awfully jolly continued he.
refectively; "and pretty-my word!
1 know she likes me. l think l shall
marry her when l grow up.
You'll change your mind, most like
ly," said Maudie, savagc-s, land she's
sure to. l don't want to talk about such
nonsense. l dare say she's nasty: 2nC
you're horrid-right down horrid! And
l don't believe he's anyone-only pre-
tend"
"No, she isn't. I'll show her to you
some day"
Il don't want to see her.
you'll have to-"
81 won't"
"You will-now." He put one strong
arm right round Maudie's waist, and
held her dangling over the brook.
Look" said he, pointing TO the waver-
ing reflection in the stream, Isn't she
ripping?"
Pretty Maudie blushed and laughed
and willfully shut her eyes. Il don't
see anyone" she said, in a soft. pleased
little voice. You'll drop me, Ralphie.''
Eyes, I will, if you don't look at her
and say she's pretty" She opened her
eyes q little, but she looked at him.
who's pretty?'
"The young person in the water"
THAT boy-do you mean? No-not
very" She turned her laughing, saucy
face up towards his. Her eyes were so
blue and big, her long hair brushed so
softly against his face, and her mouth
looked so cherry-riPe and fresh, that
he couldn't help kissing her q good
many times. Ralph always did things
so thoroughly, you know! And Maudie
didn't struggle, because grown-up
woman wouldn't have, or because she.
didn't want to, Or both. It's no use
asking me which, for never could IN
derstand female ways; and I don't be-
lieve anyone ever could.
Then they sat down very close to-
gether on the bank of the brook, with
their legs dangling, and said nothing
for moment. She looked half pleased
and half shy; and he, to tell the truth,
looked rather foolish.
Il wish did understand making love.
Maudie girl" said he, slowly
Boys don't like it,
Il expect they do, if they once be-
GIN"
"Buta boy couldn't make love really"
"Perhaps-with practice" he sug-
gested. Do you know, 1 don't think he
was such very simple boy.
ooh, no; not really
"Why?"
Because he couldn't fall properly in
love. Not very much, you know
Maudie' gazed at him with saucer-eyes
that looked fathoms deep. 1 doubt
whether she was quite guileless little
girl either; and I don't believe there i:
such a thing!
Il think he could" said Ralph, decid
edly, eff the girl were you, Maudie.'
but people would laugh at him.
Ralph WINGED little. s..Of course. b
wouldn't make fool of himself befor
people-lile men," he said, loftily
but he might like her very much, ant
make love to her when no one wa
about
"Ah! Might"
Sand he might promise to marry he,
when he grew up; and she might prom
Use him.
Eyes = they might" murmuree
Maudie, looking at her shoes. Then the
boys great arm went quietly round her
waist, and she let herself be drawn close
to him, looking as happy asa woman!
Il know it sounds soft, Maudie." he
said, bashfully, "but, on my honor. !
do like you an awful lot I don't tbinl,
any girl was ever half SO nice. Don't
you think you could promise to marry
me when we grow.up?''
YES" she whispered, nesting her
pretty head right into his shoulder 81
will, Ralph" And she did.-NTadame
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