The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-12-09
II am quite convinced"

II am quite convinced"
"You have firted with lot of girls;
I'm sure you ought to know" Kilien
retorted.
This Thanksgiving ends one girl
with me-" I announced.
"Really," she said.
cts you, Kilien."
Don't be ridiculous. Charlie"
"That blessed chap" and / pointed
to Stavers. has separated u.s."
do be pleasant. Remember it's
Thanksgiving. Teddy is going to give
the bride away"
II must say, Kilien, I don't think
much of this way of doing things" l
went on.
ut was the only way to avoid talk
and scandal"
"Avoid it," 1 cried.
"You don't understand" she said.
stiftly; you don't at all. There was
Lady Stavers' opposition-'
'Opposed to you'll" T cried. "1mpos-
sible!''
"You are very complimentary, cousin
mine," she said, with another gay turn
of laughter; and she dropped me lit
tie courtesy in the moonshine. Then,
suddenly, she drew Ulysses nearer
Bab's head and extended her hand, 50
as to pat the mares neck. "But am
glad to have you interested in me,
Charlie-when there are so many other
girls.''
"Kilien!" / cried; but with mock
ing answer, she pulled Ulysses away
and fell back to Teddy and Roche.
Betty Burton and the earl rode on be-
fore, which thought rather queer un-
der the circumstances. But then, STAY
ers was to have Kilien all his life, l
muttered to myself, with half mind
to upset the whole plot.
At last the little stone church doomed
up-a bit of Gothic against the whit
ened hillside. Nlien whipped up and
dismounted before US.
You know Teddy is Betty's cousin,
Mr.. Roche"
Eyes, of course"
'He will give her away"
BY this time we were in the aisle. I
was watching Kilien. Could under
stand her rightly?
Miss Dandy is my good angel" said
Stavers at last. Betty Burton stood
by his side, looking just bit embar-
raised.
"Why, Betty" said l, crossing over,
cts you, then? l thought you hardly
knew Lord Stayers."
I'VE met in Florence last spring."
said Betty. demurely.
It's extraordinary what actresses
women are. Who would have suspected
this little girl of that affair? All, Kilien
had; Kilien had known. My temper
changed in moment; and now knew
something about my own feelings that
1 perhaps shouldn't have discovered
had it not been for this episode.
My cousin didn't look at me that mo-
ment: she kept me at distance.
my dear friends, this is sort oil
Thanksgiving surprise party; but, since
I have persuaded you, let me explain ~
Like the epilogue in the play" said
Teddy.
Il hope" said Kilien, accepting the
conceit, 'that may prove a good cpl.
logue. These two people met in Flor
ence, you know. Lord Stavers came
over here-oh! you blind ones-after
Betty Burton. But Lady Stavers
doesn't approve. and so Mr.. Burton,
who is rather proud, wouldn't have it.
Now they will have to approve; have
planned it. That's the whole story"
II feel easier about making my peace
with Mr.. Dandy, now that you have
explained it, Miss Kilien," Roche was
saying; but 1 was pulling my cousin
aside.
"Yet Betty is so poor" began, be-
cause didn't dare say something else.
"True; she won't restore Fenlev
house. But the earl says he doesn't
hold money as altogether the most i'm.
portant circumstance IN this world"
II think he is very good fellow"
acknowledged, looking at him as he
stood by the young woman who in a
few moments was to become countess
OF Stavers and Billion.
II thought you didn't" she said.
'You know why?"
mo, don't; insist don't"
Then l will tell you-in so many
Words
"You needn't
Il love you, Kilien," I cried.
"Oh! we have known each other too
long"
This, being Thanksgiving, propose
to make the acquaintance rather more
-say-at Christmas
"Christmas! that's rather sudden"
She looked at me. and into my eyes:
the organ began playing.
"They are all watching US, Charlie.
Wait"
Its now or never" said, rather
angrily.
"Well, well-you are so provokingly
persistent. I'll make it Christmas"
said my Cousin Kilien.