Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1897-12-17
her lap and looked languishlngly a,

shocking, but history demands strict
truth-she put out her tongue at him.
rs that part of the programme, kid
die?" asked her cavalier, giving her
gentle shake.
"Yes-with silly boy like YOU"
what would you do If | were sensi,
ble?-
Nothing"
"'fhen how"
YOU'D begin, don't you seel'
Ralph blushed and felt bit uncoin-
Portable. lie didn't hold to the school
boy dlctum that girls are of no account.
He was too nice for that-and SO was
Maudie.
But Irritation at first hand seemed
rather awkward, and If any of the Eel.
lows heard of il! So he paused, doubt
fully, whilst Maudie bit her lip and
frowned.
"You'd better catch some more tid-
dlers,' she remarked, with 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 dull lad would have
felt humbled; but Ralph was neither.
So he just pnched her ear slightly ard
teased: IF you found me very nice
girl, I'd try"
The hot color rushed all over poor
little Maudies face, and something
choking surged up in her throat.
Ralph was so big and strong; she did
admire him so much, and looked upon
him asJquite her property. a tear came
up in her eye, almost, that he should
want some one nicer; but she didn't say
anything.
Perhaps ought to find a girl for
MYSELF" he suggested. She nodded,
constrainedly.
"She ought to be bit younger than
~"
"Of course"
sand pretty and nice"
Certainly"
"Well, who shall it be?" There was
mischievous twinkle in his dark eyes
He knew very well that there was no
girl so nice as Maudie. Il know. I've
just thought of one. Guess!"
II don't want to know" said she, sulk.
lily, plucking viciously at the long
grass.
shes awfully jolly continued he,
reflectively; sand pretty-my word!
l know she likes me. l think / shall
marry her when l grow up"
You'll change your mind, most like.
ly," said Maudie, savagely, "and she's
sure to. l don't want to talk about such
nonsense. i dare say she's nasty; and
you're horrid-right down horrid! And
/ don't believe he's anyone-only pre-.
tend"
mo, she isn't. I'll show her to you
some day."
II 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. II don't
see anyone she said, in a soft, pleased
little voice. you'll drop me, Ralphie."
"Yes, will, if you don't look at her
and say she's pretty" She opened her
eyes 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 good
many times. Ralph always did things
so thoroughly, You knowl And Maudie
didn't struggle, because a grown-up
woman wouldn't have, or because she
didn't want to, or both. It's no use
asking Inc which, for never could UNI
derstand female ways; and don't be-
lieye 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.
81 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, don't think b,
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-eye,
that looked fathoms deep. doubt
whether she was quite guileless little
Shi SitHti anu uOH v DtleNt There II
such thing!
II think he could" said Ralph, decid
eddy, "if the girl were you, Maudie."
But people would laugh at him."
Ralph WINGED little. "Of course, h,
wouldn't make a fool of himself befor,
people-like men," he said, loftily
"But he might like her very much, ant
make love to her when no one wa
about"
| "Ah! Might"
| And he might promise to marry he
when he grew up; and she might prom
Use him."
"Yes - they = might" murmure,
Maudie, looking at her shoes. Then tn
boys great arm went quietly round he
waist, and she let herself be drawn clos
to him, looking as happy asa woman
II know it sounds soft. Maudie," h
| said nchfuIIv Hh,,f ~, 49,, l..~.