Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-05-20
Playing at Sweethearts.

"Ye-es. oh, yes, OF course"
Whatever would become of the "Cere-
bral Convolutious2"
"But wouldn't it be rather bother
to your" ,
ooh, it wouldn't be any bother to
mel" she cried, excitedly. "We'd go
to the Tower and the stores and the
Crystal Palace and the Zoo and the
exhibition-and have tea in the gar
dens-and the opera and"
She saw my face fall. 81 only
meant to some Of them," she ex-
planned. "You always do take me to
the academy and one or two places,
don't you?'
ar shall like to take you TO some,
my dear" assured her. 81 always
enjoy myself when / do. But you
know / am finishing my book just
now"
"Oh,y esl won't worry you. Cousin
Frank. And--and-I could help you
with it, couldn't II" i almost groansd
aloud. Amanda on Cerebral Con-
volutions!
'I'm afraid it's rather too dry for
that"
81 might learn the typewriter and
copy it," she pleaded, anxiously. A
man is only fool, after all, however
much he studies and learns. Do you
know / suddenly bent down and
kissed her, and she blushed like a
carnation.
~ won't let you blunt your finger
tips with typewriter" / said, gal
lantly. But you shall copy some
pieces for me - till you find some nice
young man and your engagement
ends" 1t was best to have clear
understanding, thought.
"Ye-es," said she, thoughtfully;
"but oh, Cousin Frank-suppose l
didn't find any one else?"
"Then / shall have to marry you
myself. 1t would be better than old
Plutus, wouldn't itP"
ooh, yes. But / shouldn't LIKE
couldn't bear to think that you had
sacrificed yourself to me. / should be
such bother, shouldn't ~"
/ looked down affectionately on the
rumpled hair and inquiring eyes. 81
think think, Mandy" said, gen
thy, 81 could put up with you very
well. But we have been 80 used TO
look upon one another in n different
light that it's rather late to change.
You see, dear, I have grown into a
fdgety old bachelor"
You're not really old, and you're
never tidgety with me, and owe you
80 much"
I'd merely paid for her schooling
and pocket money aud so on. l prom
ised old Tom-poor old Tom!--that
I'd take care of his girl.
"That's nothing to do with it,
Mandy" said, slowly. "You see,
I've lot Of interests which you could
never share" She shook her head,
doubtfully. "And like to rush of,
when I'm not working, to mems rec
reations--to play cricket, to watch
| football Or"
al like watching football" she OBJ
served, eagerly.
"Pm used to having meals when
please and going out when I like and
coming in when I like. OF course, /
couldn't do that if / had wife. 1t
wouldn't be fair"
'It would be little lonely for her, I"
said Amanda, wistfully.
80" / continued, resolutely, re-
sisting an absurd impulse to kiss her
again, 'though think you the incest
little woman in the world, dear"-she
smiled just like the sun coming out
cit would be better for you to find
some one younger and less crotchety."
She tapped the ground rapidly with
one little foot. Meanwhile, we're
engaged, you know, and we must live
up to it. Where shall l take you to-
morrow"
"Oh, no! You must do n lot Of your
book tomorrow and give me some
copying to do-about brains aud spines
and things"
Nonsense, child! Don't / always
take you out when come to town.
Shall we go to the academy" She
laughed her old childish laugh.
"And lunch at a restaurant" she
inquired, delightedly. "And go to
the Crystal Palace afterwards and
have tea in the gardens and see the
variety show and dine on the terrace
like we did last year?" She squeezed
nv arm in her old way. won't il be
iolly?"
The next day took her to the Zoo
and smiled to see her laugh at the
monkeys. The day after 1 took her
70 the exhibition and up the big
wheel aud put my arm round her be-
cause she was frightened, or pretended
to be. / squeezed twice for good
night. Then began to see that it
would be bad for the Cerebral Con-
| voIutionsu ~ this sort of thing went