The herald., 1898-07-31
MY SPRAINED ANKLE
) eeessssssessesssssssssss

Mabel and Bob are going to Eastsea,
and they have asked me to go with them.
I must say I am not in estasies over the
affair. Still, l may as well go. There Is
nothing on at home at present, and feel
a trifle seedy. Mabel, too, complains of
being dull Was she ever anything else?
/ can't say how thankful l am when,
having seen my bike safely in the van,
find myself in a first-class compartment
and l know that I am rid of mamman.
Mamma is trying at the best Of times.
but when I'm going away by myself she's
really awful.
Bob is waiting for me on the platform.
He says I look very we'll. l rather like
Bob. To be sure he is absolutely infat-
uated with Mabel, and pets and spoils her
in q way that is quite preposterous, but I
suppose he can't help it.
As 1 expected, 1 find her with that
martyred expression of countenance she
adopts when she wants mollycoddling. and
after dinner l march her off to bed. Bob,
who makes himself pitiable slave, says
he will sit with her little if l don't mind
being left alone. I say not Bit and tell
him I'll just have a short spin on my
wheel before it gets dark. At this Mabel
nearly goes into Mysteries She calls me
''imprudent."
II Is a pleasant evening, and I have the
road nearly to myself. AS / expected, the
place Is almost deserted-almost, but not
quite. Going down I pass gentleman on
test.
like the look of him. He is tall dare
saw my head would rest comfortably on his
shoulder-and as I steal a glance at his
face as 1 skim by l see that he is good
looking. Meeting him as 1 come back,
see that he is very good looking. l see
that he thinks the same of me. Our eyes
meet. He stares in admiration-and al
though 1 don't look back I know he stops
and looks after me. After all. it is lucky
I brought my new costume.
do see him again the following evening
This time I do look back, and he has
stopped and he is watching me. l am
vexed with myself for looking, and I know
i shall blush the next time we meet.
- II happened the ensuing morning. Com
ing out of the gate, nearly run against
him, In my confusion, drop my glove
He stoops to pick it up. So do I. Our hands
touch. He apologies. So do l. Them he
raises his hat and goes on his way.
AS luck has it, Mabel is witness of this
encounter from the sitting room window
Her face is just awful, and when get In
{ she begins"
HE stood and stared after you for fully
: five minutes" she says. nearly choking
. with indignation.
p Ibid he, really?" murmur, feigning as
tonishment Of course, I knew he had.
. How rude of him!"
"Ruder' Mabel echoes Carrie. you
: mustn't go out again alone. I shall tell
. Bob"
Well. this is a shocker. 1 don't want
Bob tackled on to me whenever go out, and
I make light Of the matter and tell her not
to be absurd. It's positively appalling how
staid and proper Mabel has become since
she was married
;. Well, she tells Bob, and. as he happens
Z TO be on the parade opposite, she points him
out. s
I. .'Isn't he communicating fellow?" she
says.
Looks like barber out for a holiday"
Bob rejoins.
''Why like barber?" ask. coldly.
HIS hair is cut so WE'LL
Aweek has passed. Affairs are approach
Ing q crisis. He loves me. know 1t. can
only escape him by using my bike, and ]
can't be always hiking. Besides, the
roads are not very good about Eastsea.
It's perfect shame we don't know eact
otfer. / am certain he is gentleman-iu
spato Of what Bob and Mabel say. He hal