The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1899-05-04


she insisted
"Yes, it's an awful plunge. he said,
with solemn air
@"You see, Reggie, there's an applaud
ing crowd watching to see me take it. "
sit would be an awful sell for them,
wouldn't it," he suggested. putting
down his hat.
What?' j oan asked
"lt ISN'T too late, he insisted.
"Too later
JOAN" he whispered, and he cap
tured the hand which held the bunch
of primroses dearest, we're at fhe
parting of the ways
"Oh, please don't be tragic. Reggier'
1--WE can go together, or we can-we
can do the other thing
81 don't think can,'' she said.
"Why not?'' he whispered.
"I-I'm just little afraid -
"But shall be there, dear. A rather
rough road-perhaps-at first, but to-
gether, you know"
"All my people,
Reginald astonished her by the blunt
ness of his retort
"You oughtn't to speak like that of
them, :" she said reproachfully.
'No, oughtn't," he admitted
"But what say doesn't matter The
word is with YOU.
/ Chow often have I said itp' she
cried.
"But this time there seems kind of
fnality about it," he said ruefully,
and as he spoke hanson drove up to
the door.
"That is Lord Roper, " she exclaim-
ed, darting to the window.
"Am to go?" he asked.
"Oh, please
GOOD by, Joan, - he said and took
his hat again.
"You will meet him on the stairs,
she cried as Reginald stepped toward
the door.
II will stay if you like. " he offered.
coming to a standstill.
II don t think'-
"Oh, very welll'' he said, turning
away.
"Perhaps you had BETTER" she ex-
claimed, coming toward him. And.
Reggiel"
eyes," he said, meeting her half
way.
IF you care for the primroses''-
81 do, he returned.
ss.N.sShall p
She drew quite close, and standing
on tipped toes (she was small person)
deftly placed the bunch in the button
hole of Reginald's frock coat Suddenly
Joan sprang away and the door opened.
Lord Roper entered with the air of a
successful wooer, but seeing Reginald
he appeared ludicrously astonished. He
stroked his dyed mustache with one
hand while he held his hat in the other
Joan's face grew red as a peony, and
Reginald looked down at the bunch of
primroses in his buttonhole His atti-
tude seemed to arrest Lord Roper's at
tention. Then he darted sharp glance
about the room.
"Those are the first primroses have
seen this year, ;" he said.
"Harbingers of spring." remarked
Joan, with smile
"You attach a great significance tc
them, then. Miss .oan?' continued
Roper coolly
"Oh, yes; am not like Peter Bell.
she answered
II am afraid l can't stay to see your
people after all, y" said Lord Roper 81
am like the Irishman," he continued,
with a smile; 81 am here only to say
couldn't come. -
II am sorry, Lord Roper
"Oh, we'll, it is the fortune of war,
he said, land the spoils go to the vic
tor"
"But a battle may be drawn, she
cried. with rather apprehensive glance
at Reginald, ''and," she added, "there
may not be any serious casualties >
With that she offered her hand, ano
he pressed it slightly Then he nodded
to Reginald and went away
"He bears it well, said Reginald a!
the door closed
"Bears what?" Joan asked. with E
sigh.
why, his defeat, answered Reg
gle; Though l don't see how ht
knew
II suppose it was the primroses, sh,
said demurely
"Did he''-
"He brought them from Roper Parl
this morning" she said. and Joar
sighed again. ...-e.
Roper is not bad sort of fellow >
he remarked.
"Oh. respect him immensely T. crie(
Joan.
"And you respect his dictum. Regi
nald suggested
"What do you mean?' she asket
quickly
: "The spoils to the victor. You know. ,
! said Reggie, and he took her hands
Are they worth having?" she whis
/ pered.
"Darling'-
"And yeti
"Yes?" he said, as she stopped
"l-l hesitated, Reggie. dear = sh
murmured. dropping her eyelids.
"Stlll, You were not lost. he mur
INJURED, drawing her closer
I 1t was rather near thing. " sh
said If you had not Gomez
"Well?'
II might have been tempted
Z Never mind the might have been
( Joan, . he urged
! "And yet r.
"Yes?''
"Oh, you knowp' she said, hidin
her face against his coat
"You loved me all the time, dear
"Cf course''-
THAT is all l wantl'' he cried. :
Thomas Cobb in Black and White
! Perhaps one of the most unique ides
for causing an umbrella that has bee
} exchanged by mistake to be returned I
( its owner is that of Bangor gentlema
who has painted in bold, white letter
I on the inside of his earthly parachut
the following reminder. ''Stolen froi
lJohn -, - Ohio ST.. Bangor. Me.