The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-10-09
A Period Of Probation.
Six Months Was Set For His
Trial, but This Was Short
ened a Little.

-lT-ss-Ssss.sss
Teddie had sighed six times in FIVE min
utes, so had to ask him what was the
matter.
"Thc fact is. Maisie." he confessed,
sI'm in love"
"Again?"
'The other times l wasn't-not really"
"Teddy Boyd" l said severely, Il have
often told you that you are silly boyv'
He Is my cousin and not two years old
er than ! am, so | can speak plainly TO
him.
you're always down on a fellow"
IF I'm down on you, why do you al
ways come to me with your ridiculous
love afrairs?"
81 suppose l can smoke a cigarette 2"
he asked.
81 suppose you can. If 1t Is q mild one,
1t probably won't hurt you. How many
does this make in the last six months?'
'CigarettesT
'Objects of alteration"
",The others weren't. 1 only fancied-
err
Indeed you have a short memory. Do
you remember what you told me about
Katy Norrington? She was the first
great passion, believer"
'Oh, WE'LL
''Her hair was like sunset, wasn't it?
call it red. Her eyes
I'm going" he announced savagely.
''Very WELL" composed myself on the
sofa. 'Goodbyw lie went out, slam
ming the door.
"Ted0ie!" called. He returned, look
ing rather sulky.
Would you mind giving me the book
of the piano before you goa" He brought
it ungraciously.
There's good boy" He made for
the door again. "And-Teddie!'
.WellF' he growled.
Kindly close the door gently. There
are such things as nerves."
I'D like to-shake youp he said saw
agely.
you daren't" He did-not very hard.
You horrid, spiteful boy!" l cried in
dignantly.
You aggravate a fellow So" he ex-
planned. l turned my face away and
pretended to be angry.
'Please 60" said loftily. He didn't.
THE truth is" he avowed, at is very
serious this time" He sat down again.
Heidi look more solemn than usual.
u don't want to know anything about
it, said snappishly.
Don't be disagreeable"
I'm not" / was rather. You see.
Teddie is very useful to take me out and
execute commissions, and so on. IL he
fell properly in love, he would be no use
at all.
Il don't believe you"
Honor bright" l compressed my Inns
and sat bolt upright. From the time
when he was in knickerbockers you could
always trust him when he made that a.
firmation.
'Who is she?''
IN tell you presently"
What is she like? Beautiful, OF
course"
i call her awfully pretty"
mo doubt. Dark or fair?"
"Dark-as YOU"
''Tall or short?''
"Oh-about medium"
Moderation is excellent in nil things.s
i agreed. am medium" myself. What
color are her eyes?"
"Well-er-l don't know what color
you'd call thcm-hazel or brown or-what
color do you call yours?"
Il call them brown. You told me thew
were 'nondescript' a few weeks ago,
but
II didn't mean It," he FASTENED to dis.
claim They are very charming eyes
really, hers-and yours"
Il am delighted to meet with your an
provai. ! hope she has also a pretty
mouth like mine"
IF you refer to what said last Christ
mas?"
when you were old enough to know
better" l remarked severely. 1t was in
aonnQrfinu with he s,a,. TT
situated THAT my mouth was large. did
not agree with him.
Il was only joking, OF course" be ex-
planned. 81 don't like a woman's mouth
to be too small"
'She has not rosebud mouth, thenY'
"Oh-er-medium, you know. | don't
dissect her. Taking her altogether, she's
the prettiest girl I've ever SEEN"
80" said, "were the Others"
''The Others" he vowed. "were not
worth mentioning in comparison with
her. This time I'm in earnest, Maisie-
dreadfully in earnest"
lin rather sorry. Tedde," / con-
fessed somewhat woefully. "It's very
selfish of me, but you've made yourself
30 useful lately
''Have l really? Tn awfully glad. L
was afraid perhaps I'D been rather nui-
sanee. coming here so much"
"Of course you havev
Then howl don't Sec he began.
"You are silly boy" l said. He is.
We were silent for a few minutes.
Then thought I'd been rather Disagree
able. So smiled pleasantly.
You are good boy all the same,"
said. ''Now tell me her name"
He caught hold of my wrists so sud-
Aenly that jumped. do you mean to
say that you don't know?" he blurtcd