The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-10-09

be SO foolish' I've great mind to DO
very angry"
Angry. Maisie"
What business have you to speak to
me like this when you don't know your
own mind for five minutesy The other
girls
"They weren't half as nice as you,
Maisie."
''you thought so then"
NO. | didn't. Why, | often told you
that should never get a sweetheart half
so nice as my little sister Now didn't
IT' nodded slowly. "Only it never oc-
Cured to me that was in love with
you"
ut doesn't occur to me that am in
love with you.''
"oh, Maisie. trym shook my head.
"You are too changeable should be
afraid"
"I'll wait week"--I laughed-"a
month"
"A year?' He looked very miserable.
III you won't let me off with less, You
won't Dirt with other fellows, win ycu,
Maisie?"
81 never Dirt" stated. with surprise.
cob. look here
swell, nothing to speak of" said has
tliy .Alu IL tubOScs WHY EuOutuli
"Because--you knowp' He looked at
me as u he was really in earnest. think
| rather hoped that he was upon the
whole. won't you promise?a he plead
ed. Don't you like me a little bitT'
Il like you a great deal, Teddic No,
no! You mustn't won't have it, Teddie
Il mean itl' | pushed him away and
stood up.
'But II you like me-
'As a big brother
Nothing morcg' He put his great
hand on my shoulder and looked down
at me. He is rather good looking.
I'm afraid, Teddie," said, we've
been brother and sister so long. Besides,
you'd get tired of me in a fortnight"
"You are not the sort of girl to let
fellow get tired of you"
Possibly" | said, IL might prefer not
to have to keep lover by my own exer-
TONS" He was silent for a long time.
He looked so miserable that l was quite
sorry for him.
Don't you think it possible for fell
low to have been in love with a girl
whom he met constantly without know
ing it'll" he asked.
''Ye-es," I admitted. 81 suppose 1t is.
Rut-Teddie" | laid my hand on his
arm.
"Yes. MaisieT'
at is also possible for him to fancy
that he is in love with her when he
isn't"
I'm as sure as''--
"You were about the other girisw He
hung his head. Dear old boy, you've
been the best of fellows to me always:
but don't you think you ought to go away
for time and see il you do not change
your mind, before you speak to me like
this? Wouldn't it be fairer to meY'
IN go to Uncle Jacks tonight" he
said, impulsively. Hes been expecting
me for long time. And I'll stay as long
as you like" smiled a little.
''Six months?' He pulled his mus
tache.
Its an age, but He waited for me
to offer reduction, but did not. an
CO."
THANK you. Teddie." l gave him my
hand to shake, and he kissed 1.-THE silly
fellow.
~ shan't come back till the six months
are up" he vowed, sunless you send for
me-"
II am not likely to do that" said.
You'll let me write to you?'
Il can't prevent you"
'Do you want top laughed.
''No." He laughed too. IN
you'll write back?"
"Well-once week"
"And won't firt with any oneY'
Il shan't promise any such thing" I
said determinedly. l didn't then, but in
the evening before he went he seemed
so anxious that had to promise some
thing Of the sort. Also he persuaded me
to kiss him just once-it was as a cousin,
impressed upon him.
Next day he wrote to me. 1t was a
very nice letter and a very long one. l
shouldn't have thought he could write
like 1t. lie inclosed some verses.
should believe that he was in earnest
when he broke out in poetry, he said.
This was the poetry"
IN LOVE.
Since Maisie kissed me all the earth
Has seemed a-dood with laughter;
The sun and moon run mad with mirth.
!. The stars go twinkling after.
The wee birds eyes are opened wide,
= Because they saw her do it;
! The flowers smile sly aside,
- In love, OF course; We knew itl''
e The merry wind comes whispering,
& The humming bees all yellow,
( And song birds sing and church bells ring,
"oh. lucky, lucky fellowi''
Dear Aaisie smiles and bushes, though
She said twas as a cousin;
II cousins kiss their cousins 90,
Next time I'll take a dozen.
No words to say have today,
I'm thinking, thinking, thinking;
Loves rosy wine last night was mine,
And mein'ry still Is drinking.
The moon. the earth, the stars and sun
Are full OF life and laughter;
They know. when loves first kiss is won,
thousand follow after.
This is what wrote back:
Ny Dear Teddie:
You wrong in saying that you cannot write
a nice letter.
You are wrong in supposing that your verses
are poetry"
You are wrong about the sun, and the moon,
and the rest OF the things
You are wrong in supposing that it was as
anything but cousin