The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1900-09-15

~" iSoi thein Dlu you nave &c
i've on rice? Are you able to com.
mand people to do what you will? How
do you explain our both going tc
church, Did you will that 1 should
go?"
ise?"
"What?"
i saw you go in."
"Really?"
"Really!"
"How odd"
"How lucky"
"Why?"
For me. l mean"
"Oh, nonsense. Now don't spoil
everything by saying anything silly
i wasn't going to. But you know
every fellow has an ideal girl"
But we've only known each other
part of summer"
Il feel as though I'd known you all
my life."
DO you always say that to girls?"
You're the only girl l ever"
"Loy >d?"
Talked sense to. l haven't paid
you one compliment-now have ~"
"0h, l shouldn't have liked you at
all II you talked in that way"
"But-honestly, / knew that you
were not a girl who wanted a man to
say pretty things to her all the time.
l think those girls are stupid"
"Oh, l think it's great fun to be
chums without any nonsense"
"What do you call nonsense?"
"Flirtation.'
Mind waves are strictly platonic."
"Then we shall not misunderstood
each other. Oh, have often longed
to be understood"
81 am sure that ! understand you.
| have always thought, do you know,
Miss-well, 1 declare, I've forgotten
your first name."
why, you've never heard it, have
you? It's Marion"
"Marion?"
"Yes. What's yours?"
.Fine?"
"Yes.'
mine is Marcus Aurelius."
Goodness"
IFS a fact"
"I suppose people call you Mark"
People that know me well call me
Mike"
"Mike2r
"Yes. Please call me Nike"
"Yes-it will be more like pla-
tonic mind wave il we call each other
by our first Names"
"Aren't you engaged to some onc?"
"Goodness-no! Are your"
"Was once. Never will be again.
81 think it's bad form to fall in
love. l never have and never shall
We're you very. much in love?" n
81 wasn't in love at ALL"
"But you said you were engaged"
$50 / was. 1t just happened. She
was a widow"
"Poor boy!"
"Yes-wasn't it?"
"Was it very long ago?"
Ever SO long ago. had quite for
gotten"
How long ago?"
"H-h-uh?"
How long ago was it?"
"Let me see. 1t was-yes-it was
last August"
"Oh!"
"Yes."
"Was she pretty?"
"Oh-er-some might think so. She
wasn't at all like you. I have always
wanted to meet girl with real vio-
let eyes"
Really"
She dipped her fingers in golden
bowl Then she said across the table
in hoarse whisper without looking
up:
"Mike?"
"Yes-Marion?
Don't look around. For that hor-
rid East Indian is bringing lot OF
look round-that we
down the room-and
they see us"
"Rubbering, are they?"
They're staring like anything.
There are the vanderkycks, and the
Highballs and the Westburys and
your sister and her husband and
and OH -Chappyi"
Great Scotti-
"Quick-what shall we say-they're
bowling"
s'why, put bold face on It'll"
Eyes, but how? 1t looks simply
dreadful. They win think we met
Chappy's glaring through
her lorgnette. They must have come
into town for dinner"
"Are you afraid?"
lawfully"
well. there's only one thing to do
now"
"Quick. what?"
sAnnounce til"
AAnnounce what? The mind waves7''
aNo-our engagement.v
Mike, The ideal"
-Marion--they'r slinost here.
Just leave it to me. It's the only
way! Smile and look pleasant Well,
ren! As liyei Who'd have thought
IT meeting you all herel Isn't this
just too jeily for anyihiDgi"-x. r
ssaa.