The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1900-02-23

dry-but of course it was all the fault
of those ''bcastly examinations Will
himself sail 50. The last one of all
was a mere scrawl-written a week
before college closed Miriam kissed
the signature before she put the letter
back in the bundle Short or long,
after all, what did letters matter? In
a few minutes she would have Will
himself.
When she heard his ring, she stood
up, her heart huttering nervously, her
color coming and going like a school
girls. But she would not 60 down
right awav-not until the first meet
ings were over and he had asked for
her. Then she would slip down and
in, and Will would spring to meet her
and shake her hand with little shy
squeeze, as of old, and give her a sig
nilicant look from his blue eyes. TEen,
after a while, when it grew dusk, she
would slip out to the naples, and Will
would follow her, and put his arms
around her, and tell her he had come
for his answer. She planned it all out,
as she walked up and down the floor,
listening to the sounds below. The
minutes passed. very slowly, but still
nobody came. Half an hour went by
before Kate came flying upstairs and
into the room.
"Mirry, why on earth dontyou come
down? Don't you know Will is here!
He's asking for you. Well, | guess
We are dressed up to night, we just are.
Verify Solomon in all his glory was
not arrayed like my beloved sister Mi
riam North, when her youthful beau
comes home from college. You'll take
Wills breath away completely, Mirry,
if you swoop down upon him in all that
splendor at once Hadn't better 60
down and prepare him.
"Don't be diotic, Kate" said Miriam,
not so sharply as she might have.
Kate stood aside in meek awe to let
her pass. She went down stairs a lit
tie dizzily, and paused for an instant
at the par!or door with sense of going
through some carefully rehearsed per-
formance.
Will was sitting on an ottoman, with
his right foot hooked over his left knee,
and his hat and cane OF the chair be-
side him, vigorously discoLrsing to
open -mouthcd Bob on the events of his
freshman year and the singular hazing
practices of sophs at college.
Becoming aware of Miriams pres
ence. he sprang up eagerly and gave
her hearty handshake, without any
attempt at the oldtme free masonry of
squeeze.
"Why, Mirry, is it you? thought
you weren't going to come down to see
fellow at all You're looking we'll,
though-;sn't she, Bob? How are you,
Mirry?"
"Tm-I'm very WE'LL" stammered
Miriam, family. 1t was the solitary
thing she could think Of saying as she
1
backed awkwardly to seat in the cor
ner. Will dropped back on his otto
man and resumed the interrupted
thread Of his speech to Bob. Miriam
listened vaguely without understand
ing word of it. Everything seemed
to be horribly flat and anti-climacteric
to her.
When Kate and Mrs. North came in
again Will turned himself around to
take in the circle. He had not changed
much in appearance; there was faint
dark line on his upper lip, which he
caressed with infinite care.
When it grew dusk Miriam rose and
went noiselessly out. She had been
pacing up and down under the naples
for long while before Will came down.
He was smoking cigar, which he re-
moved for an instant as he came up to
| her.
Hope you don't object to Il cigar,
Mirry?'
"Oh, n not at all, gasped Miriam.
"GIad of that" said Will, carelessly,
| "It's 5castly bore when fellow can't
enjoy his cigar in peace. You were
always a sensible sort though, Mirry.
Fine evening, isn't it? How have yon
been getting on?"
"Oh, very well,' fatty.
"Any prospects of a lively time in
Lynnboro this summer, or is it going
to be as dull as it usually isl
II don know" faltered poor Miriam
confusedly; "there is some rumor of q
few garden parties or So"
"Beastly bores,' said Will, with
whom the expression seemed 4 pet one
"Well, of course one doesn't expect
much go in place like this. Just as
well, | suppose, one way you look at it.
! I've got some studying to do this sum-
mer Got plucked in Greek and chem
this spring, and have to take the beast
ly supplemcntaries in September"
Glow did you get on in your eXami-
nations, WIZ" inquired Miriam, pluck
ing up little courage at the prospect
! of subject which she could talk about
! to him.
/ "Well," said Will, contilentially, Il
don't mind telling you, Mirry, because
| I know You'll keen it close IOu al