The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1900-12-13


would you like me to record SOL
emn affirmation upon the subject? ?" he
inquired.
'No." smiled at him as gayly as
I could. II won't be made an accessory
before the fact"
'What fact?''
Perjury" He shrugged his shoul-
ders.
"You are in teasing mood" he sug-
gested.
cam I? You don't mind, do you?"
Not a bit!" He laughed. He had
no business to have such q frank, hon
est laugh, thought, Indignantly. 81
should mind very much if you were
in earnest, Miss Eve.''
"More of the 'way!' Really, Mr..
Chalmers, you are excellent" He re-
garded me carefully and grew rather
grave.
II am afraid" he remarked, at
length, Il have done something to dis
please YOU" I looked at him innocent-
ly. It hurt me to meet his eyes, but
1 did not finch.
1.-The weak spot of man." I pro-
nounced, "is his vanity. He considers
all his doings of interest-pleasing or
displeasing-to others"
ITO his particular friends he cor
rected.
"Am I honored by inclusion in that
category?"@ Yesterday the question
would have appeared needless. To-day
it seemed absurd.
at is a matter which requires two
persons to settle. So far as l am con-
cerned-" He paused and glanced
swiftly at me. POSSIBLY you would
say it was only part of the way if l
finished the sentence?"
studied the tennis carefully.
'Do you wish me to finish it?" he
asked. He has the gift of throwing a
great deal of suggestion into few
colorless words.
''It is hardly worth while. A COM
pliment is obviously the proper thing,
You never fail in your duty on such
occasions"
do seem so hopelessly irsincere?''
| "On the contrary. You seem so un-
mistakably in earnest. That is why
consider syou SO splendid!" laughed
quite a merry-sounding laugh this
time. But, oh! was so miserable.
"Miss Ese!"
"Don'tetry heroics, Mr.. Chalmers
When you look so innocent and in.
jured-"
"Upon my word" he said, with some
heat, II think I am"
'Do you? I am so sorry. Shall
pretend to believe it ALP" I asked
'I'm rather good at pretend myself,
think. Of course, I can't do it so vel
as you, but"
He sose hastily to find wandering
ball. I was glad to see him throw il
so savagely. It was a little consola
tion to hurt his vanity.
"You are-impossible-t even
ing" he remarked, with his usual gooe
humor, when he had returned.
Il am sorry, because-do you know
I was thinking that am myself fol
once?"
"You are not bit like yourself" h.
contradicted.
Really! Am I such a simple self
that you have learned all about m,
in few days acquaintance" ?" asked
scornfully.
II didn't mean that, of course" hi
said, slowly. mo doubt there are more
charms to discover, impossible as i
seems" bowed mockingly. "But one
infers from the known to the un
known"
"Supposing there is known to in
fer FROM" l suggested. He looked a
me in establishment.
do you mean to say that, after oul
pheasant fortnight ?"-I raised my eye
brows. "Of course, speak only fol
myself Is
with a smile that was not intended t.
look genuine.
"Do you mean that we haven't showI
most of our real selves? That we hav'
just played a play?"
"You know we have" said with al
air of frankness. "It has been grea'
fun. I really have enjoyed it immense
ly. But I am not such practica
actor as you, and l am getting littl
tired of pretending" He drew hi
breath sharply. It occurred to me tina
perhaps he really had cared little.
II do not understand" he said
"Surely you don't mean-you cam
mean-that you have merely been pre-
tending to be good friends with me?'
"Of course not" I said, lightly
I"We're excellent friends, I hope. Blu
friendship. has certain limits" Tn
night before he had held my hand eve
so tightly in the dusk, and when w
parted he tried to-he almost-Oh
well. I'll tell the truth. He kissed me.
'Is it absolutely impossible to
friendship to grow" He touched m.
hand, and I drew It sharply away.
"It depends upon persons and cir
cumstances, of course" ! replied. cold