The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1900-08-09
"Oh, Maudie! OF course, he can't |

"Rubbishy antiquities! 1 beg your
pardon, dear old girl. for attacking
your subject but they are. Anyhow,
l don't believe he knows half so much
about them as you do"
That" said Vera, sis utterly absurd.
L do not deceive myself upon that
point"
1 have been studying antiquities for
twenty years. She has dabbled in
them for two. Her friends had per-
suaded her that she was an authority,
and she had posed little to me. |
had been impatient and tactless in
pointing out her harmless errors. That
was the beginning of our quarreling.
Afterward we disagreed upon every
thing that we happened to discuss. We
had discussed good many things.
Anyhow" contended Maud, ''he
eise-except, perhaps, chess and bill.
liards.''
"He rows well and dances splen-
didly."
''If he did things as well as he thinks
he does" said Maud scornfully. You
will admit that my situation was en-
barrassing.
you are rather hard on him. Maud,
1 think" So did I! Wont you ad-
nit that he has any good points?"
"Oh-he can talk! He's very anus.
ing when he comes out of his she'll.
rather like to talk to him myself" In.
deed! But 1 don't believe he ever
kissed a girl in his life" Hasn't he!
Unless" laughed mischievously-
tits YOU"
you are ridiculous" protested Vera.
"He wouldn't dream of such a thing"
Perhaps he-why don't you leave off
squabbling with him?'
'He won't let me. He generally be-
gins by asking whether am ready for
our usual quarrel
why don't you say MOI"
Because he ought to say it, l re-
solved that he should.
Then you will find him deadly dull"
CT don't think 1 should"
Whatever would you talk about?''
"Oh--the usual things"
"My dear We, he couldnt! I just
fancy him whispering soft nothings in
your carr Maud laughed. Personally
| didn't see anything to laugh at.
"And you blushing and looking down"
Don't be so silly"
while he imprinted a chaste sa-
Lutte"
cit is time to dress for dinner" said
Vera. frigidly. She walked toward the
door.
''He has a ginger mustache," said
Maud, as parting shot. This remark
was absolutely untrue; it is golden al
most
He has notw Vera departed.
Maud hummed queer little tune to
herself for minute. Then she sighed
twice-presumably once-I fear for
me! Then she went out also. After
prudent interval followed.
At dinner Vera and 1 were neigh
bors. | avoided antiquities, and told
her amusing stories. just to hear her
laugh. She looks very pretty when she
laughs. She also looks very pretty
when she doesn't
After dinner our host, who is proud
of his scenery, suggested that we
should go and see the moon rise over
Tall Hill. 1 managed to escort Vera
and to lose the others.
'Shall we have our usual quarrel?"
she asked, when we had perched our
selves upon a big stile at the foot of
the hill
NO" 1 replied; 81 don't want to
quarrel, please"
Don't you?" she said brightly.
Aren't you afraid we shall be dull?"
Not in the least, but if you are
ooh, no! We can talk about-let me
see"
1.-THE usual things?" 1 suggested.
She looked swiftly at me and gave a
little start. 1 took hold of her arm.
Il thought you were falling" 1 ex-
planned. Perhaps it would be safer if
held you" She didn't seem to mind,
50 I gathered her arm comfortably in
mine.
Il can't imagine you talking usual
things you know" she said, with an
little laugh.
Everybody says usual things in
the moonlight" 1 explained. "See, it
is just rising over the hill"
We sat few minutes in silence,
watching the, yellow rim appearing.
and the pale light streaming down the
fields, dotted here and there with tall
trees.
at is very, very beautiful" she said
softly. 1T makes one feel good. l am
so glad you didn't want to quarrel to-
night"
Or any other night. I have been
going to tell you so for a long time"
She laughed.
"How strange! Do you know, have
been wanting 10 say the same thing to
you"
~ 1. oh,