The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-06-07


'lia," inquired my inquStor sharply
so You admit that YOU have been mi>hc-
having. do you?"
Don't make me regret my confidence"
| pleaded. 81 was not wholly to blame
| assure you. The incident occurred some
time ago; three days at least"
Its ineXcuSahle." was the stern re.
tort. Il declare. you're not to be trusted
out of my sight for more than an hour ot
two at Il time. You didn't 20 the lcps b
Of proposing matrimony 10 the lady who
was fortunate enough to win you're
regard. though, | suppose?"
Certainly not, Phyllida." l replied
"A our question surprises me"
We'll. I'm glad to find it's not 50 bad
as | thought" she went on unhccdiug,y
4 don't suppose you had time to get ten
der enough for that. thought"
Il only saw her for five minutes or 50,
| explained. Upon my honor. Phyllida
You have no cause for alarm on my ne.
count. assure YOU that nothing beyond
hasty kiss passed between us"
The self appointed guardian of my moc.
ais sprang to her feet.
What. She exclaimed. "You-you-
kissed herr"
Only once" l answered soothjug'y
You must consider, | hadn't been intro.
duccd to her long"
"Oh. this is too much.'
MY own, You asked for frankncss,"
observed.
YES. hut not for callousncss too. Oh
how could YOU; how could you?"
You will excuse my seeming density
but your question does not convey very
much To me. How could WHAT"
Phyllida's lips shaped themselves to an
swer; her tongue. however. rcbcllcd at
the words | leaned forward inquiringly
'Nes," repeated encouragingly. "Yuu
wanted to know how | could
''Kk-kiss her? Yes"
My own, it was quite easy" | nm
swered rcassurincly.
"What." was the indignant response.
You actually boast Of it, Why, YOU
must be brazcn."
Not at ALL" I returned. stung hy the
unworthy nsinuation. II am panied that
you should condemn me unhcard You
do not know all the circumstances"
"What ones?"
"The-er-cXtenuatug ones"
Il don't believe there were any"
Pardon me; there were several"
"Tell me one Of them. then"
well. the lady didn't object"
Then she was hra2cn too. | knew i ,
| lou were both Of You equally guilty"
This was overStcpping the bounds of
| ordinary acquaintanccship. Something
was due to myself too. In Il moment !
had resolved upon my course of action
Il cannot permit you to asperse an iii
! nocent lady who is not here to defend
herself" | observed "The blame. if any.
! was entirely mine"
"Ah, you only say that because you're
man." returned Phyllida, obviously
softcning little
1T is the truth" l asserted proudly
"Neyer shall it be said of me that stood
by and saw the character of woman
assailed in her absence without raising 4
voice in her defense"
Rubbish" was the inelegant retort
"She's Il designing MINK I'm sure-and g
cat too, So there, | expect. though =
She added in another tone, 'if only the
truth were known. she led you on"
We'll" | admitted rchcctively. "hcr
behavior might certainly be considered
er--er-encouraging."
"Therc, | was sure of it all the time. "
| Nii'h L ny tllb' OilNilliudullN. Gil me,
now, what did she do?"
My dear" | cXpostulatcd. "you really
oughtn't to ask me such things"
why. was it so bad rs all that?"
l am afraid l must have unconsciously
nodded an Affirmative, Phylida came
my side.
You poor . thing" she whispered
softly. Did snc put her arms round
your neck like this when she kissed you?"
This time nodded purposcly.
ooh. the mink"
Don't condemn her unhcard,"I plead
ed.
You dear good naturcd old goose"
said Phylida gently, its only your gen.
crosity that makes you find excuses for
her"
but she was very young" | urged
young, indeed. H'm-quite old enough
TO know better, I'm sure"
Indeed, Phylida. don't think this was
the case"
We'll, how old was shc?"
"Oh, don't know exactly; it's not con-
sidered polite to ask n lady her age. you
| know"
well YOU seem to have got on such in,
| innate terms with her that | should have
thought You would have asked her any.
thing"
81 did ask her MOTHER" admitted.
"Ah-wcll. that's something" returned
Phyllida in decidedly more satisfied
tone. "'rell ne, though" she contia-.t.
did Won ask ON the day that she m h.
this di>graceful exhibition Of hcrsclf:"
"Mcauing:'
"Oh, you know perfectly wcll-tho day
when she kissed you:"
"Yrs."
"Wcll, how old was She thcn?"
Il don't think ought to tell YOU. Phyl.
Ida. Consider how would YOU like
"iut want 70 know Such lot"
"llow muchF' demanded stcrnly.
'Ncry much indccd-plcase."
"All right, then; but promise you'l
never tell her
"of course | won't-noww
You don't want to know ont of mcgr
curiosity, hope?" | asked anXiousIy. q.
| made room for her in the chair beside
me.
oh. don't he acgravatng. If you sd,l
care for me at all. and don't want mo In
withdraw my forgiveness. tell me at once
how old ihat horrd girl was when she
kissed youF"
Put your head nearer"
fhyllida inclined a shel-like ear 20 a
suitable proximity.
"Just years." | whispered into it,
King
The Green Bug or Grain Aphis.
The green bvg, or grain aphis which
has done so much damage TO the wheat