The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-07-24

ask the question" u
Mary looked down helplessly, an
swering not word.
eve have always been good
friends, I think, Mary" the quiet
voice went on.
At this Mary raised her head and
looked full into the honest face
above her. Rob's fine eyes were full
of G soft beseeching and q great love
lurked in their depths. It seemed
bitter hard to the girl that she
should be asked to act as go between
in this matter. But she loved him
enough for any sacrifice, and her an
swer was quite steady.
eyes, Rob, and we always will De
the best of friends. I will lot you
know tomorrow" and she fed pre-
cipitately to seat between the
placid old neor!c BY By th the ire.
At bedtime Mary faced her task
while the two girls were brushing
their hair.
ruth" she began, sare you in
earnsst?"
eyes, always" Ruth answered
iiippantly. "What about?"
Mary put down her hairbrush and
took her sister by the shoulders.
"You are trifling with good mans
affection, she began sternly. "In
the afternoon you have tete-a-tete
with Rob and talk over love poems
and lean on his arm. In the even
ing you lounge on the sofa, and let
Harry Downs hold your hand. Now,
tell me what you mean."
"Yes'm," answered Ruth, with
mock weakness, 81 was going to,
anyway, only you hurt my arm"
Mary flung her away, laughing in
spite of herself. 81 don't mean to
be cross. Only do tell me honestly
if you love Rob. Don't play with
him, dear"
EYES," Ruth said slowly, with a
wicked smile, 81 love Robert, and
know he loves me. Why, he told me
so the first time he came to Boston,
when l was 2 and he was 10, and my
affection has not diminished bit.
But if you'd asked me if I loved
Harry Downs I should have said
eyes," too, and he told me tonight
what sort of girl he would like for a
wife, and she has q pug nose and
freckles and ugly hair like mine. I
did intimate that I wouldn't mind
if he came to Boston next summer.
You see, Rob's q good enough fell
low and all that, but he happens to
like girl with a straighter nose
than mine better than he does me.
He told me so the day we discussed
love-"
Ruth had delivered herself of this
speech SO rapidly that Mary could
only stand wild eyed and stare at
her. Before she could frame suit
able reply Ruth was snoring osten-
tatiously.
Meanwhile the same subject was
being discussed by Mr.. and Mrs.
Allen. tDurned If I see what the
young ones are up to-" said the old
man as he dressed chair back in
his coat. "Seems to be a game Of
love ALL as they say in tennis. I
thought one time it was sure thing
between Ruth and Robert, but they
change round SO since the accident
that 1 don't know what to think"
sTm puzzled, too, john" said his
wife, 'but Rob limited to me tonight
that somebody was going to answer
him a mighty question tomorrow, so
We shall soon know. I hope it's
Mary"
eI like the curly headed little bag
gage myec!f." And, having had the
last word, the old farmer left the
argument.
Next morning Mary was up early,
and, knowing the habits Rob had
contracted at college, which usually
made him late to breakfast, she felt
secure in going out for walk to
calm herself for the interview which
she feared and longed for. She had
barely left the farm buildings be-
hind her when she heard manly
steps and turned, surprised, to find
Rob.
'I've come fer ny answer, mary,
and my cowardice is gone. I must
know the truth. I love you, dear.
Will yon be my wife?"
And she answered him simply
eyes" at that time, though before
they returned to the house both had
explained and blamed themselves
to their entire satisfaction.
Expression "He's sriek!"