The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-10-12

side the pier. Will that do? Is the
princess sorry?"
zone can't say. A summer comes
and goes, and it seems a though every
thing ought to die with it, The rest
did. And it was only an experiment,
don't you know"
He famed himself lazily with his
hat, singing under his breath,
I'VE are engaged in a sort of way,
And we're in love with one another"
Don't. 1t isn't a joke"
1T was last year-to YOU"
She was silent He had not meant
to hurt her, but she had been so sure
and selfsufficient last year. 1t had
been only a joke, bit of nonsense
born of the summer sunshine and
moonlight witchery.
You were such a dear boy" She
broke off a sprig of clover and bit it
retiectively. But that was all. Just
boy. And you did think you were
so delicious, Jack, so altogether cor
rect. Remember? White duck suits.
and neckties the girls made for you,
and you played summer opera tinxles
on mandolin, and smoked funny little
cigarettes with perfumed cork ends. 1t
was lots of fun l couldn't help expert
menting just to see if there was a wee
atom of sturdy man sense back of IL
ALL"
And you were successful?"
You made love beautifully"
She was laughing at him. 1t was
distinctly annoying. He had fairly
we'll founded conviction that in all
their acquaintance she had done lit
tie else but laugh at him. And he
was three years her senior. All win
ter long the thought of her laugh with
it's amused scorn had spurred him
ahead. 1t had been his first incentive
to throw aside the responsibility of
the boy, the complacent egotism, and
merry cynicism of his college days. and
study the part of a man on life's stage.
man striving to make the best of
himself for the sake of the one woman.
And he had come back to the old
haunt to tell her of it all, of the new
ambitions her laugh had stung to life.
of his battles and victories all for her
own dear sake, and onl ythe laugh
awaited him.
1T is so awkward, Jack" began
Nell again. I'VE were engaged for a
whole month, was it not. Would it be
for two this year? A sort of annual
bethrothal?"
She rose and stood on the edge of
the rock. Lennox had forgotten Rolly,
everything save the girl before him
who cast aside the hope of his life, as
she nigh thave tossed a pebble out to
sea. A sudden anger tempted him to
throw prudence to the winds Raising
his arm, he deliberately flung the ring
case out over the bluff. Rolly watched
1t spin in midair, and promptly disap-
peared.
You're a f1irt, Nell" Lennox was
saying quickly. you lead a fellow on
just for the comedy of a summer. !
lnpk 7
Blanchard when you didn't give a snau
of your finger for him. He was kind.
too. And he went to the dogs last
year. And there was little Trent. and
Wade from Princeton, and then l came
and was given a chance to play your
ladyship's fool for a season. That's
all. / won't go after Blanchard. I've
passed the kindergarten stage" He
turned away from her and faced l2olly
exit of the rock, his feet wide apart.
his hands deep in his pockets.
Il say, Jack, you're daffy.' he be-
gan, seriously. Nell don't firt. She
likes you like sixty"
Roland, go away" pleaded Nell,
proud and white faced.
Il don't want to-" responded Rolly
mildly. You said you liked him ter
I. ribly. You told Tom Blanchard so this
summer when he came back ana
chased you round"
"Rolly, did she tell Blanchard that ?"
Honest Injun, cross my heart an
hope to die" swore Rolly recklessly.
and she told Aunt Grace she was GO
ing to be an old maid"
Il didn't"
You did" sang Rolly, joyously, en-
couraged by the look of warm friend
Illness from Lennox. "If / kiss you,
Jack, I'd play fair and just kiss her
same as you did last summer. Gee, but
you two did use to kiss last summer. -
Nelfs face was crimson. Lennox
hesitated.
Il threw the ring away" he said.
Il went after it," retorted Rolly.
proudly. you mustn't throw sling
shots away when there's a chance of
another shot. Put it on for sure"
Lennox obeyed solemnly.
For sure, he said, softly, as he
kissed her. Forever, sweetheart"
And the cherub of Sweetheart Rock
turned his back and grinned a benson.