The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-04
PRETTY TINE O'DAY'
BY Mary e. Francis.

.
days-the notes we used to write in clasp
" course do But do you remember the
time We got caught? wrote you note
! what time Is it? Do you love me?'-end
you wrote on the margin: Half past 10. OF
course do And Professor Foster got hold
OF II ana wrote on the bottom, "A pretty time
| OF day.. and sent 1t to me-
well, the old man was right Wasn't It
a nice timer
"Oh, yes" vaguely-''that is. nice for thu
first time - =.
Have their been other times. Tnaliaf.'
| why not?' defantly.
Surely: many other times-times and half
/ t1nes ana times between times. That's a
wonlan's record - =
/ The music throbbed in Thalia,s veins. sHoA
throat swelled, but she met his gaze steadily.
4 After that they were more or less formal,
| The last night of Judge Billiards. visit
came, and 1t was 10 o'clock when he rang the
I bell OF Thalia's fiat. Curtiss in the act OF
departing almost ran into him. Thalia stood
near her desk, pale and trembling.
| I'm sorry Mr.. Curtiss went on my ac-
count" said the judge. cts not worth while
to spoil your evening by my brief leayetak-
I ing
| Thalia recovered herself with difficulty, and
her breath was still irregular. He took both
OF her hands in his masterful way and fixed
on her the dark, powerful look that had
| always compelled both men and women. At
| the magnetic clasp strange calm fell upon
ITALIA. She knew that she, would rather tell
this man the truth and walk alone tho rest
OF her days than to part from him with hal:
lie, acted If not uttered. She met his search.
| ing look squGrely.
Mr.. Curtiss has not gone on your ace
count" she said. He went on mine"
Judge Ballard regarded her gravely, it
| seemed to her almost sternly.
''Let it be only lovers Quarrel. Thalia
Life Is too short to waste in trivialities''
1T is not a lovers quarrel she said hotly.
eft is f1nal..'
| Don't say that, ITALIA Very few things
are final in this world
The warning solemnity OF his tone carried
chill. Insensibly she leaned toward him
as If for protection.
''But it is hnal'' she whispered II have
sent him away, and he will not dare to come
back"
Judge Billiards. TALL dignihed figure seemed
to grow rigid.
"And why have you sent your promised
husband away?" he asked as II cross examin-
ing witness.
| my promised husband" gasped Thalia.
why, I've just refused him.
! My darling! My darling!"
| He snatched her in strong arms and show
cred on face and hair fervent and specifically
injudlclal kisses not provided for in the
statutes OF Blackstone. Thalia, half drowned
in this lawless onslaught, finally managed to
PARTIALLY free herself and to pant indignantly,
| How dare you'll
He only said, IT couldn't help it.. like any
schoolboy, but he looked totally; unrepsntant
and remained In dangerous proximity
] Thalla, her cheeks burning and her heart
humping. gasped: 'You have no right to saw
that! You should have remembered-youa
wife,
my wife! Thaha, MY wife has been dead
/ for five years.
/ He caught her ewaying form and supported
her tenderly
"You inquired about her in such q way
4 that Tor the moment merely said that was
alone, intending to tell you about 1t later
When I asked you II you were free, you
gave me an evasive answer, SO when was
tod on the afternoon OF the same day that
you were engaged to Stewart Curtiss
! thought you had deliberately equivocated I
met him here. You said nothing What was
1 ! to think? Naturally I. withheld my own
confidence and got what pleasure could out
of the last times ever expected to see you.
Then, you told me just now-andEl >ouMn' t
help it. -
as he paused. but Thalia's head was bowed
i low ON his breast. and he felt hsr CULVER.
Dear, are you angry ~
No answer. :,
'Are you angry?''
i Silence
j He deliberately lifted up her face and de-
i voured 1T with look. And then he put
Blackstone to much more confusion In tha
same illegal manner as In the previous case.
i The silver chime OF the clock on the mantel-
shelf struck the halt hour
1 Thalia pushed the hair out Of her eyes and
laughed
What time is tt? Dou you love uas?''
J HALF past 10. OF course do