The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-11-06

Miriam came into the library and
sat down opposite Graham. There was
| quicker of anxiety on her forehead.
Barry" she said, would you mind
| being engaged to me?"
| Graham took his feet off the WIN
| dow sill and sat up.
"Engaged?" he repeated, obviously.
Miriam nodded.
tits only for a couple Of days." she
fastened to reassure him. "Mr. For
sythe is coming to propose, and I'm at
my wits end. I haven't single ex-
cuse for refusing him. He's good, and
wealthy, and nice looking. Mother
won't hear an objection even his age.
| So, you see, the only way is to let him
understand, ever so delicately, that I'm
not free to listen to him. Nobody will
| know, for he isn't the sort to repeat
| condolences"
Graham lay back in his chair and
| surveyed her coolly.
IF you've no objection to him, why
| don't you marry him?" he inquired.
IT thought I made it clear that did
| not want to- she explained, with a
| note Of injury in her voice. I'm sure,
| If you don't want to help me out, Bart,
| you needn't. But we've been such
| chums 1 thought you'd as lief as not.
| I'd do as much for YOU
Graham swallowed hard, but she did
| not notice.
"Why don't you tell him the truth ??
| he said at last. Hes man enough to
| stop his attentions, if he knows they're
unwelcome."
That's just It," she rejoined, hope
| lessly. Mother has tacitly given him
| to understand that I do care for him,
for all my seeming Indifference. In
| fact, they've done nearly all the court
ing themselves"
Graham's lips curled.
WELL" he said CURLY, II should
think you could disabuse him of the
| idea easily enough"
Miriam's brown eyes widened.
You must think it is prime fun,
Bart Graham, to boldly tell good
friend right to his face that you didn't
| care for him, especially when he's such
a. dear old fellow!" she said, with a
little CULVER in her voice.
Graham stared. What a refreshing
phase of womanhood! Then he smiled
| grimly.
$50, I suppose, 1t was your idea to
| let ForSythe down easily by giving
him to understand that, although I
held your hand, your heart responded
to him, Ell? You'll pardon me, Miriam,
but you remind me forcibly of the
Irishman who was too tender hearted
to dock his dogs ears at one fell
stroke, so he cut a half inch at a time"
Miriam WINGED, reddening. The truth
sounds so different, stripped Of pic
turesque phrases. Graham relit his
cigar.
you want me to go in with you,
virtually lying to Forsythe," he went
on gravely. cat the risk Of appearing
ungallant, I'm afraid I must decline
your hattering offer. 1 don't know
much about such things, but it seems
to me, If didn't care to go into part
nership with a man, could make him
understand my refusal had nothing to
do with my personal regard for him. If
If didn't want to marry you, for in
stance, Miriam, you wouldn't take 1T
as unfriendlinesS on my part, would
your
Her downcast eyes missed the fact
that he was watching her narrowly.
She got up.
Il don't know If I've the nerve to do
it, she said, rather TREMENDOUSLY, and
letting his question pass unheeded.
you've no idea how hard it is, Bart.
I've always liked him, If not in that
other way, SO very much, till-till-"
She hesitated and looked at him ap-
pealingly; but there was no sign of re-
lenting In his averted face. She sighed
softly. A moment later he heard the
swish of her light skirt along the hall.
He laid down his cigar.
I'm one respect" he groaned, women
are like providence-their ways are past
finding outl"
On the morning of the third day,
from the vantage point of his own
window, he saw the sutton depart.
There was rosebud in the lapel OF