, 1903-10-14
HO6O She
Managed II

miss Hoge."
81 have something especial to sag =
you. Won't you come into the lib.I.
rye"
with pleasure. Now. This is very
comfortable, you at one end of the
divan, | at the other. Have another
pillow. There. 1t fits into the small OF
your back delightfully."-. Now tell NE
what you want with me-
what l want with you? Why, l
want YOU
"Well!'
go be-
"WellY'
"Oh, l can't put it that way. I must
begin at the beginning"
1.-The beginning of what?"
"Of whati This ENHANCEMENT, OF
course"
What entanglement!'
with Mr.. Flagler."
"You mean you've encouraged him.
"Please don't say that %reproach-
fully.
"Well, he's getting engrossed-too
much engrossed-and you're afralu
that If you don't shut him off he'll pro-
pose to you, and you're too honorable
to let him do so since you don't want
him.
"How nice it is to be understood!
That's because you're so much older
than l."
perhaps. What do you want me to
dor
"Why would you mind being Il great
deal with me for awhile so that he
can't get at me? | think in IA few days
he'll get used to it and won't try amy
more"
do you suppose that making IL nan
Jealous will drive him away"
"But would he be jealous of your
"True, I'm old enough to be your ia
ther.'
Nonsense. | don't want to do any
thing to make him worse. | want To
have him see that what he expects is
impossible"
"Why don't you tell him SOP
"How could | do that unless
SCI l lIt d Nv Cl1hhG
first of love. Well, you want Inc to
head him off by being near you con-
stantly myself. | confess | think that
would only drive him on. Now, if you
were engaged he would accept the in
evitable and get over his passion very
easily"
You tlatter me-"
HV IL, i. H. hood rau DO baN
die him."
twill you be engaged to meY
az"
Eyes"
"Why not find a younger man?'
81 don't need Il younger nan You're
not a Methuselah."
"You are welcome to my services.
When snall we begin?"
"At once"
"Will you tell him that we are en-
gagedY'
Certainly not. That would be
false"
"Then l suppose | must do so"
ut would be false for you as well as
for me-"
"Then how is he to suppose we're en-
gaged?"
"Why, by seeing us so much togeth-
err"
"There will be nothing inevitable
about that. He must know positively
that we are engaged"
"How proyokingp'
I'VE might go through the form of
an engagement. l might ask you to
marry me; you might accept. Then
when this man whom you have led on
to-
Il have not"
love with you is told that you are en-.
gagged to me and has given you up We
can break our engagement"
'"That's not very nice of YOU"
isn't it the intention?'
II thought it was the lady's privilege
to break an engagement"
"Certainly I'll let you do it,
81 should think SO. | don't want to
be engaged to Il nan and become used
to his attention. his devotion, then
have him suddenly give me up fol
some II else"
But, my dear girl, it's only to help
you get rid of Flagler."
aren't we to have any of the com
forts of IN engagement
"Such as
do you intend always to sit at tho
other end of the diyan?'
Certainly not. if you wish it other
wise. There! That's nicer, | admit"
"What do people say when they pro
pose?"
81 don't know. I've eve proposed
If this were a real case between us my
words would be very brief and simple,
coming directly from the heart"
Say them.'
"Kitty. sweetheart, l love you. BE
my wife,
My arm was around her waist, ant
-. I@.l -, 49, rhAY116nr