Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-06-12

Seventeen" 1 questioned. "Seven-
teen what?"
"Why, the score, you stlly," she re-
sponded demurely. Some one has to
keep track Of it."
That's the trouble with Phyllis. If
her sense of humor We're not so highly
developed, I'm sure l would have had
her ages ago. She never will take me
seriously.
Bother the score" cried desperate
ly. Anyhow We'll not count the other
sixteen times"
But 1 would very much rather"
Phyllis was staring into the fire.
didn't know just what she meant.
never was much good at guessing.
"Wel," l answered indifferently,
"just as you please. Count them if you
like. All I meant was that none of
them mattered so much as at this
time"
Positively your last chance, ladies'
and gentlemen" she cried gaily.
1 assented in my most dignified man
ner. Phyllis laughed. l do wish she
would take me seriously once in a
while.
"Why do you keep on proposing to
me like this?" she asked me.
/ shrugged my shoulders.
"'Some men there are love not a
gaping pig; others are troubled If they
behold cat'" l quoted. Are you
answered."
THAT is no answer. thou unfeeling
man.
IF you must have It," replied flip
PANTY, II suppose it's my form of di-
version. My hobby, If you will. We
NIL have our hobbies, more or less, you
know"
Phyllis frowned. / liked that frown
Immensely. Then she looked at me
quickly when 1 was not expecting it.
"You appear to be enjoying your
SELF" she complained.
"Me?" I queried in mock innocence.
"Oh, 1 protest; really, I'm not"
Phyllis frowned again.
Il know it," 1 agreed. III ought to
be. Seventeen times ought to be pro-
ductive Of more than 1t has shown so
far. ! wonder" / concluded dreamily
to myself, II wonder If eighteen will
do itp
"You haven't been answered for sew
enteen yet" saind Phyllis.
NO." said /, "nor for any Of the
Dther sixteen, either"
Now, there was Darcy Graham"
said Phyllis, inconsequently. "He
asked me to marry him nineteen times
and swore eternal devotion each time
whether I would have him or no.
There's man for your
"And then went and married Kitty
Mcpherson" said I, almost to myself.
mo" corrected Phyllis; "Kitty mar
ried him."
"Willie Atkinson came next" 1 ven
tured.
"He only ran up thirteen" said Phyl-
lis.
(Which accounts for his failure" I
suggested.
Phyllis paid no attention to my re-
mark.
Il think the little fellow from the
bank whom | met in the summer came
after thatT' she murmured interroga-
lively.
Surely you don't count him." ]
questioned in surprise "Why you told
me yourself that he only lasted till the
second round"
He would probably have stayed
longer if you hadn't come down thai
Sunday" said Phyllis, in a vexed way
"You always do turn up at the mos
inopportune moment"
Had only known you didn't wan
me- l began.
Il can't remember who was next
interrupted Phyllis, quickly; "do yor
know?"
Il think" said ! re1ectively, 81 added
about two to my own score that day
always liked you in white. you know.
"Three," corrected Phyllis, consulting
her tablets.
Hold your head that way again,
I said. "What long eyelashes yol
havew Phyllis deliberately turned tn,
other way. Hold it round" com
manded. II want to look at it." Phyl
lis held it round. Phyllis likes to b,
commanded at times. "a rather prett,
mouth, too" said I, gravely; "ant
your color is also very fair yet. Ont
would never guess you were getting
up in years."
'I'm mott" denied Phyllis, with Ger
tain assumption of dignity; "I'm onl!
twenty-three."
"You don't show it." responded gal
lanty. Were 1 asked to make {
guess, I should say sweet sixteen
and"
Quite So" said Phyllis, dryly.
How awful 1t must be to be laid OF
the shelf" remarked sympathetically
"I'm not" asserted Phyllis, indig
Rantly.