, 1903-04-03
JOHNS TEST.

loved poor little Millieent Bigelow be,
fore. And, to tell the truth, John,
that's just what's the matter-that be-
Tore a certain definite point in my life
no male. creature eve deigned to cast
~ glance at my insignifeance, that be
fore Aunt Mary invited me to spend a
month with her In New York and sent
me home with a carload of trunks, con-
tanning nothing but wearing apparel
expressly designed and manufactured
by New York and Paris modlstes to
set forth and enhance my previously
undiscovered beauty, that before l
came home and lost all my girl friends
out Of jealousy for my better clothes,
men were not In the habit Of tumbling
all over themselves to tell me twenty
times a day that they loved me-"
She smiled provokingly at the look
of genuine establishment that her sud
den outburst had brought to the sen
sitively lined masculine face before
her.
h"And now, you, whom l considered
my best friend, have become as non
sensical as any of them. 1t Is true you
have said the apparently enticing
words but once, and stumbled over
them at that, by the way, but, con-
sidering that we have just arrived. at
the picnic grounds and that presently
|. shall ask you to take me out In a
canoe on the lake, and expect you to
ask me to go with you again after
lunch, l doubt not that by the TWEEN
tieth time you will become as fluent as
the Others"
.~Millie, l can't deny that l shall
probably keep on repeating the ques-
tloq u1tilanrl1n the one answer that
viii satisfy me, but When you accuse
me of wanting to marry you because
you may have more. or less worthless
inery on, it's beyond,
John Atwood, l don't know what
you designate as cheap fnery, but l
would have you know that this gown,
as well as the boa which adorns my
shoulders. was a special present from
auntie and imported direct from
Paris" The ruffled feelings sought
consolation In ~rearranglng the fluffy
creation of lace and artificial flowers
that composed the neckwear in ques-
ton.
1sYou understand what | meant, Mil
ucent! I can't say you don't look nice
in that thing around your neck, but l
liked you just as we'll in the brown
dress that you used to wear with
brown ribbons, and then you used to
let me. put my arms around YOU
An indignant shoulder turned in his
direction was the only answer.
But won't you please hurry and
ask me to take you out OF the lake, as
you said you would, before | do the
asking and offend you again."
The pouting face. half hidden behind
the white parasol, looked almost as
though about to refuse to go out on
the lake altogether, but John pulled
up a canoe and quietly began arrang-
ing the cushions. When he had fin
ished, a figure behind a parasol stepped
IN and settled down among them.
Nothing was said until they had
proceeded nearly across the lake and
were skirting along the opposite shore,
Then as John was padding idly,
watching a reflection in the water,
a voice suddenly demanded that he
turn aside and enter an opening that
the shore made at this point and
through which could be seen a small
pool of water thickly studded with the
white blossoms of the water lilies.
Without hesitation John turned the
nose of the canoe in the direction in
dictated and padded up to the point
of entering, when he noticed that the
water in the inclosed space was very
shallow and covered a surface of dark.
looking mud.
He stopped progress and waited for
Yhe owne of the voice to observe the
state of affairs. but the voice vouch-
aafed nothing but an impatient com
mand to continue. Then he spoke in a
non-committal voice of the ADVISABLE
ty of entering where there was in
sunicient water to allow padding. But
the flowers cleaned white in the sun
light and a scornful ripple OF laughter
was his answer.
Manllke, he gave In TO womans
within INT pushed the boat into the
midst Of the lilies. He reaped a reward
In the lowering of the parasol and a
companionable face smiled upon him
as the owner proceeded to tuck up the
rufles preparatory to p~lucking from
the water the brown-stemmed lilies.
But ever before the first flower was
obtained the catastrophe happened.
A great, ugly-looking green dragon