Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1904-03-16

matically,
mo, indeedv'
"And no man has ever told you that
he loved your" he murmured In q
thoughtful tone. stranger
"We!l-now-I didn't say just that,
you known
There was faint suspicion of q
blush on Miss Farrar's smooth cheeks,
but her glance met Mowbray's with its
usual answering honesty.
men have told me that they loved
me-several Of them! But that's not
a proposal, you know. any more than
it's purchase when say that l adore
a string Of pearls at Tiffany's!'
"A-a-h"
The ejaculation was full Of enlighten-
ment. Mowbray was beginning at last
to understand things that had always
puzzled him, as his next question
showed.
Would it be impertinent to ask how
you have received these declaration 7"
"Why, l just listened! You see, it's
embarrassing. 1t makes one feel SO
terribly conscious"
what about the man?" Mowbray
asked quietly. Doesn't it occur to
you that perhaps he might need little
encouragement-tha perhaps he might
be a tribe conscious too?"
For moment there was silence be
tween them. The point of view was
utterly new to Miss Farrar, and she
was obviously impressed by it.
Il never thought Of that" she ad-
mitted slowly. II thought that sort
Of thing was SO in q mans line-hie
meter" She laughed bit ruefully.
squirrel darted swiftly across the
grass and, turning its head jauntily To
one side, fixed bright, inquiring eye
upon them. Then, with a saucy wave
of it's tail, 1t scurried away.
Il have it." said Mowbray, II have
1t! Learn from the squirrel! Light.
ness, airiness, coquettishness! Don't
you see what meanY' And he looked
at her teasinglye
But she was not to be diverted. 81
am serious" she assured him. There's
always reason for everything, and
there must be reason for this. There's
Alice Nixon. She's not 50 awfully
pretty. I heard her say that she had
had nineteen propOsals!" Miss Far.
rars voice was touched with awe.
Then skeptical thought seized her.
'Still-she's from the south!" she add.
ed, and her tone implied that an allow.
ance should be made for the fact.
MOwbray bit his lip.
''Then there's her sister-just an ordi.
narily nice girl--follows with fifteen.
Marion Pierce owns up to a dozen, and
Beth Garrett-dear, homely Beth-ac.
knOwledges six! asked her because
I specially wanted to find out Per
haps you can imagine how queer II
makes me feel"
What do you say upon such occa-
sionsT' demanded Aowbray. watching
the squirrel that was again eying then
from distance.
There was a palpable pause beforl
Miss Farrar replied. But at last hel
straightforwardness prevailed.
Sometimes shake my head and
look rather shocked. Then they think
that I disapprove Of such conversations
think I'm noble. you know! At other
times laugh and say, I have neves
had one! in a tone which implies Just
the reverse" --...
She finished this confession apd look.
ed at Mowbray out Of the corner Of her
eyes In way that drove the last YES
tige Of fear out of his mind. This naive
woman. the person whose dignity and
GOODNESS he had stood aloof from in
absolute embarrassment for 90 long
He could have laughed at the absur(lity
Of IT. Why had she never shown him
her real self before?
II think shall propose 10 you," he
remarked deliberately.
For q second she looked surprised
and then her eyes danced.
LET 1t be in your best STYLE" she
pleaded. Remember. it's my first. and
fear 1t may be my last too!''
He leaned toward her and looked
straight into her eyes.
1T will be your last, undoubtedly! r
His voice was low and tense. For q
long moment he looked at her-looket
in a way that first made her small ear
burn and then troubled her clear gaze
which wavered and fell.
| 81 love you, DEAR" he said simply
land think you know the rest. Tel
me that you do"
Her cheeks were hot and her lipi
trembled. A strong hand reached on
and took hers in masterful way. ant
she suddenly knew that something
which she had never even dreamed
was true.
but / asked you" she moaned whel
at last she recovered something of he
wonted serenity. II positively asket
your
"You encouraged me-" he corrected
land that's what they usually do, onl!
your method was brutally direct"
1t was when she began to flush agail
that he added, II shall always hav'
oonothiuu IN ron 90 Won 0hOl1t den rest