The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-10-02

Copyright 1904. by Herbert McB. Johnston-)
~ HYLLIS," said / solemnly, do
you know what day this isT'
Friday. September. the
twenty-first, nineteen hundred
and three" repeated Phyllis glibly.
Yes said !, shaking my head
tragicaIly; yes, this is the fated day.
the accursed hour. The time has come.
Phyllis laughed. When Phyllis laughs
the prettiest dimples come in her
cheeks / have accused her of laugh
ing just to bring them there. but she
only laughs the more.
Phyllis l warned her; those dim
PIES
1 think they grew even deeper.
And I'm such a weak one" l muir
INJURED thoughtfully.
We're getting away from the ques-
tion, replied Phyllis with swift in
consequence. What about the date?"
1 assumed my most melancholy air.
My eye caught the corner of my
pocket handkerchief and pulled it out
The day of our parting,"I replied
briefly, smothering a pseudo sob.
Phyllis brows met in a perplexed
frown, a most adorable frown.
Il don't get it," she said.
It's your own doing" L asserted.
throwing the blame on her; lit was
entirely your own suggestion and you
have no one to blame but yourself"
Still Phyllis frowned. 1 know a waV
l could have smoothed out the
wrinkles.
why, our engagement, you know"
I insinuated. 1T was expressly I'M
derstood, thought, that it was strictly
a summer affair."
At last Phyllis comprehended. For a
moment l thought she was going to
smile and enjoy the joke. But instead
her eyes grew wide with amazement
and then she buried her face in her
handkerchief. There was no mistaking
it; the sobs were too violent to be any
thing but genuine.
''Phyllis?" 1 interrogated in amaze
ment. Phyllis! What is it, dear?''
/ don't believe either of us noticed
the last word.
Then she dried her eyes and straight
ened up her head.
II never thought, Jack said Phyllis
with considerable indignation, that you
would have reminded me of it. And on
the very day summer is over, too. 1t
seems to me you were in rather a hurry
to have it ended
But Phyllis bIundered.
Yes, but Phyllis, she Knocked me;
Il suppose you were afraid that if it ran
a day over it would mean a renewal of
the contract. Or perhaps you thought
wouldn't let you out of it. You needn't
have worried, 1 assure YOU
Phyllis was holding her head very
high. A sunbeam playing across her
brown hair set it afire. Her eyes needed
no sunbeam. l never saw Phyllis look
more handsome.
And then, while / grew redder and
more shame-faced. 1 saw the little vix-
en- was laughing at me.
Jack" she said, there's something
/ like about you. I don't know what
1t is; l think it must be your family"
That set me on my high horse.
"Ah." murmured indifferently. Good
of you, I'm sure. Perhaps you have
even picked out which one-Fred or
Charlie?"
I'm not quite sure" said Phyllis.
roguishly. The dimples were there
again.
Phyllis" 1 said. I'm never going to
ask you to marry me again
II don't want to marry you again,
answered Phyllis.
You haven't yet" | retorted- What
1 mean is that 1 am never again going
to ask YOU
Never" answered Phyllis. in mock
terror.
'Never!" said I firmly; this is the
very last time Will you marry me?"
That's once over, right there" she
laughed.
Remember" warned her. '1t was
the last time"