The Van Buren press., 1904-11-05
TWO

By c. 5 E w E LII

bS . r W - -
- NJ always wondering" " remarked
E.ya. rehectiyely, as she handed
ne my second cup Of tea, when you re
really going to fall in love, and
Don't be too hasty, interrupted, as
assisted myself to sugar; perhaps I'm
even now consumed with the disqulet-
ing fever"
You're so fat" said Eiva, disparag-
.ng!y
Nonsense" I protested simply
well covered. Why, my tailor altered
ny measurements only yesterday
"Oh, Of course, if you won't be seri-
GUS" she sighed resignedly, and Pre-
pared to nibble a judiciously Drowned
muffin but really, Monty, youre-let
me see-i0-you're Independent and
'm--"-sbe regarded ne critically with
her head on one siGe-"passably eood
looking; and yet you let pretty, nice,
suitable girls slip through your fingers
by dozens, because you're oithCrtco lazy
or too coacetted to take sufficient inter-
est in them"
Don't lecture me" p,eGded-EIya is
prone 70 lectures; you're so dreadful
Iy impulsive You know. Asa matter of
fact ] looked in this very afternoon on
purpose to tell you Low-h0w abom-
inab.y in love I am"
Something in my tone must have
struck her as unusual The muffin. like
Mahomets coffin, remained SUSPENDED
while she surveyed me intently, presum-
ably to see if she could detect any latent
Lumor in my ccuutenance.
| did not move a muscle.
If | were quite certain that you were
in earnest she began. hcsi,at.rgly. and
| Unconstitutional, of course. | had TO
business to think-that her voice was a
little unsteady, 81 should say how very
glad I am"
please try and believe ne, Ipleaded
She studied my face as if undecided
what to do
rs it recent?" she asked at last
at happened-yesterday" con-
fessed, You remember, Ialways prom
ised that you should be the first to
know whenever I really had anything
to tell and I was just going to begin
when you fell upon me-"
"Yesterday?' murmured Elya, in ey'-
dent surprise Then It must have been
at Lady Follet's garden party"
! nodded
"Was it love at first sight, or had you
seen her before?"
81 had ssen her" l said guarGedly,
"once or twice
on" said Elya and I think she
flushed. Then. of course. it's Mollie
Richards | saw you talking to her
for ages in the rosary She's a nice
girl ! believe, and I'm really awfulIy
glad, Monty y-awfully." Somehow her
tone didn't carry the conviction It WAS
doubtless intended to convey; ! pre-
sUmed II was because Miss Richards was
never a very particular friend Of hers.
"I suppose she went on, "you0l pro-
pose at once You're no need to wait
Ike most poor creatures"
81 intend" ! said, firmly, "to offer
myself with as little delay as possible"
and you really don't mind my taxi
ing the privilege Of an old friend-a
very old frerd-to ask you all these
questions. DO you?"
"Not the least in the world" | said,
cracIously; expected them"
"What DO You mean by that?" she In
Quired with suspicion.
Nothing. except that you're cate
ch.sed ne about my matrimonial pros
poets ever since you could todd,o DO
you remember for instance, asking n,
at a schooIroom tea in your early youth
whether It was my intention to marry
your frau,eiu or not?'
Elyas face frightened promptly.
Rather" she said "and fraulein
turned all sorts Of colors, and told
mother the next day that she would
no longer stay with a child so embar.
raising. really think she had a ter
Grcssa for YOU, Monty"
Probably" | agreed. MANY people
have"
Don't be concoitcd," rcprmandcd
E'ya, "bpt tell me all about Molle
Richards and exactly what attracted
YOU Some people call her pretty, l.
| rather admire her myself only"
"Moll.e RicharGs?' | inquired with
extreme innocence. "Who said any
thing about MolIio Richards
"Why, yen did. Of course, that Is 10
say-yos-no. ! suppose you didn't then
Why ! did, | suppose; but anyhow
what's the good Of caviIlInG about herr
It Is MollIo Richards Isnti,'"
81 wouldn't marry Mollio Richards, '
I said dccJsiycly III they shot me for
rofs.ug,'
Elya poured herself out some moro
tea, and-ycs II was not my ImagIna.
Uon=hor hand dId shake and she
looked as II II would have been re-
lief TO her feelings to have launched the
teapot at my head.
Monty you are trying" she cX.
claimed upon my word YOU arol You
insist that you've como 70 tell me, o0
KNOWS THREE TONGUES,