The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1904-01-15
nfore. This is a very

exceptional case.
you're sure to hear something about
yourself you won't like"
NO danger" he replied cheerfully
as he raised the funnel to his ear.
Don't they say all the world loves
fellow in my condition.
Then, while the girl sat watching
him, with her own megaphone I'M
touched in her lap, he listened first in
one quarter, then in another. Sound
| travels surprisingly far ut night on
calm body of water. To the unaided
ear nothing was audible but the chirp-
! ing of insects upon the shore and the
tapping of ripplcs along the keel. New
ertheless at the fourth trial Easton's
attitude betokencd that his megaphone
had intercepted some sounds more in
telligibe.
pity you're missing this" he chuc-
killed. presently. Better follow me-"
Can you really hear somebody talk
ing about u.s." asked Anne, interested
in spite of herself.
Seems TO be a couple of girls dis
cussing you" said Easton. "And very
nicely too Excellent sense those peo-
pie have. Hush
"Now they've switched off on me-" he
added, after pause.
Anne could restrain herself no Ion
ger. at isn't so wrong for Inc to listen
when they are speaking of you" she
said finally. The next moment two
mcCaphones were leveled into the dark
ness.
This is what came through them:
"Roving fancy did you say? Indeed
he had. l never saw man change as
be has since last summer. He showed
a preference for Anne then, but he was
willing to glance at the rest of US Occa-
sionally. But now-well, it's a case, all
right"
Easton turned triumphantly to see
what effect this had upon his compan-
ion. To all appearances she was listen
ing shamelcssly, intent to catch every
word When he returned to his mega
phone another feminine voice was
speaking:
Least doubt about it. But I shall
always have one exquisite joke on Anne
and Joe if they marry, as everybody
thinks they will. As long as he re-
mains truthful the poor fellow never
can tell her that she's the first girl he
ever kissed"
bella! I'm shocked! What right
have you TO say that?"
THE best right in the world. The
first girl lie ever kissed is me-
Splash! went Anne's megaphone into
the water. The youth whirled about
TO find himself confronted by a pair of
quiyering shoulders and the back of a
head that was a whole encyclopedia OF
outraged feeling. The megaphone bob
bed against the side unnoticcd.
"Anne, dear" he cried, don't mind
those busybodics. It's only Bella Main.
ard. You can't care what she says"
"Oh, l don't; l don't" caQe back in
smothered tones. Then-"Spiteful thing!
She wanted you herself. l always
knew she didr'
W dulVu Inc! GCuOeu the youth.
"Wantedr'-slowly realizing the import
/ of the past tense. At the imminent
risk of capsizing the frail craft, he
crawled forward, placed a hand on
each shoulder and gently turned her
face toward him.
"Anne," he said, you do carGS
For answer the face was hidden
against the front of his coat.
IF you had only listened longer" OBJ
served Eaton, when conversation again
became an adequate mode of express
sion, ''yOu might have heard the Main
ard girl tell when it was kissed her."
Il don't want TO know" said Anne
''Your past is your own. Your present
is mine"
"And my future" he added fervently.
"But don't mind in the least telling
you how this happened, 1t was at q
children's party. was six and she
was nine, ! Think