The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-02-05


thoughtful tone. stranger
"Well-now-I didn't say just that
you know
There was faint suspicion OF a
blush on Miss Farrar's smooth cheeks,
but her glance met Mowbray's with its
usual unswerving honesty.
Men have told me that they loved
me-several OF them. But that's not
uroposal. Won know. any more than
It's purchase wnen 1 say insI 4 uuore
string of pearls at Tifrany's"
"A-a-h-
The ejaculation was full of cnlghten-
ment. Mowbray was beginning at last
Ia understand things that had always
puzzled him. as his next question
showed.
Would IL be impcrtinent 10 ask how
You have received these declarations" Z"
why, just listened You see. it's
embarrassing, Il makes one feel so
terribly conscious
What about the MANI" Mowbray
asked quietly. Doesn't II occur to
you that perhaps he might need little
cncouragcmcnt-that perhaps he might
bc tribe conscious tooy"
For moment there was silence he.
tween them. The point of view was
utterly new to Miss Farrar, and she
was obviously impressed by Il.
II never thought of that" she adj
mitted slowly. Il thought that sort
of thing was So In mans linc-his
mctier." She laughed bit rucfully.
squirrel dartcd swiftly across the
grass aud, turning its head jauntily &C.
one side, fixed "A bright, inquiring eye
upon them, Then. with a saucy wav,
Of IFS tail. II scurricd away.
II have IT," said Mowbray, "I have
Il. Learn from the squirrel! Light.
ness, nirlncss, coqucttishness! Don't
You see what I mcanY Aud he looked
al her toaslngly.
lIut she was not 10 he diverted. 81
am serious she assured him. There's
always n reason FOR everything. and
there must be n reason for this. There's
Alice Nixon. She's not so awfully
pretty. | heard her say that she ha0
had nineteen proposals." Miss Far
rars voice was touched with awe
Then n skcptical thought seized her
"Stlll-shes from the souihv' she add
ed, aud her tone implied that an allow
ancc should he made for the fact
Mowbray bit his lip.
Then there's her sister Just an ordi
nlrlly nice glrl-follows with fifteen
Marion Pierce owns up 10 dozen, and
Beth Garrett dear, homcly Bcth--ac.
knowlcdScs six, ! asked her because
] specially wanted 10 find out. Per.
haps YOU can Imagine how queer n
makes me feel"
What do YOU say upon such occa.
sIonsT demanded Mowbrny. watching
the squirrel that was again cying them
from n distance.
There was n pnlpnblc pause before
Miss Fnrrnr replied. But at last her
siraightforwnrdncss prevailed.
Sometimes ! shake my head and
look rather .Saockcd. Then they think
that | dlsapprovc OF such convcrsn Ions
think I'm noble, you knowl At other
times ! laugh and sny. 4 have never
Ind one" In tone which implies lust
the reverse"
She finished this confession and look
cd nt Mowbray out Of the corner Of her
eyes In n way that drove the last YES.
tIgc OF fear out OF his mind. This naive
woman, the person whose dignity and
coldncss he had stood nloof from I'm
absolute embarrassment for 40 long.
He could have laughed ut the absurdity
Of II. Why had she never shown him
her real self bcfore2
II think | shall propose TO you.' he
remarked deliberately.
For n second she looked surprised.
nnd then her eyes danced.
let IL be In your best style" she
pleaded. Remember it's my first. and
I fear IL may be- my last tool"
He leaned toward her and looked
straight iiiio her eyes.
1T viii be your last. undoubtedly
Ills voice was low and tense For u
long moment bc looked at hcr-lookcd
I'm way that first made her small ears
burn aud then troubled her clear gnzc
which wayered and fell
II love you, dear" he said simply.
"and ! think you know the rest. Tell
mo that you do"
Her cheeks were hot and her lips
trcmbled. 4 strong hand reached out
and took hers In n mastrrful way. md
sic suddenly knew that something
which she had never even dreamed
WIS true.
but asked YOU" she mOnncd when
at last she recovered something of her
wontcd serenity. II positively asked
you"
You encouraged me-" he corrected,
"gnd that's what they usually do, only
your method was brutally direct"
II was when she began 10 flush again
that hc added. II shall always have
something 10 tease you about, dearest"
And the squirrel, which had been
watching them In the lingering hope
tlat they might possibly have brought
him nuts. like sensible people. gave up
Ia disgust aud scurried away.