Middletown transcript., 1904-07-30

| some as Sno stared Stralgnt In front o
her. I tried to speak, but she shut me
| up with snap of her white teeth.
"Let me think p she exclaimed. LET
me think p
| / waited obediently while she thought
| There was plenty Of time, and there
didn't seem any need to hurry her. The
| driver didn't count, and, as for the others,
they might have stayed away till dooms.
| day for ALL cared. My passionate beauty
gave me glance full of sparks and light.
nings.
| ~ see you don't mind a BIT !" she said.
"You're just like the others"
4 Il wish you were" | returned, asking
her permission to smoke cigar. q
81 wish / could smoke cigars" she
broke out i wish could do anything.
I wish I could swear! To be abandoned
| like this to be calmly left out to have
| it taken for granted that l am no better
| than-than they are Have you ever
| felt really, gasping mad ?'' she asked.
"0h, I've had my little troubles" |
said.
| "Well. yon are awfully nice, she con-
ceded "I'd ratler it was you than any
body else, You know. What time is it ~
| looked at my watch.
Five past noon,' I said.
| Miss Jayes began to do some more
thinking. ! watched the sky through
the haze of my Perfecto and tried to hide
the fact of my content while she did sums
on her fingers and her lips moved with
unspoken calculations.
eff you really feel SO badly about it, !"
1 said, II could harness up one of the
carriages and take you back
''No," she returned. "I don't want to
do anything soshorrid They were pretty
tightly packed as it was. I'd prefer to
melt away-like the Arab, you know"
"Then let's melt" said.
SITS about three miles to the main
road" she said. ''The Peralta Springs
stage ought 10 pass there about-half-past
two. Well head it off and go home"
"We ought to leave word, though" /
said.
81 suppose we ought" she assented.
"Just card with stinging good-by."
"We couldn't Improve on just: Gone
Home r I said
"You are right" she said. mo COM
ments no recrimminations no ibs about
feeling suddenly i'll. Just Gone Home r.
"And pin it on the drivers hat," l
said! SIN + int, you know, where it
can't but BE- ioticed." took out card
and wrote the two words on it while my
companion did some squirming for pin.
The driver never budged as l bent over
him and took liberties with his hat,
though his shore Gf I may SO describe
it, became self-conscious and gurgly.
''Now lets 90, she said.
1t Is a pity about lunch, remarked,
as We turned our backs on the clearing
and took the trail.
l would rather starye than eat bite Of
their nasty Old lunch. she exclaimed vim
dictiyely.
Man is such poor creature, | said, as
I felt an inner protest.
Get home and you shall have whole
ice-chest to choose rom, she said.
Then you won't shade me at the other
end, | said.
| am going to be SO good to you that
you will be dizzy, she said. l think it is
splendid of you to come-to be rude for
my sake, you know. Lots of men would
have stayed and done their silly best to
talk me out of it.
My silly best is to tag along wherever
you go, said.
We were long time covering those
three miles. 1t was indeed sensation to
be alone in the forest with a beautiful
woman one scarcely knew. and to have,
with such good conscience, all the spice
of an escapade. As she grew tired and
little pale with the walk, she seemed to
become, in subtle way, increasingly de- |
pendent on me. | think she was fright
ened by the great silent trees about us,
and more and more alive to the protection
of a strapping fellow like myself. She de-
ferred to me as she had not done before !;
asked me great deal about myself; and |
astonished me once Or twice by her un-
usual frankness.
Isn't it strange, she said, that back |
there, when we were sitting on that log,
fencing according to rule, | shouldn't |
have let you hold my hand for anything.
While now, when we are nothing but two
friends, tired and hungry and cross and
trudging home together, it seems the most
natural thing in the world ! |
| imagine this is the most dangerous
kind Of Irritation there is, said. Now
we are not pretending at all.
I suppose that's it, she said liked
you before because you we're clever. Now
| like you because pu are manly and
splendid, and if there was bear you'd
throw stones at it!
/ caught her round ihe waist ard kissed
her, kissed her north, her eyes, her
flushed and burning cheeks. She SUBJ
mitted, painting, making no struggle to
free herself, uttering not sound. When
at last she spoke it was with curious
gentleness that was more of reproach
than any outburst
Take away your arm, she said. You
must not do that agsiii. lido not want to
make mountains out Of it, but you must
promise Inc not to take such a liberty
again
/. In my ardor tried Justify myself.
Do not say another word about it, she
said. I am not nearly 50 shocked as you
think. Perhaps am not so displeased +
as | ought to be. OILY ask you, quite
seriously, as a gentleman. you know, not
to do such thing again.
t,rornisad huyyhiv .dwalI;,,c -, Az