The daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1904-1905, 1904-02-15


pared to face the situation with her.
rs it because you haven't wanted
any one 10 ask your he inquired diplo-
maticaly.
NO. indeed.'
And no man has ever told you that
ne loved you?" he murmured in
thoughtful tone. Strange
"Weli-now-I didn't say just that.
you known
There was a faint suspicion of
blush on Miss Farrar's smooth cheeks,
but her glance met Mowbray's with its
usual answering honesty.
"Men have told me that they loved
me-several of them! But that's not
a proposal you know, any more than
it's a purchase when | say that adore
a string of pearls at Tiffany'sw
"A-a-hr'
The ejaculation was full of enlighten-
ment Mowbray was beginning at last
to understand things that had always
puzzled him, as his next question
showed
would it be impertinent TO ask how
you have received these declarations?''
"Why, / just listened! You see, IT'S
embarrassing. It makes one feel so
terribly conscious"
what about the man?" Mowbray
asked quietly. Doesn't it occur to
you that perhaps he might need a little
encouragement-th perhaps he might
be a trifie conscious too?''
For moment there was silence be-
tween them. The point Of view was
utterly new to Miss Farrar. and she
4 never thought of that she adj
mitted slowly. 4 thought that sort
of thing was so in a mans line-his
meter" She laughed bit ruefully.
squirrel darted swiftly across the
grass and, turning its head jauntily to
one side, fixed a bright, inquiring eye
upon them. Then. with a saucy wave
of its TAIL it scurried away.
Il have it." said Mowbray, 81 have
it! Learn from the squirrel! Light
ness, airiness, coquettishness! Don't
you see what / mean?" And he looked
at her teasingly.
But she was not to be diverted. Il
am serious" she assured him. There's
always d reason for everything, and
there must be q reason for this. There's
Alice Nixon. She's not SO awfully
pretty. / heard her say that she had
had nineteen proposals. Miss Far
rars voice was touched with awe.
Then skeptical thought seized her.
"Still-shes from the southr' she add
ed, and her tone implied that an allow
ance should be made for the fact.
Mowbray bit his lip.
''Then there's her sfster-iust an ordi-
Marion Pierce owns up to a dozen. and
Beth Garrett-dear, homely Beth-ac
knowIedges ski | asked her because
| specially wanted to find out Per-
haps you can imagine how queer it
makes me feel"
What do You say upon such occa-
sions?" demanded Mowbray. watching
the squirrel that was again eying them
from a distance.
There was a palpable pause before
Miss Farrar replied. But at last her
straightforwardness prevailed.
Sometimes l shake my head and
look rather shocked Then they think
that disapprove of such conversations
think I'm noble. you know! At other
times | laugh and say, 4 have never
had oner in a tone which implies just
the reverse"
She finished this confession and look
ed at Mowbray out of the corner of her
eyes in way that drove the last yes
tige of fear out of his mind This naive
woman, the person whose dignity and
GOODNESS he had stood aloof from in
absolute embarrassment for so longi
He could have laughed at the absurdity
of CHI oh
her real self before?
remarked deliberately.
For second she looked surprised,
and then her eyes danced.
LET it be in your best STYLE" she
pleaded. Remember, it's my first, and
| fear it may be my last too!''
He leaned toward her and looked
straight into her eyes.
TT will be your last, undoubtedly!'
His voice was low and tense. For
long moment he looked at her-looked
in q way that first made her small ears
burn and then troubled her clear gaze,
which wavered and fell
81 love you, DEAR he said simply,
land l think you know the rest. Tell
me that you do
Her cheeks were hot and her lips
trembled. A strong hand reached out
and took hers in a masterful way. and
she suddenly knew that something
which she had never even dreamed
was true.
.+But l asked your she moaned when
at last she recovered something of her
wonted serenity. Il positively asked
your
You encouraged me-" he corrected,
"and that,s what they usually do only |