The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1904-06-09

| - -
| glance.
It's no use to tease me, Phil" he
said, doggedly. mo, you're not hurt
the least bit and never mind the hair
it looks pretty that way"
It's perfectly hateful Of youl" Phyl-
lis struggled to free herself, but in
| vain.
| Ben laughed oddly.
Il cannot agree" he declared. "And
as for chivalry, prefer the sort that
fiourished when real knights lived and
fought
F.! What do you mean, Ben Marten?"
"They yielded no rights, those chiv-
| alrous knights of Old. I've waited for
mine longer than I've cared to. Now
you hear?" His arm drew her closer
to him; she realized he would not be
| played with longer.
only the one sort?" she queried,
more to gain time than for any other
reason
He was becoming quite unmanage-
! able; his SternnesS subdued all preyi-
| GUS fun.
only the one," he rejoined. "You
| know what that is; told you last week
and I'll tell it again if you
But marriage is such serious mat
ter, Ben" Her voice was sober by that
time; the dark eyes became troubled.
She had not thought he would take
things so to heart.
ut isl" decisively.
81 expect SO much; my ideals are so
high
Cant they be dropped bit and you
make me fit them?"
She wiggled loose from his clasp and
stood glancing up into the earnest
face bent above hers. A curious little
throb made her heart felt for the first
time.
Il might try" replied she after that
moments hesitation
Will you-will you, Phil? he asked
with eager entreaty. IF you only
would try, just little. There's no 9TH
er fellow is there?-nobody down in
that wonderful country of yours where
everybody is so polite?" the last a bit
jealously.
She laughed, but seeing the eagerness
die out and detection take it's place,
she was merciful.
perhaps it would be wiser to let the
matter rest awhile"
You said that last week"
How impatient you are. At least
shall not marry until you have your
answer. I'm soon going to the city and
after my return"
you couldn't give it-before you
go?" wistfully
He dared not press too hard. To
lose the ground already his would in
deed be grief. So he abided by her de-
cision, fearful of being turned down
completely.
mo, really cannot give it sooner. 1t
is far too grave matter to be hur-
riedly settled I'd no idea you cared
for me-this way. My answer can on
ly be decided upon after the very
calmest elaboration. 1t shall be ex-
tremely deliberate"
when may I hear the outcome of
this-calm deliberation?" he asked in
rather sarcastic voice. Inwardly his
heart was sore; he could not bear to
let her go from him in so unsatisfac-
tory a manner.
Friday night" she replied. THAT
is surely little while to wait | could
visit longer, of course, but auntie will
need me by that time and besides"
Phyllis did not complete the sentence,
instead, edging further away from him.
Her face clouded as she noted his evil
dent disappointment. 1t was quite too
bad he must spoil Their, merry friend
ship as he had done so abruptly that
last week.
There were good-bys when at length
he left, but of the most formal kind.
she would yield no point to pleading.
and he refrained from making it too
stern, lest she refuse outright. That
was Saturday. On Monday she left
Oldtown.
It was with intense pleasure she
reached the city and started in for
three days Of gayety. Novelties charrh-
Su DctOuu CApCCtdIlOup uOk VNu01A ANT
joiced to have her; not one moment
was dull. The big department stores
were visited, likewise several friends
of school days-those who had married
and moved away from former localities.
She decided, too, it would be an excel
lent opportunity to study marriage
views from points other than her own.
The subject, however, was thrust upon
her without any acknowledgment, in
fact very abruptly. She met Dora
Brant on the street, SO changed she
scarcely recognized her. Both halted.
Dora with lighted face and hand ex-
tended, grasped her on the arm.
"Phil Dunston!" she exclaimed ex-
citedly Nov this is a surprise. You
look pretty as ever. Have you been
here long?-why yes, didn't you know
Testers health is poor and so look
after the store every afternoon while
he takes little rest-a whole year
the doctors say-not a moment to my
self-wOrl< and worry stick close to me-