The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1904-11-25

sible girls! 1 can see that he's growing
so Disguised that he wants to escape
the entire SEX" And with a shade of
suppressed annoyance she rose, formu-
lating an intention 60 keep Jessie as
far as possible from MIR. Staunton for
the rest of the evening.
1t seemed, therefore, almost too I'M
fortunate that the two should happen
to meet again at her house late one
afternoon of the following week, hay
ing been moved to make their bread
and butter call at the same hour OF the
same day.
Jessie was at her beSt-or worst
and ratified away in the patois OF so
ciety in manner that would have
been appalling had it been less pic
turesQue. Billy's face was study, but
whatever his thoughts were his attep-
ton was unmistakable. Not one OF
Tessie's .glances-sometimes merry,
sometimes coquettish and sometimes
trimming with q babyish sweetness
intended to make him feel how big
and strong and different he was-failed
of its mark. Tessie did not know
much, but that what she knew she
knew remarkably well was slowly
borne in upon Mrs. Jack during that
half hour.
When the distant thud Of the front
door at last proclaimed her departure
from the premises Billy, who had out
stayed her, burst into an uncomfortable
guffaw, in which his hostess Joined
f,,ll RtIt
burst was not followed by any OF the
caustic remarks that might have been
expected from a bachelor Of his views
and standing. On the contrary, gen.
ial, amused CLEAN fingered in his eyes,
the amusement Of grownup with
dainty, foolish, attractive child.
"Tessie is such silly little thing"
observed Mrs. Jack alphabetically,
"you mustn't mind her."
"Mind herv' calculated her visitor
warmly. 'I should say not! She's
greatw And he chuckled reminiscent
ly.
But on the subject Of Miss Blair
Mrs Jack found him unresponsive.
"Do you suppose he's interested and
doesn't want to show it?" she demand
ed Of Jack, that fountain Of wisdom,
ut the dinner table. Because Virgin
las precisely the sort Of girl he pre-
tends to admire. Now that I've found
his ideal for him he doesn't seem to
appreciate her."
Her husband laughed at the chagrin
in her voice.
eff he doesn't fall in love with the
lady we've provided
According to his plans and specifi-
cations" giggled his wife.
According to his own plans and
specifications-why, I'll punch his
head"
But in spite Of his opportunities Billy
remained cold to the charms of the
sensible Miss Blair In time Mrs. Jack
noticed that it became increasingly diff
ficult to throw them together. Billy
simply would not be thrown.
Provide man with what he pre-
tends to like and he Immediately finds
out that he doesn't want it," she re-
fected, with justifable cynicsm. "He
says he likes sensible girls, but he
won't look at Virginia, though he will
hover about that little idiot, Tessie
Loring, like a moth about q fame"
And indeed there was plenty of foun-
dation for her statement Far from
causing Billy to take to the woods, as
Mrs. Jack had feared she might, Tes-
sic seemed to exercise some subtle in
fluence over him. The two were for
ever meeting, both at Mrs. Jacks and
elsewhere, by the merest chance, Of
course. And it was noticeable as time
went on that, though they arrived sep
arately, they invariably left together.
A month later he came to tell her
of their engagement.
"a good many persons misjudge Tes-
sic" he began, as If he felt that she
might be one of the number, "but in
reality she is one of the most sensible
little girls in the world"
He said much more, and Mrs. Jack,
swallowing hard, accepted it all, agree
ing with him at every point But when
she was alone again she laughed until
the tears streamed down her cheeks,
and thus her husband found her.
"What under the heavens| he in
CURED, but he got no further.
"Billy's going to marry Tessie Lor- |
mgr she announced breathlessly. "He |
says she is so sensiblev'
Jack gave n low, incredulous whis |
tie.
"Talk about love being blindw he |
blurted out at last "Why, love has |
an X ray eye! Nothing short of az
X ray could see anything sensible in |
Tessie'
And he thrust his hands in his peck
cts and roared with her.