Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-09-10

"Thc college boys, I believe. You
know girl was not considered ut all
popular in college there in the west
unless she had ut least one proposal a
year"
"You were there year. as l remem-
ber." l interrupted. "and you averaged
how manyY
'Only two, and lots of the girls had
four and five. With Billy and Frank,
the two ut college made four, and not
one counts so far, you see"
Just when and where did they be-
gin TO count may ask?"
She ignores my question as she
comes to the fifth on her list.
Il had almost forgotten the cousin
who visited Grace the winter after
came home from school. He was so
funny He must have proposed to
every girl he met that winter. and
came in with the rest. Let me see,
who was next? Oh. the doctor, and he
really did count. for he was big
man. and-I liked him."
She waited so long to continue her
story that grew impatient.
"Do 20 on" entreated. "You see,
we have had only one that counted
so far"
"Well, we went to the mountains for
the summer: the loneliest place-no one
around. excepting two men and one
Of them was semi-invalid. 1t was
the moonlight nights and-there
were no other girls there"
Elizabeth looks so innocent and free
from guile when she Is pleading her
own cause that find II rather hard
to scold her now. But hold up eight
accusing fingers.
1.-The next? Now who was next?
That winter stayed ut home and
learned all sorts of sensible things.
Was il that winter Alan used to come?
And. why. Dick, it was that winter
that you proposed"
Just then one Of the logs broke and
q piece flew out on the rug. l stopped
to pick 1t up, and raising my head
suddenly was surprised to see Eliza
beth's cheeks bright pink.
mo one would ever think to see
us now that we-that''-
"That | was ever madly and hope
lessly in love with you" l finish.
You acted very foolishly about
Alan. l never understood why you
should have insisted that was In
love with him, because l wasn't with
you"
No reply. So we both went on look
ing into the fire as though we expect
ed to find some answer there Pres
emily she turned with one of her quick
little gestures and laid her hand on my
arm.
What good old friend you have
been, Dicky, in spite of all l have
done to hurt you. often wonder
II you are as glad as I that we are
such good friends"
As I look into the dear face l had
loved, and would go on loving until
the end of time. and thought what 1t
would mean to me not to have the
privilege of being her "comrade," even
though longed to be something more
than that. II was not hard to tell her
that l found 1t my greatest JOY to be
considered her best friend"
$50 that is why wanted to talk to
"He is the twelfth and-yes. the last Of
them all"
But why the last? Why not wait
until No. ID appears"
1.-THE unlucky thirteenth? Never! Sc
riously, Dick. am getting far too old
to wait much longer. Mr.. Harrington
is very nice. and I'll never marry for
love. feel sure. SO why not make up
my mind to accept him? Dick. you
aren't listening to word I'm saying"
drew my chair close beside hers.
81 have been thinking out u plan to
help you. II you care to hear It," She
nodded her head eagerly.
Its this: To save yourself er-from
the last of the twelve or the possible
unlucky thirteenth why not 20 back and
accept one of the others-for instance
Her hand lay so temptingly near that
I reached over and took 1t between both
Of mine.
For instance, Elizabeth i me! No,
don't think I'm not In earnest, dear
You don't love me, know, but you like
me better than-Mr.-than No. IL, don't
you. dear? And well. the fact Is,
Bess. l never got over that little case of
love had for you long ago. Oh. dear
little girl. did you think could? love
you; can't help it. and-look at me.
Elizabeth. dearest = couldn't you care
enough to let me save you from the last
of the twelveT
BY the light from the log 1 had
thought burned out, but which leaped
into n flame and threw its brightness
right over the face wanted to see,
caught light In EliZabeth's eyes that
/ never hoped to find there What she
said was-well. l am afraid Mr. Her
rington's hopes will be gone forever
when he knows ahout n