Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1905-03-03
ANNICE LISTENED.

you kiss Gertrude on the piazza last
night, and l think any self-respecting
! girl would have done as l have done"
81 think most girls would at least
+ have held court of inquiry" retort-
ed Brooks Aging, before returning
the ring by a bellboy."
81 had to send it back by some
one"
TT wasn't necessary to send 1t
back" he protested. Gertrude had
something on her shoulder and 1 was
taking it Off"
Indeed! From where I stood It
looked remarkably as though that
something was your lips"
"T've only kissed one girl on that
piazza, and it wasn't Gertrude, eth
err" he asserted, meaningly.
Annice flushed redly. at is I'M
kind" she cried, ito remind me that
I have been so foolish as to permit
you to kiss me. We we're engaged,
and never thought that horrid wo-
man would come between u.s."
"She couldn't have come between
us half an hour earlier" he laughed.
# you refer to that again." she
said angrily, 81 shall get up and
leave. l will not be reminded of my
folly!"
Better stay here" he suggested.
Its the coolest place along the
beach, and l want to get this thing
Strengthened out before you CO."
ut must be a dreadful thing to
starve TO death in sight Of hotel"
observed Annice to yacht over on
the horizon.
Brooks apparently accepted the re-
mark as having been addressed to
him.
'In the first place." he began, 1--WE
are not in sight of the hotel. That
large structure is hidden from view
In the second place, we are more
likely to starve at the hotel than
away from it. Lastly it's not going
to take until lunch time to convince
you that you are mistaken"
Are you going to force me to leave
this placer" she asked acidly.
Brooks smiled wickedly. by no
means" he assured her. Il want you
to stay here. as l am sure you will"
81 suppose you would use force to
detain me?" she suggested.
mot at ALL" he cried. "On the con-
trary"-he sprang to his feet-"if you
really wish to go, permit me-"
He offered his hand to assist her to
rise, but she sank back with flaming
cheeks. 81 think I prefer to stay
here for little while. want to
wait for Herbert"
81 saw Herbert as l came along"
he said, with hands still outstretched.
"He told me to tell you that he was
going out in Stevens yacht and would
not be back until 4. That small
nephew Of yours appears to have
made hit with Stevens"
Are you sure he went on the
yacht?" anxiously.
Don't look so worried" he said
kindly. There is not the slightest
danger. 1t is not going to squall-
unless it's right here
81 see no reason for a squall here"
she said with dignity.
Neither do l." he agreed heartily.
with you in that frame of mind we
can soon come to an understanding.
You see this is not like a mere sum.
mer engagement. There Is no reason
why a piazza episode should so dis.
quiet you.
81 do not care about Gertrude.
took her out on the piazza because
she caught sight of chap she did
not want to dance with. Then light
ming bug dropped on her shoulder
She screamed. l leaned forward to
pick it off, and just as l was straight
enlng up you came out. That's al
there Is to the story, on my word Of
honor.
Now" and he laid a solitaire or
the sand between them, will you &C
cept the explanation and the ring?"
She smiled sarcastically. THE
ring is genuine"
SOS the explanation" he protest
ed stoutly. 81 see l must raise my
bid. Will you take back the ring anc
--this?"
Brooks Ayling, where did you ge
that slipper" she cried.
Herbert" he answered. HE toll
me that he was stealing your shoe,
and stockings because you were wad
ing around the point. I saw chanc,
to make you listen, and bought 'em
I'll throw in the other slipper If you
insist, but you'll have to pay a specia
, price for the stockings"
WAS that why you laughed when
said | would bet up and go away"
Partly that" he said teasingly
g land partly the idea of you watkins
:, up on the piazza in your bare feet"
!, Slowly she slipped the ring back o.
her finger. "Give me the stocking
y and wait for me around the hun
mock"
n 81 said a special price for nose.
he reminded her.