Smyrna times., 1905-03-22

OeAole, puI I've never Deen absolutely
so until this minute. Why, Dollie! You
remember we were interrupted last
night, and you've never let me kiss you.
It's Yes isn't it, dearY' leaning
very close
why, BERTHE Temple, 1 should say
not! OF all the mean, deceiving ad-
vantage taking tricks She paused
breathless, her voice quivering wrath
fully.
But BERTHE chung desperately to her
hands. "Dollie, don't spoil it all!' in
O beseeching whisper "We'I never
hear the last of it,
She sank back weakly.
"Oh! Lifts so very new. YOU
know. I'm not accustomed to it vet.
You-you are not angry with me,
d-dear?"
Angry with you? Never as long as
r.
"Of course 1 didn't mean that. But
anyway you mustn't surprise me so
violently. 1t might make me l-l-like
you less. No, l guess I'd better not let
you tonight, just for punishment No
I-well! If you're going to feel so heart
broken, just one very tiny one right
here" indicating the tip of a rosy ear.
The elaborate performance was hard
ly concluded when a small, agitated
voice came very close to Mr. Temples
own auditory member.
"Bertie! I'm positive 1 smell fresh
cigar smoke! Do you suppose any one
is listening round the corner? 1 shall
simply die"
| The answer came from an unexpect-
| ed quarter. Out of the dusk of the low
music room window stepped the youth
full, immaculate figure of Miss Doro-
thy's brother Bob.
Hello, you twor' he greeted genially,
but with carefully modulated voice. 81
didn't mean to listen more than a min
ute but it was too good chance to
learn how. l knew you'd not mind so
much, being all in the family. But, Sc
riously, old man, I'm no end glad!
Rather have you for a brother than any
fellow l know-though 1 had a suspi-
cion that Dot made practice of refus-
ing you about once a week. And here's
my most brOtherly kiss for the maiden
mot on the ear, eitherw And Bob
beamed gleefully on one and then the
other, a man who had risen to accept
his Fluctuations with quiet dignity and
a girl who stood with both hands press
ed to a palpitating breast.
"This will just about sign your re
lease on the Simpkins' question, won't
it, Bertie?" continued the garrulous
Bob. "By the bye, that cheerful skele-
ton came tiptoeing into the music room
just before you two obscured my out
look and left with obvious reluctance
on discovering me. 1 suppose it's regis
tered to my discredit but l hadn't the
moral courage to resign the window
seat in her favor
Dorothy's hands suddenly covered her
face, but not in time to quench a little
gasping sound that was not more than
half laughter.
BERTHE took one step to her side and
threw protecting arm across the bent
shoulders. Under that shelter q fiut-
tering little heart was proclaiming:
'She did come. 1t was the truth and
not a joke to make me wretched! ]
could never have married man who
would lie to mer'
. dot must be weeping to think how
cut up old lady Simpkins will be-" ven
tured Bob. land nervous, l suppose, al
being interrupted so suddenly Never
mind, little girl. I'll go right away anC
never tell a soul. Only she might
! show brother her new ring-or is it al
l | en &I,ok -,
rived YETI"
$50 new that the ring was about t,
be produced when you appeared" re
piled BERTHE in a very deep voice, tax
ing Dollie's left hand and slipping some
thing very quickly on to her finger
"Oh!'' she cried, with quaver of de
light; then she sat down very abruptly
leaning forward to let the moonligh
sparkle on the beautiful stone
For once in his life Bob showed sui
ficient discretion to steal noiselessl,
> away.
She sat very still, absently turnin
! the circlet this way and that, watchin
: the fash Of changing colors; then, wit
l. a shaky little sigh, she slipped it ol
and held it toward him. Its yer
lovely. BERTHE. l guess the girl yo
7 bought it for won't mind my having
u on for a few minutes. Aren't you g
Z ing to tell me who she is, BERTHE
7 We've been pretty good friends, yo
g know"
Straight and tall he stood before he
y "Yes, Dollie, l am going to tell yo
:. who she is," he answered slowly, the
dropped on one knee and slipped til
ring back on the finger from whic
y she had removed it. "She is you, yol
YOU" he whispered, "and no one els
ie in the wide world. May it stay ther
u my Dollie?'
" "Bertie," and her eyes grew luminoI
ce with wonder, "do you mean that yC
ie still care after have refused you-o
u / don't like to think how many times
III But / never knew how nice you cou
be-"
% "You never gave me the chance"
| .-..-..o..oI I,,DDfIv too had fn n