The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-04-06

remember we were interrupted last
night, and you've never let me kiss you
Its Yes isn't it. dear?' leaning
very close
why, BERTHE Temple, should say
not. OF all the mean, deceiving adj
vantage taking tricks She paused
breathless, her voice quivering wrath
fully.
But BERTHE chung desperately to her
hands. '.Doliie, don't spoil it air in
a beseeching whisper. Wen never
hear the last OF 1t. -
She sank back weakly.
eOhi Lifts so very new. you
know. I'm not accustomed to it yet.
You-yeu are not angry with me.
d-dear?P
Angry with you? Never as long as
p
"Of course / didn't mean that. But
anyway you mustn't surprise me so
violently. 1t might make me Hike
you less. No, 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 rosy ear.
The elaborate performance was hard
~ concluded when small, agitated
voice came very close TO Mr.. Temples
own auditory member
"Bertie. Pm positive smell fresh
cigar smoke, Do you suppose any one
is listening round the corner? I 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 Dora
thy's brother Bob.
Hello, you twor' he greeted genially,
but with carefully modulated voice. Il
didn't mean to listen more than a min
ute, but it was too good a chance to
learn how. / knew you'd not mind so
much, being al in the family. But. Sc
rioIsly, old man, I'm no end gladi
Rather have you for brother than any
fellow know-though ] had a suspi-
eiOn that Dot made practice OF refuS-
ing you about once a week. And here's
my most brotherly kiss for the maiden
not 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 palpitating breast.
This will Just about sign your re-
lease on the Simpkins' question, won't
it, Bertie;" continued the garruIous
Bob. by the bye, that cheerful skele-
ton came tiptoeing into the music room
just before you two obseured my out
! look and left with obvious reluctance
on discovering me. suppose it's regis
tered to my discreiit, but hadn't the
moral courage to resign the window
seat in her favor
Derothy's hands suddenly covered her
face, but not in time to quench a little
gasping sound that was net more than
half laughter.
BERTHE took one step to her side and
threw protecting arm across the bent
shoulders FINDER that shelter a Gut
tering little heart was prociaiming:
"She did come, 1t was the truth and
| not joke to make me wretched! 1
could never have married a man who
! would lie to mer'
dot must be weeping to think how
cut up old lady Simpkins viii be-" ven
tured Bob, land nervous, suppose, at
being interrupted so suddenly. Never
mind little girl. I'll go right away and
never tell a soul Only she might
show brother her new ring-Or is it ali
so very new that the ring hasn't ar
rived YETI
$50 new that the ring was about to
be produced when you appeared" re-
| piled BERTHE in Avery deep voice, tax
ing Dollie's left hand and slipping some
thing very quickly on to her finger.
..Oh.' she cried, with a qusver Of de
light; then she sat down very abruptly,
leaning forward TO let the moonlight
sparkle on the beautiful stone.
For once in his life Bob showed suf-
fcient discretion to steal noiselessIy
away
She sat very still, absently turning
the cirelet this way and that, watching
the Fash OF changing eolors; then, with
shaky little sigh. she slipped it OF
and held it toward him. Its very
lovely, BERTHE. l guess the girl you
bought it for won't mind my having il
on for few minutes. Aren't you go
ing to tell me who she is, BERTHE,
We've been pretty good friends, yeu
know"
Straight and tall he stood before her
"Yes, Dellie, l am going to tell you
who she is" he answered slowly, Their
dropped on one knee and slipped the
ring back on the finger from which
she had removed it. "Sha is you, you
YOU" he whispered. "and no one elst
In the wide world. May it stay there
my DolheT'
'sBertie," and her eyes grew luminou:
with wonder, do you mean that yoU
stili care after have refused you-oh
/ don't like to think how many times.
But never knew how nice you could
be-"
"You never gave me the chance" b.
1 opauoraa narsailu $50 had m 49,