The Meeker herald., 1906-06-16

this morning. Do you like whales
more or less than you love sea-gulls!''
why should I like one or the other
more or lessT'
"Well-a whale Is . mammal-and
SO is man"
Man is beast" she corrected.
Yes. l suppose he is. And a wom-
an-woman is a critter."
Thanks. l was afraid you would
call woman either an angel or . mer-
maid
NO" he replied. reaectively. II
never took home either feathers or
scales. on-on my coat lapel"
You can actually speak about-that
affair. and-love?' She blushed as
she nearly missed IRE on the final
word.
why not?" he inquired. 1.-THE sea
is doing me good. shall be myself
once more in week"
And begin to regret your unmiti-
gated bachelor solemnities?"
Certainly not. I'd like to see the
girl who could make me regret such
sensible STEP"
He looked so deeply Into Ada's eyes
as he spoke that she saw the whole
some. honest boy she had known so
happily. once upon time. Then he
presently added:
Besides, that's done-and there's
an end to it,
Something happened in Ada's femi-
nine mind. She said:
That sounds exactly like the things
you used to say 80 long ago. Just be-
tween our childish calms and storms"
A bright light flashed in his eyes.
for a second. to counter the sparkle
in hers.
Ada, there's nothing poetic or
reminiscent about me now" he con-
fded. but everything feels to me de.
cidedly like spring"
With a nod she conceded he had
paid her back. Nevertheless. she ig-
nored his gentle repartee.
Was 1t spring the whole year
through. when we were two foolish
children she queried.
~ never thought he admitted.
"but-hang 1t ALL believe 1t was"
The sole purpose OF making an ocean
voyage SO protracted is TO entrap the
innocent passengers into vague little
signs of inconseQuent regret when at
length 1t is finally ended.
Both Seton and Ada were apostle OF
inconsequence.
That final evening they sat on the
deck and beheld the moon arise like
a red-hot disk from somewhere over
the edge. Ada looked at 1t steadily.
1.-THE poor old thing must take US
very seriously" she said. for look at
the wrinkles on her brow"
II used to think sillier thing than
that-what lot of rings 1t would
make, cut out. one inside the other"
He was silent for a moment, mem
tally carving up the unsuspecting
planet. Then he observed:
They would all be plain gold
rings"
Eyes, 1 know. That was part of the
idea. said 1t was woefully silly"
Perhaps you thought you would
like one Of the rings"
Perhaps l did," she confessed. Il
was very young"
He suppressed tentative feeling of
excitement.
"Of course. you don't wish for any
thing of the sort any longer?" he in
quired, calmly.
How could l. Mr.. Lower"
II was trying to think"
''You were trying to think what?"
"How we could both get out of 1t.
mean-how I-we-well, let it go the
way said 1T first"
She looked at him steadily, and felt
herself grow pale and warm alter
nately.
Get out of what?" she murmured.
Ada, we can't get out Of the fact
that we love one another. devotedly,"
he announced with holiness that
took away her breath. when We
used to play, as children. we used to
say we loved each other for the court
ship, and that we loved each other for
the marriage, and then, after the d.
vorce, we made up and said we loved
each other again, SO as to begin the
game all over. So we can't. get out of
that, now can we? The only question
Is how to get around our solemn VOWS
to the bachelor associations"
"But-Seton-"
81 know. I've always said you are
sweet, sensible girl. If you advise It,
I'll simply. break my pledge"
But I don't advise 1t. l don't ad-
wise anything. certainly"
Don't you love me. sweetheart, just
enough to help me out?"
She was silent for moment He |
took her hand. 1t was trembling, but |
1t lay in his without alarm. He
looked In her eyes. and, even in the |
moonlight, saw the answer he needed. |
Then finally Seton. pressing his fist
to his heart, with all his strength, dis
covered he was gazing In rapture on
Al, ,,o0r IN bo,,,bk ,,,LaA .