The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-10-17

Interrogation.
Fretty nodded, echoing: Indeed!
Yes; Mrs. Northampton divinity
has opened Grasmere-came herself the
day before yesterday. So Mr.. Vernon
couldn't stay away longer"
"Who says she is my divinity? And
how do you like 1t. seeing you have
appropriated meT Langley asked, col
oring In spite Of himself. BE felt all al
once young and raw and ridiculous
and was in a temper over it. He want
ed to shake Fretty-shake her hard. She
was testing, Of course, but how beauti-
fully she had turned the tables on him.
Quite unaccountably he found himself
trembling, his hands moist. bis face. he
knew, high colored. and all without
any reason.
It could not be that the bare sugges-
ton Of Fretty-the child. the plaything.
the creature he loved to tease-as his
wife, the mistress of his home and
heart, had thus overcome him. For
five years at least he had thought OF
Georgina Workman In that position.
She fitted it so beautifully and was
quite evidently ready to accept It,
81 always answer mothers letters for
her. Remember you wrote her about
Georgina two years back at least"
Fretty said, smiling sweetly, with the
faintest touch Of malice. "As to my
liking her, what does that matter?
have nothing to do with her, only with
you"
"You are quite resolved-to take
me, mean? Langley asked, his eyes
downcast.
Fretty looked pensive. 1T seems
one must do ones duty, however dis
agreeable" she said, with little sigh.
Langley erected himself. I'm that
case, suppose you kiss your crown of
martyrdom," he said, putting his face
close to her lips.
Fretty sprang back as far as their
clasped hands permitted and said, with
dancing eyes: Next year will be quite
time enough for that. You see, am
going away in the fall to be finished at
the Winslow school. Mother insists
upon 1t, and myself think it best. l
shall come back fine lady-fne
enough, hope, to do the family credit.
May trust you not to marry Georgina
in all that timer"
Certainly not" Langley said prompt
". You will have to take me now or
risk losing me altogether. And hate
finishing schools and all their works.
II you go through the mill won't have
you-that's flat!'
Fretty snatched away her hands,
laughing heartily. what an actor was
lost in you, Cousin Langleyw she said.
you had such a ring in your voice!
I wish Tommy Hartwell had been with
in hearing"
$50! You want the heather to rage,
you mink" Langley said, again i'm
prisoning her hands, then the ring
coming back to his voice stronger than
ever: "Fretty, 1 know you were in fun,
but, please, dear, let's make it earnest.
l want yOu-nObOdy else. have been
wanting you ever since l came, with
out having sense enough to know it."
''How about GeorginaY' Fretty muir
INJURED, turning away her head 50
Langley might not see the mounting
color in her cheeks.
Langley laughed triumphantly. "May
l be vain enough to speak the frozen
truth?" he asked. his lips very close to
Fretty's ear. She turned little more
away from him. saying very low:
mo! l can guess it. Georgina won't
have you; therefore you want me to
salve your broken heart"
''Of course. But how did you guess
it" Langley asked, his heart thrilling
at thought of her care to save another
woman from slurring. He had meant
to tell her what he knew for truth
that while Georgina would have ac-
cepted him for his position and poten-
tialities and given him comradely help
throughout their joint career her heart
was by no means engaged, she being
Of the equable temperament that
spends its widest devotion upon itself.
Moreover. there was Vernon. All
SAOAAo AS AeA0 oAcPCStCA OOuC hlAOACSS,
even more. between the pair. They
might have each other and welcome.
F'retty, sweet, slim, red haired Fretty.
was the one wife in the world for him.
1mpulsively he caught her to him
and said between kisses: II see it all
now. You're witch. You saw how
l needed comforting and proposed to
me right off the reel. Henceforth ]
shall live to keep you from being sorry
for it."
And I'll make you sorry for it as
long as you live If ever you dare say
that again." Fretty interrupted.
Again Langley laughed. He could
afford to. Fretty, in spite Of her brave
words. was nesting to him like a hap
py child.
What Teacher Said.
nSH