The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1906-10-05


was testing, of course but how beauti-
fully she had turned the tables on him.
Quite unaccountably he found himself
trembling, his hands moist, his 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 Wortham in that position.
She fitted it so beautifully and was
quite evidently ready to accept It.
II 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 resolyed-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.
Pretty 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, l am
going away in the fall to he finished at
the Winslow school. Mother insists
upon it, and l myself think it best
shall come back fine lady-fine
enough, hope to do the family credit
May trust YOU not to marry Georgina
in all that time?"
Certainly not" Langley said prompt
ly. You will have to take me now or
risk losing me altogether. And l hate
finishing schools and all their works.
If You 80 through the mill l won't have
yoJ-thats fat"
Fretty snatched away her hands.
| lau@hiug heartily. "What an actor was
lost in YOU, Cousin Langley" she said.
You lad such ring in your voice.
l wish Tommy Hartwell had been with
in hearing"
$50 You want the heather to rage,
you mink" Langley said, again i'm
prisoaing her hands, then the ring
| coming back to his voice stronger than
ever: Pretty. know You were in fun,
but, please, dear. let's make it earnest
| want you--no5ody else. | have been
wanting You ever since | came. with
out having sense enough to know it."
How about Georgina?" Fretty muir
INJURED, turning away her head so
Langley might not see the mounting
color in her cheeks.
Langley laughed triumphantly. MAY
| be vain enough to speak the frozen
TRUTH he asked. his lips very close to
Fretty's ear. She turned a little more
away from him. saying very low:
NO, l can Guess it, Georgina won't
have you; therefore you want me to
salye your broken heart"
"Of course But how did you guess
/ itT' Langley asked, his heart thrilling
at thought of her care to save another
woman from Slurrng. He had meant
to tell her what he knew for truth
that while Ge0rgina would have ac-
cepted him for his position and poten-
tialties 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
along he had suspected some kindness,
even more, between the pair They
might have each other and welcome.
Fretty, sweet, slim, red haired Fretty,
was the one wife in the world for him.
Impulsively he caught her to him
and said between kisses 81 see it all
now. You're a witch. You saw how
| needed comforting and proposed to
me right off the reel Henceforth l
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 hap
py child.