St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1906-01-20
The house was closed and they were

was necessary to know her for year
to really understand her. And she ha,
only met him about six months before
One crisp, lovely morning abou
three weeks after I got back, wen
for q solitary ramble on the common
was striding along, slashing tn
broom blossoms savagely with m.
stick, when voice close behind M
made me start violently.
Even IL you do feel cross, Tony, 20,
needn't vent your i'll temper on thu
gorse.''
And there was Prue! Prue' A mock
ing. glowing gypsy of Prue!
l gripped her outstretched hands II
a trice, and we stood and laughed Al
each other foolishly.
You here!" gasped.
why not? I've just as much right
as you," she said, with belligerent
| sparkle in her eyes.
What have you been doing all this
timer" / asked, ignoring her last re-
mark.
Enjoying myself. And what has
my Uncle Tony been doing with him
self" --.=...@
I'm not your uncle, Prue, and I
wouldn't be for worlds"
Wouldn't you? Well, you might
have told me so gradually. You should
always break that sort of thing gen.
tly." 49,.
"Prue, where's that guardsman?" I
demanded, sternly.
"Give it up, ask me another" she
replied, as she coolly borrowed my
stick to play with.
l began to feel absurdly light-heart-
ed, for that guardsman had weighed
heavily.
Am to buy you wedding present,
Prue?" S..-
Dear Tony! How perfectly sweet
of you. Why of course I'm always
ready to receive presents birthday, I'M
birthday or wedding. You see, it's
never wise to refuse a good offer, is
it!'' ....
THAT depends on what you consider
good" l said, gloomily. III You refer
to the guardsman-well, of course,
tastes differ" .&4.-@E
"How you do harp on the guards
man." cried Prue. "A single string
becomes monotonous, Tony"
"True," l assented. You never
erred in that respect, Prue-"
'.Tony, when lady makes great
effort and offers to come for a walk
with you, you should be pleasant and
polite to her. At present you are
neither" a-..
Are you coming for a walk with
me, Prue?" said, gayly.
"'Yes, if you ask, kind sir, she said
Tony! Let's pretend the old days have
come back, and you haven't grown old,
and there's no guardsman at all, shall
we? Well be the Old and the Young
Pretenders."
"And what about the money!"
The words had slipped out before I
was aware. Prue stopped and gave q
queer little, long drawn "Oh!" Then
she said, softly:
"Tony, dear, let's pretend that the
came to you and not to me-"
tits too impossible a case" said I.
my pretending won't stretch to it."
"Then let's pretend we are both as
poor as poor. What would you do.
Tony?"
Marry you tomorrow" again the |
words had slipped out before could |
prevent them.
There was q delicious peal of laugh
ter from Prue, and then she said |
softly:
shouldn't l have a voice in that
matter, sir?"
"Prue,' I said, without looking a.
her, .'if we were both as poor as poor.
md I asked you to marry me, what
would you say?"
Il should say Yes, please" said
Prue.
"Prue! Do you mean it, darling?"
cried, forgetting that it was game.
And I caught her to my heart and
kissed her dear lips before she could
answer.
When remembered, and, stricken
With shame, released her, she stood
flushing like damask rose in front
# me; then, giving me a swift, shy
ook from under her long lashes, she
aid:
"You do pretend we'll, Tony. It felt
uite real. Didn't it to you?'
"It did," I said, fervently, ''but it
vas only pretending, Prue." /
That's ALL she assented, sadly.
1t was grateful and comforting, some
low, Tony, wasn't it,"
Comforting! There's nothing like
t for comfort" I exclaimed, Juggling
at my mustache.
We walked along some little way in
Hence. Then Prue's small, soft hand
rept into mine and she said:
TONY, let's lose the money or bury
!, If you dislike it SO, and let's go on
as long as we live"
Now, what are you to do with girl
Ike that? Why, nothing, except thank
|od for her!
And, after all, the money wasn't SO
bjectionable-when you grew accus-
omed to 1t.
Two Bores.