Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1906-10-17
A GIVE.
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nAuB Out
"But you never come out TO this quiet
suburb unless you have an object
Object! What objectT
Ires,e looked trifls disappointed
Haven't you heardT she asked.
Heard! Heard whatT'
"Oh, pshaw. | asked your object In
coming to Fernwood. You certainly
did not come to make formal CALL"
well, then. my dear. since you Will
have II so | came out to congratulate
you on your engagement to my most In
innate friend" And I gave my sister
smack
''Were you surprisedT
Surprised? OF course I was sur
prised. Sandie always said he wouldn't
marry girl with money; that he
wouldn't play second fiddle to any wo-
man. He must be desperately In love
with you."
A happy look came into her eyes, and
a warm color slowly spread Itself over
her cheeks.
"You heard 1t from
"Him. He has already asked me TO
all that"
"The best man doesn't give the groom
away. The groom Isn't given away at
all It's the BRIDE
"Well. I'm quite sure" with mali
cious twinkle In my eye, "that Sandie
said something about giving him away.
Perhaps 1t was not TO give him away"
"What7"
There was SO sudden q transition
from pleasure to pain that I gave over
being facetlous temporarily and said
seriously:
"I suppose you are quite aware mat
sandie has nothing but his professionw
'T know that It's fortunate have
something. But tell me-had you any
tnkling of it?"
My trouble has always been a tend
enay to joke people. I had very much
suspected Irene's and Sandie's love af-
fair, but preferred to give her the op-
posite impression. Since that time
have learned that never could give
people a direct answer. must always
be misleading them. But l didn't real
ize 1t or the folly of 1t till later.
mot the slightest suspicion" said
in reply to her question.
"Thats queer" she said thoughtful
H. "You are Sandie's most intimate
friend. and people must tell their love
10 those nearest them"
'Men differ about that; women must
always have a confidant"
"And he never praised me to your
mot that l remember. Still waters
run deep, you know
There WAS pause. during which
Irene was evidently doing good deal
Of thinking.
when did you first suspectr' she
asked presently.
Last fall, when I met Sandie at the
station on his way out here to see you.
l was going to Pinnacle. That was
let me see-the 1st of November. l
remember the date because l had to
go to Pinnacle on that day to attend
court. Sande when he saw me hooked
disconnected. Where are you bound
for. old manr 1 asked. To Fern
wood he stammered, coloring What
you got In your handT l blurted, not
thinking Of the rudeness Of the ques-
ton. Flowers he replied. Then l
began to see that l was tramplng
about In bed of budding plants.
get my train"
While was giving this little episode,
to which Irene listened breathlessly, a
marked change came over her featured
There was growing expression of
pain, which settled down, after had
finished, to hard. cold. rigid look.
'If Sandle asked you TO give him
away" she said. you have certainly
accommodated him in the most friend
ly manner. l was at home on the 1st
of November No Sandle appeared.
Lou Westcott doubtless received the
call and the flowers. What l suspected
Is now confirmed. Sandie wished to
marry Lon, but she Is poor. and he
gave her up for me-"
She staiked out of the room, turning
only to say: I'm awfuly obliged,
Bert, for giving Sandie away. You've
done me the greatest favor of my life"
Hold on, Irene! l made up most of
that story. It's true l met Sandie at
the station. but never asked him
word"-
There was no use finishing. for I
heard a door bang upstairs.
"Well, I'll come out all right" I said
to myself. "There'll be tiff. Sandie
will explain, and they'll kiss and make
np." Thus comforting myself, l left
the house and returned to the city. On
arriving went straight to Sandie's
rooms-for l felt anxious-but didn't
find him. The next day 1 went to his
office. but he was not there. I didn't
see him till another morning when l
met him on the street.
He gave me dead cut. Joined him
TO have 1t out
whats the matter, Sander
"What did Won give me away fOPf /