The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1907-07-05

| way. You hung on so we would have
both drowned in four feet OF water IL
hadn't. You could have stood on
your feet there II you had tried. 1t
was very stupid OF you not to. But II
Is awful to think that | should have
struck you. You-you of all per-
sons!"
Me, of all persons" cried the girl
OF the double negative. why do you
say such II thing as that? | don't
know you from Adam"
because, because" said Hepburn
wildly, Il love you, love you!
have loved you ever since saw your
picture last night, but 1t seems to me
now as II / had always loved you"
The girl arose from the grass with
an expression Of profound disgust
upon her features. Well, of all in.
comprehensive things she ex'
claimed You are certainly the most
!mpudent man | ever saw. How dare
you say such thing to me? What do
you mean"
Il mean" said Hepburn desperate
ly, that | don't care what things you
say to me now, II only some time you
will marry me"
The girl of the double negative
spoke never a word. but with tight.
shut lips gathered her skirts in both
hands and began to walk rapidly
away
For over week he saw nothing OF
Miss Carrington That young lady re-
manned in her room nursing a nose,
formerly of classic proportions, and
an eye which rcsembled a boiled
Eooscbcrry, sunk deep in the brilliant
and varied hucB OF n summer sunset.
Her ind!sposltion did not, however,
prevent her from inspecting that hor-
rid man" from behind her curtains,
and secretly commenting upon the
facts that he was certainly very good
looking. and that he took sly peeps at
her window as he passed
II she had expected q repetition OF
Mr.. Iepburn's former frenzied con.
duct when she again appeared In the
corridors of the hotel she was disap'
pointed. At first he seemed not TO
even see her. Then after they were
introduced by a mutual friend, he
treated her with the grave courtesy
which happy instinct told him would
be most pleasing to young lady with
high regard for the conyentionali-
ties of polite society.
It was only towards the close OF the
season. and when preparations were
being made by her family to return ~
the city that, piqued by his indifter.
cucc, she began to unbcnd little.
They met often, then oftener, then
walked together They discovered
that they bad many points of interest
in common. although photography was
not one of them,
One warm September evening they
walked upon the almost deserted pi.
aZ2a Of the hotel In the moonlight, and
1t seemed to Hepburn that the hour
was ripe at last Ardently. but this
time with dignity and decorum no
told her again Of his love. Memories
of that other proposal must however,
have returned to the lady's mind, for
one drew herself up haughtily and
said:
Il am surprised and sorry Mr.. Hep.
burn, that you should so have mIsun.
dcrstood my sentiments toward you.
esteem and respect you. but do
not love you. | cannot marry you, but
will be sist--" Miss Darlington
paused and blushcd 1t was the regu.
lation formula which she had rendered
TO more than one callow youth but 1t
was too obvious chestnut to Offer 10
q man of Mr.. Hcpburns character
and experience. To her utter amaze.
meat, he seemed to entertain no sen.
sation Of chagrin or disappointment.
Instead, he drew her only halfresst.
ing form into his arms, and for the
second timc in their short acquaint.
anco pressed a kiss upon her brow.
Again she intlmatcd angrily, as she
had once before done: You are Ger.
tainly the most prcsumptuous man
ever heard Of! Don't you understand
me? said no."
Hopburn's face bcamcd with Joy
and satisfaction. ny sweetest girl"
he said, gayly, repeating the oscula.
ton, Il hear you. But don't you re.
member that you learned long ago
when you were In school that a double
negative Is always equal to an affirm.
alive? This is the second time you've
turned me Gown What other con.
cusiOn can | draw"
That evening. when the happy man
was again alone In his room he found
in close proximity to the sateful niece
of glass letter placed there by the
bell.boy. and bearing a special delv.
cry stamp. II read as follows:
Dear Hcphurn-Did you take away
with the rest Of the stun you bought
of me last summer an opened box OF
4x5 dry plates? II so, for heavens
sake, return them at once. hope
you haven't monkeyed with and
spoiled them. They were left here
by young fellow-Billy Carrington-
tn no dpvelnup1 and no ie raudiup thu