The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1907-04-26

three months. L uOu ueSeTNe YOU
should forgive me. and that's a fact"
I'm sure I forgave you long ago."
interrupted the girl softly.
Nelly" incredulously. "But what
are you doing at the station? Not
going away? I couldn't stand for that
you know, now I've got you again."
81 am going to New York"
"And SO it's because you're going to
New York that you are SO fine, and
look SO pretty"
do you like my things?" she asked,
eagerly. DO l look pretty, really
and truly?"
Your things are up in G, and you're
as pretty as a picture, Nelly. But
what's the use of words, If all these
people weren't here I'd show you what
l think of you. What are you going
to do in New York;"
She looked at him sideways. 81 am
going" she said slowly, II am going
to be married to Michael"
He gave a gasp. That's not true, he
cried. She shrugged her shoulders.
Nelly" he besought, forgive me. I
shouldn't have said that, but you gave
me a fright. l know it isn't true. ]
know you're just teasing me. But I've
lost my nerve and l can't stand for 1t.
Say you don't mean It,"
whats the S of my saying any
thing" she asked him, when you
think I'm not telling you the truth?
I'm going to marry Michael Don
a For two years l was straight
to you, and put up with your
jealousies and tempers, and turned
down lots Of better men because
well, because l was silly about you.
me to be a public laughing stock, did
you think l was going to put on sack
cloth and ashes, till you got good and
ready to come back to me? Not
much!"
you needn't say any more" inter.
rupted the man, II quite understand
Miss Mccullough. Well, l hope you'll
be happy and have lots of good luck"
He lifted his hat with awkward dig.
nifty, and turning on his heel, marched
towards the door.
The girl watched his %retreating
form with frightened eyes, then "Jim,"
she called, almost under her breath,
Jim" He heard her and came strid.
ing back.
"Well?" he demanded.
IL didn't speak," she stammered.
a. beg your pardon, l thought you
did. ooh, Nelly" he cried, you can't
mean to do this thing. If Michael
were a decent sort I'd not have a
word to say. But he isn't. Why, he
hasn't a friend in the world. 1t was
knowing the things l do about him
that made me so riled whom I saw him
hanging round you. Nelly, even II it's
all over now, l ask you, please watt"
The girl gazed at him s%pellbouna,
her hands n%ervously opening and clos.
ing.
why Nelly" with a sudden joyful
conviction, 81 believe you love me
still"
ooh, jim she sobbed, 81 dol do.
But I've given Michael my word, and
I'll have to keep it."
why look here, Nelly" he pleaded,
If it's a question of keeping prom
ises. you promised me long before
you promised Michael, and it's the
first promise that holds in law, you
know"
East bound express, stopping al
Hudson, Poughkeepsie and New
York." chanted the station official.
The girl made to rise to her feet
but the clock-maker's arm drew her
back.
Sweetheart he whispered, "you
don't want to go and marry Michael
do you?"
mo-" said the girl. 81 don't want to
marry Michael, but"
But what?"
"Well, you see," she explained, it'i
like this: I told all the girls at the
store that l was going to get married
and about my trip to New York, and
II l go back and tell them there wasn't
any wedding, and there wasn't any
trip, why they'll josh me to death
limits dreadful for me to say it
but you love me, don't you Jim? Let's
go away to New York, you and me
now, and let us get married. Ther
they couldn't throw anything UP tt
me-"
but Nelly" he protested, taker
aback, what would the boss say If
went of at a moments notice tina
way?"
Il guess he'd say nothing, seeing 20,
went to be married"
Look at my clothes" he cried
"And, sweetheart, l haven't the none.
to buy a ticket. let alone to get mar
ried with.
tive got the money, JIM" she whis
pered, $3.50 I've saved
!, Nelly" he said. desperately, i"
can't take your money like that. +,
, be a regular sponge"
East bound express, stopping a
- 3.