St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-05-11

In The Waiting Room
BY Emily Watson
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles.)

New York that you are so fine, and
look SO pretty"
do you like my things?" she asked,
eagerly. do I look pretty, really
and truly?"
Your things are up in G, and you're
as pretty as picture, Nelly. But
what's the use of words. If all these
people weren't here I'd show you what
| think of you. What are you going
to do in New York;"
She looked at him sideways. Il am
going" she said slowly, 81 am going
to be married to Michael"
He gave gasp. That's not true, he
cried. She shrugged her shoulders.
Nelly" he besought, forgive me. l
shouldn't have said that, but you gave
me fright. l know it isn't true. I
know you're just teasing me. But I've
lost my nerve and ! can't stand for it.
Say you don't mean it."
Whats the use 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
ovan. For two years I 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.
But when you threw me off, and left
me to be public laughing stock, did
you think I was going to put on sack
cloth and ashes, till you got good and
ready to come back to me? Not
muchi"
you needn't say any more" inter
rupted the man, Il 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,S'
she called, almost under her breath,
Jim" He heard her and came strid-
ing back.
"Well?" he demanded.
IL didn't speak, she stammered
II beg your pardon, thought you
did. "Oh, Nelly" he cried, you can't
mean to do this thing. If Michael
were decent sort I'd not have o
word to say. But he isn't Why, he
hasn't friend in the world. 1t was
knowing the things l do about him
that made me so riled when l saw him
hanging round you. Nelly, even if it's
all over now, ask you, please wait!"
The girl gazed at him spellbounG,
her hands nervously opening and clos
ing.
why, Nelly" with a sudden joyful
conviction, Il 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 at
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 your"
mo-" said the girl, 81 don't want to
marry Michael, but"
But what?"
We'll, you see," she explained, 'it's
like this: told all the girls at the
store that was going to get married,
and about my trip to New York, and
if 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. Then
they couldn't throw anything up to
me-"
But Nelly" he protested, taken
aback, what would the boss say if |
went off at moments notice that
way?"
Il guess he'd say nothing, seeing you
went to be married"
Look at my clothes,' he cried,
And, sweetheart, I haven't the money
to buy a ticket, let alone to get mar
ried with.
1--we got the money, Jim," she whis.
pered, 1850 I've saved"
Nelly" he said, desperately, 81
can't take your money like that. I'd
be regular sponge"
East bound express, stopping at
Poughkeepsie and New York.
All aboard" called the Official with a
tone of finality
ooh, WELL" the girl acguiesced, So
don't wonder after the way I've be.
haved that you don't want to marry
me-
mot want to marry you!" cried thG
mot want-hold on
there" he shouted to the gateman.
were going" Thrusting his arm
through the girls they ran together
towards the closing wicket.
What Does 1t Matter.
Helen's lips are drifting dust,