The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1907-12-26
The Results
Of q Wa&er
), nAslL sAlsxIn ssxlssLsy


Il
one, and Tom Stickney settled nim'
self beside her.
Have you any objections" ASKED
Bess, for she was decidedly cross.
what is the matter?" persisted
Tom. s8
4 II want to 20 to Washington" an
swered Bess, rather sdolefuliy.
.Why don't You go?" asked Tom,
though he knew how little she conid
afford 1t.
Had Bess not been cross, her tone
and look would have been reproachiui
as she answered:
Don't be silly! You know would
II could"
"'Rut II + couldn't, how could lr
finished Tom. provokingiy. "on. you
will get there some time. Bess take
| It In on your wedding tour"
..And proclaim myself to the woria
| q bride? Never. All the silly couples
| think they must trot on to Washing
ton or Niagara"
II bet you will go to one Or the
other. yourselfl"
mot ii I stay single forever and
ever. Just now, wedding trips are far
from my mind MY soul u narrowed
with grief because cannot join this
Jolly party. Just listen" and Besst
opened the letter which all this time
she had held In her hand
m.Dear Bess. ! write In haste 70 teli
= a
yop that q party q e " as k Holiday Ex-
cursion TO Washington from tnis piacs
Remembering how often yon nnss
pressed Wish TO visit Your Mo' Nay u
| nld home have set my heart upon ny IVY
y ,ne vn,, Tar nv chum. Though the otf-
| ers in the marty are strangers 70 wv.
they are folly easy 10 know, and - hles
d set as you could find; and assure Wv
..iynur first impression, know. VIII pc p,
that YOU cannot 20. but I shall walt until
the very last moment pos ,.o na NINE rne'
by opening TIE way FOR YOU. Ths n IN Vim
for TN round trip. including board INT s.,
three days at first-class hotel, are onss
Yo sneo name mai nssps win give
vo,, over n month III which to decide, y
do let 1t be yes" Yours hasuay; MN,
II Nov. isn't that temptings And g
think that there isn't the ghost q
chance for me"
Bess looked 30 very disconsclat'
. that Tom wished with oil his near
\ that he had the right to comfort ne
IN Mis- own way But, though In spie
of much sparring. they had oeel
4 friends always, at any attempt on ~
/, httie ioss the role Of lover, m
\ or her natural defenses. As he u,
! pressed IL she always kept feiiol
! at arms length Tom had loved be
|. long, and without undue conceit fel
assured that she cared for him NOR
than she would own This stormy III
tie piece OF contrariness would hay
, to be taken by strategy. But he knew
; that Washington had long been he
I Mecca. and realized that this was lii
deed a great trial, SO he was YER!
sympathetic az he said.
~ wish ! could help You out
would willingly loan"
4 beg to be excused" exclaimed
Bees quickly. feeling that she woult
rather be bebolden TO anyone In the
; world than to this old friend, and won
dering why. Il don't ask help 81 any
body" AN
II know you don't" replied Tom. q
little nettled. the lover lost for the
moment In the man. II don't believe
you want TO 90 to Washington. You
wouldn't go II you had the chance
the best chance In the world You
are just so contrary"
| A little red spot burned in each
cheek as Bess looked at the young
man astonished. Spar they did, but
she never had known him to be so alb
solutely rude as this. so downright
quarrelsome.
| "well--why, how rude you are!
There Is an empty seat Perhaps you
would better take IT."
This seat is very comfortable" re-
piled Tom coolly, seeing that for once
he had the advantage But believe
you are playing part. You do not
want to go to Washington at all, and
will wager that II before the twenty.
second. good opportunity presents
itself you will back out. In fact, 1
know you Will. know you so well"
THE decision. the provoking GOODNESS
with With ne made this declaration.
exasperated Bess' and she replied hot
~:
II accept your wager, n way 10
opened for me to so without borrow.
ing or accepting charity. viii go.
Make your own terms. Mr.. stickney,"
and Bess grew very dignifed.
A sudden rash Idea. sudden merry
twinkle Of his eyes, and Tom leaned
down and whispered: go
III I win. you are 10 marry mel
With all his attempts At love-mak.
Ing. Tom never before had gotten 50
far as this. and he was delighted 10
see the hot color sweep over her face
and neck. As abe hesitsted a nfcsnent
in great confusion. and then Asd
quickly:
That's pot fart"
MY only terms, though. n your
word Is good for anything you wiz
accept"
Then she lifted her head proudly.
said. 4 accept" and took up the book
IN her lap. Not another word said
she
p was reached At last f3ess
hurried from the train ana tried 10