The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-08-10
THE ANSWER,

CHAPTER VIII.
Fl
THE ANSWER.
He appealed In vain. Next week It
had to be before Floss would answer.
In just week he appeared for her
answer. Throughout that week he
had been on the road, and for two
nights did extra duty. It was a long,
anxious week to him. His fate, he
considered, was III the balance, and
life dragged. II she loved him, why
shouldn't she have answered his Ques-
ton at once?" For the life Of him he
could not see why.
Are you in hurry for my answer"
she asked after his hat had been put
| upon the rack in the hall and she had
opened the door to the first parlor. Her
! laughter conveyed teasing sound to
his eager ears.
would you care If I wasnt?"
| answering her Yankee fashion.
| Would you care If said no?" xiv,
ing as good as he sent.
Il ought to, after having asked the
| question:" sitting down in the offered
easy chair.
May I ask for a re-reading of the
question, as we sometimes say In our
aC Il.
| Then call for re-reading of the
question"
I'm afraid you mock and taunt
me-"
| mo don't. I'm ready with my
answer. But a good thing .an't be re-
peated too often. can't help but be
foolish, I say to you now, and your
question was bold and charming and
.gaXe rlme great pleasure. TWAS sweet
er because would not answer you at
once. DO you catch ona> Have /
answered your"
And so on.
When he went away he was perfect
ly satisfied. She had thought it all
out, and intended he should be answ-
cred plainly.
The next time they met which was
In a day or two, she said:
Nov you see why didn't want you
to be my friend-1 wanted something
better"
"F1oss you're little WITCH"
i hope I may always be one to you,
Mel, she returned in sedate man.
ner. She now confidently believed in
his congeniality. However. it was
more In her than in him.
Tell your. mother, Floss but fur
Their than your own family let us keep
our secret"
DO tell. now! Do you already order
me what to do, sir?' in assumed
anger
Before the leaves put forth again in
the cheerful spring-time they had an
understanding as to the probable time
they would marry. Mel explained that
as soon as he had secured a home
Of his own and some money above
what was needed to furnish it suitable
to her tastes and comfort they should
have the knot tied" Floss said she
was the more willing to postpone the
happy day." because he manifested
desire to provide we'll for her and
make her happy.
II believe in thinking ahead" she
said.
Married people can't live on mind
and" -,
Love-" she interposed laughingly.
If one don't marry till he has
something to go on, it will. make him
save uD."
They thus got down to the prac-
teal side Of double life, and talked
much over it. There are some who
had views differing from theirs.
One day the lively Josie Marion was
INVITING Floss about Mel, and re-
marked casually: g.: -.
L think he's hanging or long not
to tell you what he means" +
Now 1t had been deep study how
to keep the secret from Josie. for Mel
had signif1ed his desire that Josie be
kept in the dark about 1t, and this
remark Of hers was not ensy to put
aside. 1t had come to be that what
ever Mel said, that was what Floss
desired most to do. It seemed her
independence was gone. j
I do too" she answered Josie. i
1T wouldn't have taken F1nney
Davis one-tenth part as long to tell
what he meant. I'll tell you. Floss, Il
don't like the way hes treating you.
like one to be a man or a mouse or
something" e. -. -
But what shall do? Make him
tell what he means, or tell him to
quit?' .~.s .....,.; 49, '..... g.
Floss hated this deception to + her
good friend Josie, and was almost In
clined to tell her: the whole truth. Glib i
I'd make hin, do something :#= s5s
81. IT II wanted to could easily ten
him to quit" said Floss walking up
to q tuberose in the yard. 81. II; Ne
You don't want to, then. sup
pose that's because you've found him
conSenial.n laug hing.
& see Whit you're dr1yink q, Josls;