The Brandon news., 1907-09-26

| anu came race TO Iace With MISS ker-
rison. She sat there motionless, her
hands in her lap, as if awaiting her
fate in the person of myself.
"All alone?" 1 said, lightly.
Il prefer to be alone" she said,
hastily, and rose as if to go.
But I understood what an infinity
Of meaning the studied curtness of
her words would have fain concealed
and I whispered, Please don't for
sake me. II came here to look
for you
"Why?" she asked. A most awk-
ward question.
'Why?" l repeated slowly, to gain
time. "Oh, because those people in
there bore me. And you-you never
| do that, Miss Kerrison.''
"Well, it is something to be a har-
Dor of refuge" she remarked.
Thank you. Then, by the way, is it
really true, this time, that I am to
congratulate you?"
ION my good fortune in finding
you here, do you mean? Why, GER
tainly," said.
II did not mean that" she said.
L meant hat-that-well, the usual
rumor is out concerning you.''
Indeed" I exclaimed. "But
which of the usual rumors do you
refer to-"
There is only one-isn't there
that is commonly linked with the
name of an eligible young bachelor.
But is it true?"
Believe me-" I assured her, cit is
not true"
Il am SO glad" she breathed softly.
Poor girl! AT least-that is"
She wouldn't have covered up her
lndiscretion, but perceiving that it
was now too late, she paused abrupt
ly and lapsed into silence.
why are you glad?" I asked. "I
had not intended to proceed on ex-
actly these lines, but found it diff
cult to be sufficiently brutal now that
the necessity confronted me-
Oh she drawled, with a woeful
affectation of Indifference, 'I think.
as the song says, You are owre
young to marry yet,' you know"
Il wonder what your wife will be
like" she went on presently. 81 do
nope she will be a nice, helpful sort
OF girl, and not a mere society butt.r-
fiy-like me-
II she were like you I be-
gan, and stopped
"She won't be- said Miss Kerrison
quickly.
1 mean,' she explained, s'that the
object OF our first fancy is so seldom
| the person to make us truly happy.
If we but knew it,
I remembered then that some ono
had told me this was Miss Kerrison's
third season.
First love is the only love- T
said firmly. l had temporized with
my conscience too long already. She
must now be made to realize the sad
truth in all it's ghastliness.
| THAT is not so," she said "Re-
lleve me, Mr.. Craven, when tell you
that you are as yet far too young to
know what is best for your welfare. ;,
Anyway" said I, when my fate
does come along
And there I made an abrupt end
for she had suddenly begun to laugh,
Ihere could be no doubt about it.
She was laughing-not historically.
either, but with unmistakable enioy-
0ent, as at an irresistible jest.
Mr.. Craven" she said at last.
more seriously, IT think I'll be frank
with you. My honest dealing NAV
conceivably cost me your good opin-
ion, but only for time. You'll like
ne all the better afterward. And I
ah sure you have enough common
sense, really, not to think me un-
Womanly or immodest in saying what
am about to say to you now"
1 Miss Kerrison," I cried in sore
distress, 'forbear, reflect, consider.
Don't speak yet. You may save us
both much pain if you keep silent .
| 'Nonsense!" she exclaimed sharply.
This was an affront. go on, then.
If you will" I said sternly.
i've an idea," she said, "that we
are at cross-purposes, and that it is
all the fault of those dear. foolish
Frisbye. Mrs. Frisby has said some
thing to you about-well, about me,
hasn't she? Please be straightfor-
ward, Mr.. Craven
| mo, she hasn't" I answered.
| "Mr. Frisby. then?"
Yes
What did he say?"
| / turned on her in desperation.
"How can repeat what he said?" /
cried. Miss Kerrison, let me i'm
plore you to say no more. Let me
entreat"
NO" she replied. IT will tell you
what they said. They told you T.
we'll had a penchant for you.''