Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-12-12

one of my oldest friends. Marta
Blaine"
"You won't mind his going over TO
the other table, will you?" Marta ask
ed as she sat down.
"Oh, no." and Miss Merriam turned
on her brilliant glance, mot If you
will stay with me. l have heard so
much about you, Miss Blaine"
"Oh. dear" Marta questioned. what
has Billy been saying?"
"Such nice things" the other girl
told her. "And now that I have seen
you | don't believe they are any too
nice"
Marta waved the lattery aside.
Dear child" she said, BILLY will
say anything when he is out of my
sight l can keep him straight when
I am with him."
'T just love Cousin Billy" said Miss
Merriam. He's the dearest thlngw
Marta stared Cousin" she said
cousin Are you Billy's cousin?"
Eyes"
"Well, might have known" Marta
murmured. Dear old Billy Then
she went on: 81 am with my cousin
too. He wants to paint you. He is an
artist, you know You won't mind?"
Il should love it," said Ruth.
Its about your hair" Marta told
her. that l sent Billy over. Archie
said it was gold, and l said it was red
You mustn't mind my saying it, be-
cause really | was jealous of you. But
now that l know you are Billy's cousin
I think your hair is beautiful. l was
afraid l should have TO send you tea
spoons"
"Teaspoons?' was Ruth's puzzled
question.
Yes, for wedding present, you
know"
Ruth blushed.
"The ideal" she said. "Why, every
one knows that Billy's dead in love
with you. He has told me so a dozen
times"
Marta gave a sigh of relief. Il was
afraid he had stopped" she said. And
! should miss Billy's alteration dread
fully"
81 shall never stop" said Billy, who
had come up behind her Then he
went on as if he had made the most
commonplace declaration. "Archie
says you are TO come back and eat
your parfait, Marta"
Il would rather eat it with you,"
said Marta unblushingly. "I'll tell you,
Billy, you bring Archie over here and
we will introduce him to Ruth. He
wants to paint her picture, and he
would rather talk to her than eat, and
you can come over to the other table
and have parfait with me and every
thing will be lovely"
"Yes, everything will be lovely"
Billy agreed. but Ruth said in a star
tied way. OH
"Oh, you needn't mind" Marta said
when Archie had been presented and
was seated opposite the red gold beau
ty. BILLY and l will chaperon you
from the other table. 1t will be per
fectly proper, for we are engaged, you
know" And, with Il sparkling glance
at her lover. she swept past the foun-
tain toward the balcony.
well of all things" Billy elaculat-
ed. Then he held out his hand to
Archie Congratulate me-" he said.
Il don't know what made her change
her mind, but I've been working for
this for year" And, with happiness
fairly radiating from his handsome
countenance, he made his way across
the room to where the lady of his heart
awaited him.
Avoiding Direct Testimony.
The wealthy parishoner had with
him his pastor, and miles of road were
thrown into clouds of dust by the
plunging automobile.
Halt" commanded the officer. but
no more attention was given to him
than to the fitting telephone poles.
over those poles however, sped n mes
sage, and at the next crossroads a bar.
rier was encountered and also another
representative of the law.
Not only did he break the speed
law" complained the constable when
the party had assembled in court, but
he also told me to go TO the devil"
you lie" Numbered the wealthy
parishioner. Il never use such Ian.
guage."
eve must protect our officers from
profanity" intoned the justice. Then,
turning to the clergyman, Perhaps
this gentleman, who will not make a
misstatement, will tell us whether or
not the devil was mentioned In this
controversy
Your honor" pleaded the clergy
man, Il and my brethren refer to his
Satanic majesty so frequently that any
additional allusion to him would not
impress Itself upon me sufficiently to
remember the incident"-New York
Press.
Slightly Mixed.