The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-12-23

me well enough--1ve been In love
with you for months, well'-rather
sheepishly--"for weeks, at any rate
Teddy stopped short, conscious that
he was bungling the thing horribly.
Phyllis relaxed the tension of her
limbs and cid rapidly to the bottom
of the ditch. Her dress punched up
round her, and her chin, on level
with Teddys, rested on her two
hands.
Her brain worked rapidly.
She must tide over this phase Of
Teddy's till he saw Dolly again; then
she would bring of something def
mite, and II would come all right.
Phyllis endeavored to make her soft
blue eyes look hard; she failed utter
ly, however from want of practice.
She also tried to smooth out her dim
pies, which she had frequently been
told were bewitching, but she only
succeeded. although she did not know
1t, in pursing up her red lips into their
most inviting shape.
Disaster must inevitably have fol-
lowed, had not something inside her
suddenly given way. Her white teeth
showed themselves in smile, and
then peal after peal Of rippling laugh,
ter broke from her. tillO fherB sides
ached and tears stood in her eyes.
Now, disdalnful eyes, even absence
Of dimples, is no barrier to loves ar.
dor; but a lover, particularly II he be
very youthful, can never survive ridi-
cule.
Teddy suddenly felt he had made
a fool Of himself. Awful enough at
any time, but in the presence of
glrl-above all, OF Phyllis. He was
furious with himself, furious with her,
he became more and more crimson.
Teddy, dear" Phyllis at last man.
aged to gasp out, I'm really awfully
sorry; / wasn't laughing at you,
but"
Perhaps you'd rather be getting
back as you seem to find my pres
ence so odious"-a scrap OF eloquence
from the "Footlights,' college play,
in which he was to act in the b APP
preaching icommencemept-7came TO
thc uiui
Phyllis rose, shook out her crumpled
skirt and settled her Panama hat.
oh, Teddy, you are funny" she said,
trying hard to recover her gravity.
Teddy helped. her out OF the ditch,
and strode off, If one can be said to
stride in patent-leather pumps rather
down at the heels.
Who's Teddy Randolph got up,
say, old man; two fair girls and
portly mamma?"
The speaker, q youth of blase ap-
pearance, lounged on the window seat
of room, gracefully buoyed up by
numberless cushions. He was scan
ming the brilliant Kaleidoscope of sis
ters, cousins and undergraduates
vending their way In light summer at.
tire and shady hats about the cam
pus.
The other occupant OF the room,
who was laboriously picking out an
air on banjo, ceased his absorbing
occupation and came over to the win
dow. Contrary to his custom, he
waxed enthusiastic
why, they're the Misses BIetch-
wood, OF course, the prettiest girls ON
the campus at the present moment or
I'm no judge of fuff. Teddy's sweet
on the little one, and their people ex-
pect them TO make match of IT,
Jove! I'd give something to be in his
shoes"
oh, so that's the matter"
Teddy, as host of two such pretty
girls, found himself the hero of the
hour. Third-year men, even seniors
had suddenly become unbendlng and
affable. His own set vled hotly with
each other in invitations and atten.
tions. Teddy's manner was becoming
tinged with the superiority born OF
success.
IL was the day of the sophomore
dance, and his tickle allegiance re-
turned In full force. Teddy's be-
havior during the afternoon was ex.
emplary. He devoted himself TO Mrs
Bletchwood, arranging her cushions
and assuring her they were not in i'm.
minent danger of twigs and spiders
How college does improve young
mans manners!" she remarked ap.
provingly to Dorothea.
''How much few weeks can accom-
plish In young mans education
could have been gathered from the
adroit manner in which he broached
a certain topic. W |
Dolly was gazing pinkly into her
billowy parasol when, after pro.
longed absence, they Joined their
party
Nobody could have said" Teddy re-
hected to himself with considerable
satisfaction, as he was settling his tie |
for the dance. Nobody could have
said ! didn't take the thing coolly."
The only approach to a hitch in the
proceedings had occurred when she,
though merely for the sake of not ap.
pearing to let him have 1t all his own
way. had said demurely--
Are you quite sure you want me.
reddyy Sometimes have fancied