The Democratic advocate., 1908-01-24

suddenly. "You couldn't stop her II she
wanted to. %
"Quite SO. meant that my will would
be altered in favor of Horace and the
Home for Imbesiles. This decision natur-
ally removes any reason for match be-
tween you two"
''Just SO" said the young man. II
gee what you mean."
The girl stole glance at him.
EYES," she agreed, "that would re-
move {. any@reas0n:" ): ; ;.
One afternoon, about week later, the
young man threw down his tennis racket
with sigh.
''Just after lunch, too," he said, with
a gasp.
The girl gave smile.
"Care to come on the river p he asked
"I promised to go out with Horace
was the reply. "He's dressing himself,
I believe, for the occasion. !"
"Right-oh," he agreed, carelessly.
"Well, I'm off tomorrow" he added,
casually.
Tomorrow p cried the girl. "I
thought you were staying another week p
eyes, but you see
because of Horace?''
"We-get on each others nerves, so,
of course, I'm off. You needn't pretend
to be sorry"
II shouldn't think Of pretending to be
sorry" she said, Indignantly.
II suppose began the young man
doubtfully, '''you don't really mean you
Hello here's Horace" "
.Quick p she cried, darting around a
clump of laurels.
'sWhat' the matter?'' cried her cousin,
who was close on her heels.
"Nothing; only well, the river will
be cooler.
In the boat the girl grew reserved again.
"Well, what do you think of Horace p
inquired her cousin.
"He-he's very nice, said the girl,
vaguely.
"We're not bit alike, are we?'
"Good gracious, no y she cried. Zone s
quite enough in family
Zone of whom-Horace or me?'
The girl dabbled her hand in the water.
"Oh, one of each" she replied, am
biguously.
"Do you know said the young man,
curiously, eff 1 didn't know you SO we'll
should almost think you meant to be nice.
"Really !" she said, with laugh. "Oi
course-of course, you do know me?
"Well, rather" was the confident as,
sertion.
"It's a great gift,' she murmured,
with half glance at him, "to be able tc
judge people so easily"
The young man modestly applied him
self to the sculls once more.
"What will Horace say to you when
we get back p she asked suddenly, after g
long pause.
"Say? Nothing
"Oh p
"What would you say if you were he p
"Punch my head, - said the young mar
curtly. 81 mean punch his-that is
punch the fellow head who was with you.
"Would you?'' She surveyed hin
with some interest. "Do you mean really
punch p
eyes" he said stoutly, oblivious of th'
injustice of such proceeding.
"How lovely p sighed the girl.
| She looked at him dreamily.
"Why?" she asked at length. "No
you needn't tell me, - she cried hurriedly
as the young man rested on his oars.
Because he said, disregarding he
protest, "life wouldn't be worth livin'
when you weren't with me, and
"You mustn' t." she cried, desperately
'I told you not to. -
"You shouldn't have asked at all if 20,
didn't want to hear" he said, sulkily.
For while she leaned back in her sea
with eyes closed, while he continued pull
ing stubbornly at the oars.
"What was the other reason p sh
murmured, at length.
With a few strokes the young NAL
turned the nose of the boat toward tn
bank, and shipped his oars.
x X X X X X
From a window which looked on to tn
lawn the old man interestedly watched :
retriever sidle up to bone which lay un
regarded by the side of a doing Irish ter
rier
His eye wandered across the lawn to th'
boat house. Just then the young couple
came from the landing stage across to thu
house.
Most unembarrassedly they walked hand
in hand They we're in a world where they
were the only inhabitants.
A sudden growl again drew his attention
to the Irish terrier, now wide awake ant
gnawing his bone with relish, while the
detected thief skunk hurriedly away.
"H' m p said the old man, with Gu