Los Angeles herald., 1908-05-31
|Bob's Serious Love Affair 8 MR.. ..eeSs. e

k0.1EEZ-E-I:EE
MAY inquire what kind of dsh?"
For answer she jerked the stick and wriggling,
writhing thing slapped out.
Isn't it beauty?" she demanded. 1t was.
He helped her get 1t off the hook It took an
incredibly long time, she holding It.
"Yes, think 1t will rain" she remarked glanc-
ing overhead with look of resignation
He crushed his lips together and slid the fish in
to her PALM
Thanks, she murmured. "Awfully good of
you"
Don't mention it,"
He slipped his fingers along the knotted stick
and down the cord. while the corners of his mouth
twtched dangerously
why, you don't know to fish" he declared.
.'You can't catch those fish with smelling hook"
She pushed tin pail toward him, and waved her
hand at the contents. He couldn't keep his face
straight, and when she shook rigid forehnger at
him he extravagantly kissed the hand on which it
grew.
1--WE another hand here" she told him, putting
1t forth frankly.
He kissed that. too. and imprisoned both.
Polly, love you.'
Nonsense
Il adore you.''
"Fiddlesticks!"
Twill you-?"
NO"
"Er-my father wants you in the family
Rubbish"
my mother does, too"
"I do"
"Tll trouble you for my pole, please"
She captured the stick and dipped the hook into
the water. Time wore on a century more
Polly" he pleaded
The cord wiggled again and the zephyr stirred
the hat brm.
You're such humbug, Bob she laughed.
Come, be my friend. think you'd make an aw-
fully good friend
''Td make better"
"sh-h-h-h!" she warned. you'll scare away
th6 fish.
He stayed hushed for ten seconds.
'T have here he began in different tone, "a
little souvenir He paused she actually looked
at him. 81 think 1t will interest you The colors
are perfect, the gold is-er-gold. The setting Is
some new wrinkle of Tinanys, but he says it's all
right and it's priceless, because you sure to
like it. Behold"
In his upturned palm lay ring set with a ruby.
encircled by diamonds Polly drew her breath in
with gasp
Beautiful" she exclaimed. Perfectly
quiste Isn't 1t darling? She picked 1t up
between a dainty thumb and forefnger. "Souve-
mir of what?"
"Of our engagement"
She stared at him in establishment.
"Will you-?"
He didn't finish. He was gently sliding down
the bank. OF course it was an accident; she af-
terwards settled with her conscience to just how
much of push it took to make accident. AS
he went he grasped her hand-the hand that held
the ring
Give me pull" he suggested, suspended at
length, and considerable length it was. down the
bank.
She refused to pull.
"Let>go my hand" she commanded.
He tried to kiss it, but it was the length of his
arm away
.If you don't pull WILL" he warned
She wiggled her fingers little
''Here goes'
cally. 1t had lodged by little root. He tried to
reach it.
.No matter" he said. "It isn't good for any,
thing"
That beautiful ring! Don't dare lit
tie bit for you'll make it go into the water
He felt gentle tug and climbed back up the
bank.
Careful now"
He bracei himself at the edge while she went
over She gained a footing half way and reached
the other half. She held her breath and when
her finger touched the ring she dug 1t through the
SOIL She was on the bank In jiny, breathless
but victorious
"You have made very happy he said gent
ly Her eyes asked question. "You are wear
ing my ring" he explained.
She thrust 1t into his hand and choked in exas-
peraton He decided to say something and then
changed his mind. The ring nestled In his palm,
cleaning impertinently. Suddenly he jerked his
arm toward the water and something spashed
few feet away He picked up the tennis racquet
and began swinging it aimessly
where is that ring?' she demanded.
He nodded toward the stream.
81 wouldn't she choked over the words-"I
just wouldn't marry such high-tempered man for
anything in the world''
She picked up the stick and the pail of fish and
stalked off through the bushes leaving him stand
ing there aimlessly swinging the tennis racquet
The Chaperon gathered up her furbelows and
sat down upon little bench that was