The Press., 1908-07-08

X Literary Press. x 9@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@&@@@@@%@@@
 It was impossible to convince Marion Earle-she was only nineteen and very pretty-that the course of true love never does run smooth. Indeed. she believed that there was danger of its running too smoothly.
 Had she not been engaged one whole month to Gregory Holbrook without the suggestion of even of cloud on the horizon of their happiness2
 You don't find it monotonous, do you. Gregory, just loving me this way?" she asked him unexpectedly one even. ing.
 'MOnotonous!' he echoed. caressing the brown head on his shoulder. II should say not! 1 hope we'll go on Iov- ing each other this way forever"
 "But l don't" piped up Marion. su4- denly sitting bolt upright.
 Gregory could not believe his ears.
 "You don't want me to go on loving you this way. sweetheart?" he gasped.
 'tOh, yes. of course. with interims. dear" sighed Marion. "But couldn't you manage to misunderstood me some times?"
 ''Well. certainly do not understand you now." replied Gregory.
 ''Oh, that's an entirely different thing" Marion explained.
 Gregory shook his head in perplexity.
 "It's one thing not to understand q person at all." explained Marion pa- tiently. land another thing to misun- derstand him--to disagree with him and to quarrel"
 "YOu don't want me to quarrel with you. .dearest?' Gregory asked in amaze ment.
 Marion nodded her head.
 "Um-hum." she admitted. "It's such fun to make up.''
 As Gregory burst out laughing a spark of something very. like real an- ger kindled in Marion's brown eyes.
 You're making fun of me-" she chal- lenged..
 ''Of course 1 am. you foolish little girl,'s chuckled Gregory, gathering her into his arms in a mighty hug and smothering all her protests.
 "Well, that was a failure" empha- sized Marion as soon as she could get her breath.
 '"The hug? asked Gregory seriously.
 ''No, of course not" asserted Marion before she could catch back the words. ''I meant the quarrel. Just the same, Gregory. shall think up some way to make our cOurtship exciting yet"
 In spite of this warning HolbroOk was completely surprised when he re- ceived within forty-eight hours the following note from Marion:
 Dear Gregory-I've thought of some thing. Aren't you glad? The inspira- tion came to me while reading the let ters of the Brownings. Just imagine our being engaged whole month with out any chance Of writing each other love letters! Why, we might have gone on and been married without having a single billet-doux to tie up in ribbon and put away in an old trunk for our grandchildren. So I'm going away. You'll find my address below. No, you can't see me of, bYt be sure to .faRve. a long lei me: Oh, 'zSii't It g01ng t0 g0odDys deEr- est. Your devoted MARION.
 "P. S.-This will be the first letter in your collection. so be sure to save it."
 H0lbrook showed aside a pile of un- opened mail and proceeded to write Marion exactly what he thought of her a strange medley of mild reproach and extravagant endearment. This he sent oR special and then turned list lessly to his business correspondence.
 But as his mind wandered every now and then to the thought of getting a big, bulging envelope from Marion the next morning he became more recon ciled to the situation-in fact, quite feverish with anticipation. Marion was right, after alL It was exciting, and absence certainly did make the heart grow fOnder.
 The next morning Holbrook found his mail, as usual. assorted in classi- 6ed piles on his desk. Taking up the batch marked Personal" he began to run 1t over eagerly. He stopped sud- denly as a colored postal card popped unexpectedly into sight He held it
  most illegibly fine writing.
 Dearest boy" he made out 'it is lovely here. although you may not think so from this P. c. You were a perfect dear to have that long letter waiting here for me. Isn't the scheme working out beautifully? No time for more now. Write as soon as you get this. M."
 For a few wrathfuI moments HoI- brook sat chewing viciously on the end of his penholder. Suddenly. with the manner of one who has made up his mind. he threw it down and called his stenographer.
 My dear Miss Earle" he dictated, thinking you may find it more con- venient in our future correspondence to have on hand some of my self ad- dressed business envelopes. I am hay 1nU a 6Ozon 0f thom Sonf kO vo11 uu6np