The Cairo bulletin., 1908-03-08
WHITE BY WRIGHT

II was her poodle--well! let II sta
there.
Her little sister had gone upstair
to announce me. and, returning. ha,
said that Margaret would be dowi
stairs In JUS two little minutes"
had been sitting there fifteen whei
the poodle arrived.
II II had been anyone but Mar
garet! Well, I'd have waited jus
about two minutes and half, and
then I'd have "cut It out" But
somehow there's always one girl that
you'd wait week for, and then be.
lieve her when she said she was sor-
ny she kept You waiting
THE dear girl is probably fixing
up her hair, and putting on another
collar" thought /, complacently. LAS
II ! care what she wears SO long as
she loves me-" And then, of course,
] fell to wondering again. What
would she say when | told her?
Would | go away to-day, walking on
air, or would my hopes be blighted
forever?
Half an hour passed, The poodle
had gone TO sleep, and out of consid-
GRAFTON for his mistress, | didn't like
to disturb him. So occupied myself
by counting, fret the chairs, then the
pictures, and finally the squares In
the carpet. 1t was kind OF lonesome.
| couldn't help wishing that some
one--eyen If 1t were only little Flor
would come in and talk TO me. I
could at least ask her questions
about Margaret. and II she had said
exactly two minutes. And presently
Florrie did come In, and sat herself
demurely in STRAIGHTFORWARD chair,
on the other side of the room. 1t is
always hard TO ask even child
questions If they sit on the other
side OF the room.
| was very diplomatic. From the
subject of candy and dolls and what
was going to bring Florrie tomor
row led the conversation on inn
perceptibly, to what Margaret had
ever said to Florrie about me, what
position my picture occupied In her
room, what she (Margaret) did with
finally, In as careless tone as
could command. whether she had
said just two minutes Florrie didn't
ever remember hearing Margaret
say very much about me; she
thought my picture was on her desk.
beside another fellows Chang that
other fellow; Margaret generally
burned her letters. so most likely
mine were burned, too. Lastly, she
(Florriel wasn't just sure that Mar
garet had said exactly two minutes,
but she guessed it was about that
long.
| looked at my watch. Ii was Just
fifty minutes since sat down in that
chair. The poodle had been sleeping
thirty-five minutes. II Margaret had
kept any other fellow waiting that
cad of a White, for instance II
wouldn't have been so much sur
prised But she had always shown
more consideration than that for me.
Perhaps when I told her how much
loved her she would only laugh at
mo
pinkies weight was getting un
hearable | felt as though l were
holding a young stove. One foot was
sleeping, and the other wasn't far
from It, "Florrie," said /. perhaps
If you went upstairs YOU could help |
Margaret to get ready to come
down" /
That dear child is so obliging |
She good-naturedly hurried upstairs
and left the parlor door open. I'll !
repeat the conversation | heard from
above me.
Margaret, aren't you ever COM
ing downstairs" ,
"Florrie Oswald, hasn't that fell
low gone away yet? Didn't you tell
him was out?'
No. Margaret" Such small,
meek little voice, 81 thought he was
real nice. and maybe you'd be sorry
so | Just said you'd be
down in two minutes"
There was an ominous silence.
then beard Margaret give a queer q
little laugh. D
We'll, child, YOU ought to be pun I
shed. but perhaps II is better so. t
might as well face Sc now as any +
other time. I'll go down and tell him v
hat I can never care for him, and s
hat It would be better for both of us 1
4 he would stop coming" n
didn't wait TO hear any more. | =
stood up and dropped the poodle so \
that the poor little thing
At the foot of the stairs .
stopped and called. You needn't q
bother coming down, Miss Oswald.
happened to oyerhear your recent p
and you needn't fear =
my more annoyance from mel and
10 saying made preparations to .
cave.
Then a strange thing happened.
rho door opened and closed with ),
,ang. there was a quick rush OF :,
kirts. and then behind me a voice.
oh. Dick, Dick, Walt for mel"
There was another hustle and rus
le and the dignihed Miss Oswald, "
yhom I had never seen even hurry,
TODD in front Of me.
had TO stop, perforce. but | still Z
reid up my head !
Dick. did you think | would do
hat TO you7 why Dick, Fiorrie told =