Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1908-03-13

sure don't know where" asserted the
summoner, apologizing to the new
comers.
The conspirators upon the side-pcrch
sniggered
'"Shr again cautioned Doretta,
shaking her finger but herself bub-
bling over.
The conversation upon the front
porch was resumed. Under cover of
it, the conversation upon the side
porch also was resumed.
"Wish I'd brought the auto, and we
could have skipped off in it" said Will
liam, "But it took on hot-box or
something this afternoon while was
racing Doggy's old car 1--WE were going
some, too: that car of his is a corker
when it gets started, once) or the Ave
nue., and had to telephone for man
to come up from the garage downtown
and fix it. Dad was mad"
you'll get arrested, sometime, for
racing" declared Doretta.
'fShucks, they just fine fellow five
dollars and costs-seven eighty-five.
Doggy and had ournumbers up today. q"
81 love to race. could ride in an
auto forever, | believe" exclaimed
Doretta ecstatically.
''Dorettan'
The former summons sounded. Dor
eta sat as if frozen.
81 wonder if she heard" she whis-
pered, dismayed. tragic.
The call was not repeated. Doretta
ventured to relax.
''Darn mama, she pronounced, ag-
grieved. II don't see why she keeps
calling. She knows l don't want to
come. Sometimes get so sick of home
don't you?'
'You bet. It's a besstly grind. Feel
like cutting it and skipping off,
$50 do l." announced Doretta conf
dentially.
Lets"
"All right. Let's" She met his chal-
lenge promptly-as befitted sprightly,
up-to-date girlhood.
Together, Imean, he alleged bluffly.
| Oh- SeelN bOISltd W-WSl-DuI
you! ought to run off first, and may be
I'd follow" she parried natively.
William was persistent having
unexpectedly to himself, even-made
the point, he stuck by it.
"No; mean it. Really do. Light
out together-regularly elope,' he
continued doggedly. Would you be
afraid?"
"Uh-huh,' mused Doretta, wide
eyed midst the dusk. "I don't think
'T don't believe they'd care
"Who?"
Your folks and mine"
Mine would" corrected Doretta de-
cisively. They'd be simply raging.
Mama would, anyway. She thinks it's
dreadful for girl to run off, -
dad might fuss little," aclxnowl-
edged William, in turn. ''He wants
me to go to college. But 1 tell him
what's the use-he'd only be kicking
all the time about my marks. Most of
the marks I'd get would be remarks!'
eta
''You know itp'
Both laughed.
Really run off, you mean?" queried
Dorretta curiously; reverting, woman
like, to the subject.
Sure. After the folks found out it
was all over and nothing more doing
they'd calm down in time to bless us
with the glad hand"
"And get married?" pursued Dor
eta.
Didn't we say so? Get married and
come back and tell 'em about it. Say!
Wouldn't your mother and my dad sit
up and take notice!" He chuckled.
will! Do you-do you-you know
what?' The question came hesitant.
appealing, carrying with it blush,
through the glamorous dimness.
"Uh-huh. I"
Like me better than any other girl
you ever, ever metz"
''You bet. You've put the kibosh
sign on them all. Don't act like it?'
Il didn't know. And like you. l
think you're dandy fellow" The con
fession was sweet and genuine. ''Oh,
Wilt Won't it be funi And we won't
say word about it, will wep' Doretta
waxed enthusiastic.
mot till after we get back. Wen
let 'em guess for awhile
but supposing we can't get any,
body to marry usl' Dorretta's voice
was poignantly apprehensive.
''Fudgei We needn't tell how old
we are. We can put piece of paper
with number on it in our shoes and
say we're over it. A justice of the
peace will marry us, all right, all right. /"
Wont folks be surprised, though?
The girls will be crazy because I didn't
| tell them"
"Old Limpy" Thereby being desig-
mated the high school instructor in
mathematics, an especial fancied aver
Doggy and l are the limit" Hechuck-
led.
| Doggy will be mad, too, when he
hears. You and he are together in ev-
erythlng so, averred Dorretta.
| William again chuckled The idea of
astonishing Doggy, his crony and his
rival IN deeds appealed to him. Then
he sighed heavily.
'Oh, mud" he drawled. 'T'm dead
for another pill. Can l risk it?''
| go ahead, if you want to. don't
believe they'll smellit, urged Doretta,
with ready sympathy for youth who
must have his cigarette.
William gently scratched a match.
shielded it in his hands, and lighted his
''pill. He puffed and carefully blew
the smoke away into the thin air at one
side.
That's two since you've been here. -
gently chided Doretta.
'I'm only on the second box, though. -
he defended. "Got another in it to
smoke yet"
''How will we go, WHIP