The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1908-01-17

w duOul NE leli ule the truth NOW!
"Of course not!" said the young
man, promptly. How could IL"
"Of course" went on the girl with
the curly hair, I'm not so foolish as
to think you've never been in love be
fore!"
1T wasn't the same" declared the
young man, earnestly. Il just liked
them-her-oh, really, never knew
what II was to care for any one till ]
met you!"
You speak as II there had been
simply swarms OF others" said the
young woman, leaving the button to
Its fate and bending on him glance
which was reproachful as we'll as
searching. Il didn't dream"
Not at ALL" broke in the young
man. I'm not such universal fas
cinator as that"
Tell me-" insisted the young WON.
an sternly. how many?"
"Oh, | don't know" said the
badgered young man. Whats the
use"
Il suppose you can't count them"
said the young woman in panied
voice, because there have been such
crowds of them. You have gone
about falling in love with girls as fast
as they came along and | just hap.
pened to be in line! Still, you have
the assurance TO say you never cared
much about any of them and you eX-
pect me to believe it! I'm not such a
silly as all that. I'll warrant that you
were desperately devoted to all of
them and l don't see how you es-
capped marrying some one Of them.
Did they throw you over?"
Marie said the young man in
hurt tone,"I can't imagine what's come
over you! | never was engaged be
fore in my life; I"
That's not saying you didn't want
to be-" flashed the girl with the curly
hair, looking about for her handker-
chief. Il suppose they wouldn't have
you"
II never wanted them to have met"
insisted the young man.
Wasn't there one, just one OF the
whole lot. that you'd have got engaged
to If you could?" persisted the girl
with the curly hair. Don't try to de-
ceive mel"
The young man had a hunted ex-
preston, but he was naturally honest.
We'll, | was dreadfully young" he
said, and YOU know fellows some
times get foolish streak and"
Il knew it," walled the girl. II
was just sure Of it-and you've been
trying to conceal It from me! You've
tried to make me think was the only
girl you ever loved. Was she pretty"
We'll. l should say-no, no." cried
the young man Not at all. And |
know now wasn't in love with her a
Bit
But you thought you were" said
the pretty girl, burying her head in
the sofa cushions, and that's j-j-just
as bad! Did you th-th-think you liked
her then as well as you say you like
me now? Oh, but you didn't know me
then, so you can't tell! Maybe you
liked her lots better-and there's no
way for me to find Quit"
Marie" said the young man. "of
course | didn't like her as I do you.
How absurd! 1t was just a boyish
infatuation, an episode, a shadow, 1t
was nothing! Not worth thinking
about"
Then why" persisted the pretty
girl, did you make me miserable by
telling me about her? II | had never
known 1t wouldn't have mattered so
much could still have been happy"
The young man took turn around
the room. You made me tell you"
and there wasn't anything to tell any
way! Say. well be great deal hap
pier II We just drop it! You're the
only one. and that's all there is to it,"
DO you mean it?" asked the pretty
girl, drying her eyes.
You know | mean It," said the
young man. We'll never mention her
again, will WEI"
No" agreed the pretty girl softly.
as he sat down beside her Wen
leave her out of consideration"
Then there was peace for a brief
moment until the pretty girl had time
to think. Then she looked at him ac-
cusingly and suddenly
But are you sure, Bert" she said.
TREMENDOUSLY, that she was the only
one of all those others you cared that
much about? Wasn't there some one
else? Now tell me truly!"-Chicago
Daily News.