The Ordway new era., 1908-07-17
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
5 # WO IN A
; RUNABOUI
Nv NELLIE cRAvEY GILMORE
)oOOCOOOOCOOoCOooCOOOC

"The farce is ended" announced
Clcely. with n high nose, as she seated
herself in the auto beside me
don't propose to be made laughing
stock by a mere man.
"On me-" considered !. because oi
nv recent attentions TO the o'het
Girl: but | sheathed my reply IN
cIltterlng generality. NO scltrespect
Ing girl would" | observed. with out
ward ostcntatIon and an inward
crlnge.
And the sooner he realizes II" she
pursued. as We shot into the high.
road, we'll" She shrugged meaning.
ly. regarding me with wrath-blacS
eyes from between two pink chiffon
curtains.
THAT veil" FASTENED TO observe,
lis about the most becoming thing !
ever saw you We"
She cut me Of with an icy stare.
took refuge in smile. and lost my
self in contemplation OF CiCcly's dim
pie.
An omlnous pause ensued, broken
only by the swift hum OF wheels over
the hard clay road To the right an
endless chain of buttercups cleaned
gold in the dapple sunlight; on the
left was sharp. sterile dccliyity. We
SKINNED dizzily past. around mar
row curve. down. down. and up again
to level ground before Cicely broke
the silence
Il might as well tell you" she an
nounCed, the light Of battle in her eye.
that have accepted Jack Ransdale."
The devil you have" | exclaimed
with unconscious profanity. putting
on brakes so prcclpitately as TO jeop-
ardise both our lives Tits sud,
den. isn't it?" Quericd, apologeti.
cally.
"Oh. not so awfully.' she responded.
airily. with a rush Of crimson 10 her
temples.
tried TO get at her eyes; but only
two GlIstoninG rows OF jetty fringe
across the pink line OF her checks
greeted my agonized glance.
Suddenly she laughed and tossed her
head. shaking down a whole cataract
Of sun-Eold curls.
I turned toward her with a forlorn
hope It's all Jest. a huge Joke"
I suggested. fcebly. but hopefully-de-
spite my rising ire.
We'll. hardly" retorted CIcely.
drawing herself up.
Then remarked |, glacially. pride
rallying to my assistance. we're in
for mutual congratulations"
Cicely gave start. holding tremu-
lously to the cloudy pink streamers
flying beneath her dimpled chin.
Then: Really" she exclaimed. gush.
ingly. how lovely"
III you don't believe It. babbled
on. in a quite ovcrdone effort to con
vince. read that" I produced a close
ly-written sheet OF note paper from
my inside pocket and thrust Il into
her little glOvcd paw. | watched her
e1citedly as she scanned the endear.
Ing contents. In a moment she re-
turned 1t to me with disdainful little
gesture.
"Maudlin." she shifted. contcmptu.
ously, mere drivel Angel and your
devoted slave Ugh" A ripple OF
silent scorn fitted over her face. Her
poise was enviable. to say the least:
though her lips were not so red as be.
fore.
Spleen getting the rein of me at this
juncturc. | skinned n couple Of miles
In twice as many minutes.
Suddenly felt the clutch Of terri.
fed fingers on my biceps. You are
mad" she cried, white as death.
At the next turn slowed down A
trife, allowing momentary breathing
space.
by the way" began Cicely. calm re.
stored, You seem quite confident that
she will accept you" She regarded
me, for all her occurrences. with I'm.
concealed triumph in her flashing
eyes.
Can you doubt my assurance after
reading those lines?" | asked her. in.
differently
scarcely. But you haven't told me
yet who she-who the lucky girl is d"
she queried with elaborate uncon.
cern.
l WINGED under the dainty infection
OF satire. but retorted, sententiousIv.
The girl love"
OH" She smiled; her brows went
up into delicate black arcs.
Another horrible silence held ia in
grip. Then, the idiot in me rushing IN
utterance. pleaded: Dearest dom,
marry him!" My voice was aimsv
my eyes ridiculous q presume) for
Clcely treated me to a most inc,s,v.
stare.
You are beside yourself" she de-
iiVered, frigidly, giving her attention
to the whirling landscape.
On we sped like fury, one, two
three miles. I was beside mvse,,
Cicely sat very still, her lips com.
pressed and colorless, her loosenod