The Green Forest tribune., 1908-12-04
THE FIRST QUARREL
By WILLIAM MACLEOD RAINE
Copyright, Ford Pub. Col

1 Just as you please. Only I think it is of considerable importance that we cant explain away little misunder- standing like that without your get ting miffed. You must know I'm not in the least to blame. But since you say it doesn't mafter, we'll change the subject" Very jauntily: Yes, I had a pleasant time. My score was 49 g
 That's good. l should think you would golf more with Miss Sloan. You make such good scores when you are with her" Her manner was very cor dial. And she's first rate sort, you know"
 He reverted abruptly to the order of the day. T don't know it's quite playing the game for you to try to deceive Miss Sloan and then be of tended because she was deceived"
 "Oh, l know her little ways. Just as soon as she saw you she understood the situation exactly, but she saw in flash that she had a decent pretext for pretending not to. It was very like her not to miss her chance. Not that l mind in the least, only 1 don't like to be made a fool of It's hu- initiating
 Well, commend me to a woman s reasoning for the strangest logic that ever was created You invent a little trap to deceive Miss Sloan; she falls into it completely; then you turn round and say she's making a fool of you"
 You certainly defend her most ar dently. Your friend would be pleased at the enthusiasm of her champion
 She is your friend, too, and I want to be just" he answered, with youth ful dignity.
 Implying, of course, that I am most unjust"
 You are saying that-not l." he flung back.
 We've said enough. I don't want to talk about it any more."
 All right. Of course you have made up your mind that you are entirely right and we are all wrong"
 The girl gulped down a sob and looked at him piteously.
 We're quarreling, Larry"
 T guess we are," he assented, Gloomly, his elbows on his knees and his chin in his hands.
 And we said we never would" Her eyes were hot and moist.
 That's right"
 But it isn't right for you to be as | agGraVatin2 as VOu arc ''
 T guess you are tired out and not feeling very well, Carol" he sug- | gested.
 I'm nothing of the kind,n she pro. tested. I'm as well as l ever was in my life, and I'm not cross, either"
 He smiled. Then you must be mis- taken, We can't be quarreling. It takes two to make quarrel"
 Not if you're one of them, Larry You'd rub an angel the wrong way till you had ruffied it's temper"
 Her temper you mean, my dear."
 She pouted. I'm not your dear"
 T used the term in a Pickwickian sense, my dear"
 She dimpled, then promptly extin- guished that charming signal of read mess to forgive him for her fault. You said it again, but, of course, you can't believe it since you think me ugly and jealous and unreasonable"
 Oh, I didn't say that" he re- preached
 Her eyes opened wide with aston l e q ci,. guess it's true. 1 was horrid, Larry" The tears were yelling over now un- restrained.
 Larry somehow found himself very close to her
 No, you weren't. dear girl You didn't understand, and I don't think I explained it very well. But you know 1 wouldn't slight you for anything in the world. Don't you, Carol?"
 'I-guess-so." The voice came faint and muffled from his coat
 And you know that Miss Sloan and 1 are always rowing, though, of course, we are friendly enough. Our points of view are as divergent as possible. Fact is, there's Miles be- tween us" he punned.
 And you really do forgive me for being horrid?"
 Forgive you! If you really were horrid, as you call it, I am delighted. 1 don't want to marry an angel have been hunting for some flaw in you month"
 Well, you've found one, Larry, a great big one'
 It's microscopic, if it exists at all, dear, but such as it is I'm awfully grateful for it. The vast difference between us seems lessened just a little bit if you're not quite perfect. sweet"
 How perfectly lovely you do wrap things up, Larry. It's dear to have you do it even when they're not so,' dim pies Miss Miles. Once Jennie Sloan said you were the nicest--"
 "Oh, hang Miss Sloan!" interrupted Larry, ungallantly. Let's call this a two-some and cut her out'