The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1909-01-09

The Last Time.

How many times do you want me
to say it," demanded Miss Callonby.
Il thought we had that all settled fin
ally and forever"
Il didn't understand it was finally, T"
said Bonnie Purvis. Il hoped"
Il told you there was no use in hop
ing" snapped the young woman. You
asked me if you mightn't hope, and l
distinctly told you NO. That's what
said, and now you drag the whole
thing up again.
Was that the last timer asked
Bonnie, doubtfully.
You know perfectly well it was. 1t
was in this very room. I'll have wit
nesses the next time on photograph.
There isn't going to be any next
time Bonnie said this quite determin-
edly.
You said something to that effect
before. There oughtnt to have been
any this time. There wouldn't have
been if you had any regard for 10y
feelings"
"Oh, l say" demonstrated Bonnie IN
his best English manner.
well, you haven't. You know it's
a painful thing for me to have to re-
fuse YOU"
why do you do it, them" asked
the young man, not unnaturally. why
not have some consideration for my
feelings and say Yes"
Because l don't want you. I'm not
Dniup tn marry you iuct n cnaro vnur
feelings"
Il haven't any idea Of asking you to
marry me to spare my feelings. If you
were willing to do it | shouldn't let
you"
Miss Callonby pouted 81 don't see
how you could held it," she said But
You needn't feel alarmed, I'm not going
to. You're the last man on the face
of the earth that | would dream OF
marrying"
You'd sooner have Corwin. l sup
pose?"
why Bennie!" exclaimed the young
woman. 1--WE told you twenty times
that l detest him. You know | have
And l do. He's loathly"
Nobody would ever think it," said
Bonnie.
And you've told me half a dozen
times or more that you liked him very
much, indeed"
so | dO-as a friend''
Bonnie tried to shrug his shoulders.
We'll count him out for the sake OF
argument" he said. How about
King?"
"King?"
"Yes, King How about him."
What about him? What do You
mean?"
Il mean to ask you if you wouldn't
sooner have him than me?'
Il wouldn't have either of you," said
Miss Callonby. so, there"
You don't seem to get the pointer
you don't mean to-" said Bonnie. You |
said l was the last man in the world |
you would marry
Il hope you will excuse me if con-
tradict you fatty, but didn't"
Bonnie made his eyes round.
Il said: On the face Of the earth
that would dream of marrying. 1t
may amount to the same thing, but |
should prefer to be quoted correctly"
Bonnie let that pass. 1T follows
that If you had to choose between King
and me you would take King" he said.
1T doesn't follow at ALL" said Miss
Callonby. That was just a figure OF
speech
Bonnie frightened amazingly.
Employed to impress you with the
very positive nature of my-how many
does this make? Well, my refusal-I
should like you to understand that it
is positive. | shall be angry with you,
Bonnie, if you ever approach the SUBJ
ject again."
Il shan't. Don't you worry about
that"
Il wish l could believe you"
You may believe me, all right.
,an promise you safely that you won't
be pestered any more so far as I'm con-
,erned"
NO" answered Bonnie.
'Truly,?"
Truly" /
Because, you know, I would il