The daily tribune., 1909-02-01
BEN N les
BLUFF
II Worked to Perfection with
Miss CalIonby. s5..

finally and forever"
II didn't understand 1t was final
ly,'" said Bennie Purvis. II hoped"
: II told you there was no use hoping"
snapped the young woman. '..You asked
me If you mightn't hope and distinct
ly told you no. That's what I said.
and now you drag the whole thing up
again" sF, RI
WAS that the last timer" asked
Bennie, doubtfuIly.
you know perfectly well 1t was 1t
was in this very room. I'll have wit
nesses the next time, or phono-
graph"
There isn't going to be any next
time" Bennie said this quite deter
minedly. ~
you said something to that effect
before. There oughtn't to have been
any this time. There wouldn't have
been If you had any regard for my
feelings"
"Oh, l say!" demonstrated Bennie,
in his best English manner.
well, you haven't. You know it's a
painful thing for me to have to refuse
you"
why do you do 1t. them" asked
the young man, not unnaturally. why
not have some consideration for my
feelings and say 'YesY" a.sn
because don't want you I'm not
going to marry you Just to spare your
feelings"
Il haven't any idea OF asking you to
v-v-~ To 10
were willing to do it / shouldn't let
YOU. a's q
Miss Callonby pouted. "I don't see
how you could help it, she said But
you needn't feel alarmed. Pm not 60
ing to. You're the last man on the
face OF the earth that | would dream
Of marrying. My refusal-I should
like you to understand that 1t is pos
tive. l want this to be the very last
time. / shall be angry with you. Ben
ME. II you ever approach the subject
again"
81 shan't Don't you worry about
that"
II wish / could believe you"
you may believe me. all right
can promise you safely that you won't
be pestered any more so far as I'm
concerned"
''Bennie." said Miss Callonby. you
aren't angry with me. are you?"
mo" answered Bennie.
Truly"
Truly
Because, you know, I would II
could possibly. | wouldn't have you
really angry with me for anything in
the world. You know that, don't you?
What makes you say can believe you
in that way?"
Because mean It."
The young woman looked at Him
long and seriously. "Bennie, you don't
seem natural at all this evening" she
said. There's something hard about
you that | don't like. l believe you
are angry with me, and you never
were before In your whole life"
And / never will be. shall al
ways have the very kindest thoughts
of you"
81 don't want the very Endest
thoughts You talk as If you we're
going to China and didn't ever intend
to come back"
Bennie smiled sadly. That Is a
mighty near guess" he said. The
Philippines"
Miss Callonby gasped little.
You're Joking" she said.
'Never joke declared Bennie.
I've a good chance at a good thing
out there. and ! made up my mind
that II you said No to.9ight I'd take
1t. And when really do make up my
mind
Change It," said Miss Callonby.
Change 1t to please me. l don't want
you to go to that wretched place
You'n have fever and all sorts OF hor-
rible thinss.'s -esH'
Bennie shook his head. II guess
might as well say good-by now" he
He held out his hand. Miss Gallon
by took It and stood with her fore
head wrinkled thoughtfully.
"rll miss you horribly" she said at
last. .
''Just a little at nrst," said Beunie.
No. all the time. You won't change
your mind?
NO"
The thoughtful frown on the young
woman's face dospened as the clock
licked on.
"Good-by." said Bennie ~
She raised her eyes to his and
found them sad but innexible In ex.
preston.
"Bennie.." she said. hesitatingly. III
! asked you to ask me again-what
you asked before, would you? You
promised not to. but would you?
Walt moment | said No this eve.
ming and you said II said No you'd
30 to the Philippines. and you wouldn't
change your mind. Would II make
any differenccif said 'Yes?'"
Are you asking out OF curioshy?"
demanded Bonnie sternly But he
saw that she was not