The Tupelo journal., 1909-12-31
AMING c.
A CRANK

i 1 . n AA I'd - A. /
Barton declared that-nothing ever
would induce him to go out to dinner.
He insisted that wild horses could not
drag him out. He brought up num-
Der of reasons why it was not possible
for him to SO. His best shoes were
too small, he had no dress suit, he
couldn't bear society-and SC On.
His roommate listened patiently to
the end
We'll, you may think it is manly to
act like that" he said then, but l
don't see it in that light. I've been
patient with your Ro1s sense long
enough. Now, either you act right
Or it's all of between us, that's all"
'you talk like a ne.cdrana," de-
clared Barton. IF ] prefer book by
the fire to dining at yonr fancees
house it's no reflection on her, since
l never saw her in my life."
Its the first thing I've asked you
to do in months said his roommate
IA AAAJol VI sCiiCo. -4iiA tiAAo ID tliC GlC-
cart way get turned down"
Il don't see the use Of treating it as
IT it were a personal matter" said
Barton. "You know Pm crank who
doesn't care for society,"
4 know you're a good-loohing, in
teresting fellow, and you make me ev-
erlastingly tired" returned his room
mate.
Your statements dent agree"
laughed Barton. "Eut thank you for
the bouquetc just the same"
'I shall take it as personal
affront if you don't go with ne to
dinner to Alices, when I'm going to
be married and leave you in few
weeks" insisted Barton's roommate.
"You know l haven't a dress suit"
said Barton
"You don't suppose it's as formal
as that, do you,? It's just the fam
fly"
Il don't know the family"
"That doesn't make any difference
Be sport. That is. if you care any
thing at all abovt my feelings"
"Feelings!"
"Well, it's true; I'm making this
test case
Barton heaved sigh and his room
mate waited till his back was turned
before he winked sofeninly at the elec
trio light. The battle was won.
Barton changed his mind thousand
times before the evening of the din
Aer, but his roommate always con
quered in the end, so that the night
came with the invitation long accept
ed and not once declined. Barton
mounted the steps to the house as
though they led to the scaffoid, and
his companion only half guessed how
near he was to running, even after
the bell had been rung.
The door was opened by vision in
pink
Barton gasped at the sight. Nc
wonder he had had so many solitary
evenings during the past year if that
was Georges fiancee! She and
George had some joke and he had
minute in which to look at her before
he was presented In that minute he
noted that her eyes were brown and
her hair simplicity and honesty itself
He had had an idea that all girls wore
false hair, but this girl didn't and she
was the most charming creature he
had ever seen.
MARY, | want to present my chum,
Fred Barton" George was saying.
Erred, this is her sister. Where's
Alice?"
The rest of the evening was blur
to him when Barton looked back uron
it. He net Mary's mother and father
and an aunt and the sister, but he
didn't remember how any of them
looked, so dimmed were th1y by the
one great light He talked, too, and
talked well, and she smiled up at him
several times in genuine liking.
After dinner they stayed an absurd
" short time, though George said his
watch showed it was ten o'clock.
Georges watch was always wrong,
Barton remembered resentfully.