The Green Forest tribune., 1910-04-15
'sz'''s;z55F Julia'S Answer
Copyright by Associated Literary Pregg)
By JANE OSBORN

It was a week after the accident that George was, for the first time, allowed to use the injured ankle and to go with the aid of a cane for a walk He had stopped to rest in an od-fashioned summer house with Ere da, who at his request. had come with him.
 Do you know" he said as he sat looking at her with an amused smile, T hate to get better; it's been so like fairy story having you with me This sort of friendship is so unusual, it's really pity that 1t can't last"
 Freda was lingering the leaves of the volume she had brought.
 Don't let's read" George said. put ting out restraining hand. We shall have so little time to talk, for I can't play invalid any longer. Honest ly, Freda, I almost wish 1t had never happened, and then it wouldn't be so hard to have to let you go"
 You ought not to say that" Freda reproved him. Please don't" Then, as George laughed at her confusion, she added: q never know whether you are serious or teasing when you say those things"
 I'm never serious with you, can't be- You know Pm half engaged to an old friend of mine, Julia Miller Perhaps you have heard of herr"
 Yes, knew you were engaged, or at least-I thought so," Freda an- swered promptly. Miss Miller is very brilliant and clever. isn't she?"
 But I'm not really engaged yet You see" He interrupted himself with a little laugh. Tn fact-to let you into little secret-I haven't re- ceived Miss Miller's answer yet. Of course, you don't understand her point of view-or mine-I suppose; but we are very old friends, and I would be i of great service to her in managing her affairs, and she would be of great l assistance to me-socially I thought perhaps she would see it that way, al | though, of course, we had never been anything more than friends" George had been watching Freda's play of expression with keen interest, But l mustn't trouble you with my affairs" he went on. drawing a let ter from his pocket; unless it would interest you to see a letter that found this morning in my coat pocket. It's the first time I've had this coat on since the day of the accident It's the letter I wrote to Miss Miller I i forgot to post it"
 And she hasn't seen it." Freda gasped. But you can post it now. 1 can't your"
 Yes, could. but I've been reading the letter over, and it occurred to me that it wasn't eXactly-convincing Perhaps you could read it and tell me what is wrong with it"
 Freda started back with little cry. MT. Norman" she said. you can't expect me to do that And then, with childlike obedience, took the let l ter in her trembling hands
 If you were a man and wanted to tell a girl-that is a woman-that you 1 loved her, and that you needed her just put yourself in my place for a minute"
 Freda had read the letter with quick and absorbing interest. "Oh. D she said ''it isn't half enthusiastic enough It's too reasonable and sen sible Why, if you-if any one I cared for-proposed to me like that, should be hurt. It's heartless, that letter. You must be much more impatient, enthusiastic, and-and emphatic"
 George had taken a notebook from his pocket and was writing with rap i'd, easy strokes. Perhaps this is more the sort of letter." he said, tear ing the sheet from the book and put ting it in Fredas hands. Then, as Freda read it, he took the old letter and set it ablaze with the spark of his cigarette.
 This is to ask the only girl ever loved to marry me-" Freda was read ing to herself. q love you enthusi- astically, impatiently and emphatical- ly." And as she looked up wonder ingly, George Norman fell on his knees before her. Don't you see, Freda?"
 T really cant refuse after what has happened, and 1 wouldn't if I could :"
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