The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1911-01-19
HE CALLED
ON PEGGY

OS6y AdO q IA hbOAS
young Bemis. For days he had been
trying in vain to find an evening
when she could let him call. Now he
had appealed to her by telephone in
apparent desperation Couldn't she
possibly shift her engagements so as
to receive him that night? 1t was
simple impossibility, he averred. to
wait another twenty-four hours.
In the goodness of her tender heart
Peggy kindly consented to stay at
home and see the poor boy. He was
too young to be wildly interesting, but
evidently he was desperately inter
ested in her and the sooner he should
be put out of his misery the better.
The first time Peggy had ever
dreamed of his thinking seriously of
her was when he had asked her to his
fraternity dance a few weeks before,
but since that night his desire to have
AN interview with her at her home
had seemed to be feverish and con-
slant. She said to herself as she
dressed for the evening that she must
discourage the foolish boy. So she ar
ranged her golden locks in the pref
tiest fashion and put on distracting-
ly becoming old-rose gown.
Now" she resolved, as she showed
her dimples to the vision In the mir
ror Il must lead him away from the
dangerous topic"
In pursuance of this womanly de-
termination, about ten minutes after
his arrival she bridged a pause in
the conversation by remarking arch
ly: II hope you have an awfully good
reason for insisting on coming to see
me tonight"
Young Bemis flushed to the roots of
his hair. 'I-I-how's THAR" he
asked
There must be a good and suffi-
cient reason why this call had to be
paid tonight" she repeated, because
gave up a perfectly good seat at the
opera to let you come"
What! Say. now, I'm ashamed of
myself! l wish you had told me that
when / phoned"
AoQA buO ACdI Sic dis OICup
with downcast lid. "You-you seemed
SO frantic"
We'll, / know 1 was frantic, all
right, but then"
You said tomorrow night wouldn't
do at ALL" she added Naturally, L
wondered why"
Again that violent flush dyed young
Bemis' face, but he made an attempt
to speak lightly. That's easy!
wanted to see you"
But why wouldn't tomorrow night
do?"
He hesitated.
There must have been a reason"
she coaxed.
There was" he admitted.
do you. mean to say you aren't
going to tell me?"
He met her wide-eyed, innocent re-
proach. "I-I-don't dare"
"Of course you dare!"
mo; l don't know you well
enough"
Nonsense! We got awfully well
acquainted that night at the dance"
Eyes, | know, we did famously, but
I'm afraid we're notch, it wouldn't
do! To tell you the truth, did think
when I was trying to get you to let
me come that maybe I'd tell you
everything tonight. 1t seemed to me
as if I'd known you so much longer
than I had. But on second thought
I've changed my mind 1t probably
would have ended our friendship"
Indeed, it could not! You might
trust me enough for that
ooh, l trust you. But l can't run
the risk of spelling our friendship
just as it's begun to be so pleasant"
Il tell you it shan't spoil our
friendship"
ooh, you don't know"
But I'll promise without knowing. ;"
He leaned forward eagerly 81 won
der, now! You're sure you could
understand"
I'm positive
"Oh, | mustn't tell you," he broke
off, drawing back 1T might change
everything l won't take chances
now"
We'll, you certainly will spoil our
friendship If you treat me like this"
"Therei" he exclaimed in helpless
alarm. i've muddled things in fine
shape! If / do tell you probably
you'll never let me come here any
more. and if | don't you're bound to
be angry anyhow"
Peggy sat and looked at him with
an absolutely irresistible pout. This
was her own little way of discourag-
ing a sutton and leading him away
from the dangerous topic. Young
Bemis withstood that pout for ten
seconds. Then
Il suppose I've got to tell YOU" he
blurted out. There's rule of our
fraternity house that fellow must