Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1911-11-02
HECALLED
ON. PEGGY

trying In vain TO ma 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 a
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
test 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, 81 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
~: 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 that?" he
asked.
There must be a good and suff1-
Client reason why this call had to be
paid tonight" she repeated, because
l gave up perfectly good seat at the
opera to let you come"
What! Say, now, I'm ashamed OF
myself! wish you had told me that
when phoned."
Il hadn't the heart" she answered
with downcast lid. "You-you seemed
so frantic"
We'll, know 1 was frantic, al
| right, but then"
/ you said tomorrow night wouldn'
! do at al" she added. Naturally, L
wondered why"
Again that violent flush dyed younI
Bemis' face, but he made an attemp
to speak lightly. That's easy!
| wanted to see you"
But why wouldn't tomorrow nigh
dot"
He hesitated
There must have been a reason,
she coaxed.
There was" he admitted.
do you mean to say you aren'
going to tell me?"
He met her wide-eyed, innocent re
proach. "I-I-don't dare"
"Of course you dare!"
NO; / don't know you we
enough"
Nonsense! We got awfully we
acquainted that night at the dance"
Eyes, know, we did famously, bI
: I'm afraid we're notch, it wouldn
do! To tell you the truth, 1 did thin
when I was trying to get you to ID
me come that maybe I'd tell yo
everything tonight. It seemed to N
as If I'd known you so much longC
than l had. But on second though
I've changed my mind. It probabl
! would have ended our friendship"
Indeed, it could not! You migl
. trust me enough for that"
ooh, trust you. But l can't ri
: the risk of spelling our friendsh
Just as it's begun to be so pleasant
81 tell you it shan't spoil o.
friendship"
< "Oh, you don't know"
> But I'll promise without knowing
He leaned forward eagerly. II wo
der, now! You're sure you could
! understand"
r 'Tm positive"
ooh, 1 mustn't tell you," he bro
on, drawing back. 1T might chan
n everything. won't take chanc
+ now"
well, you certainly viii spoil o
d friendship If you treat me like this.
l. "Therel" he exclaimed in helple
a alarm. I've muddled things in d
SHAPED II I do tell you probat
: you'll never let me come here a
II more, and II / don't you're bound
be angry anyhow"
Peggy sat and looked at him wi
e an absolutely irresistible pout ri
= was her own little way OF discours
e ing q sutton and Leading him aw
d nom the dangerous topic. You
Bemis withstood that pout for {
seconds. Thep--
o az aUnnnaa Pva got 20 tall You y