The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-05-31

Their Ahsurdity Assured Her.
don't you know. I think Of her as the
frump-little idea-er-nickname OF
mine, you know, she's so awful" And
1 screwed my glass with a chuckle.
For an instant 1 thought she
wouldn't catch it, she stared at me so
blankly. Then the joke Of 1.-THE
jolly aptness, 80 to speak-got her
full and square, and she just lifted a
scream, hugging her knee and rock.
ing back and forth, her face suffused,
her laughter pealing like chime Of
bells.
And I just rocked, too, keeping her
company. Really, don't think ever
laughed 80 much since some chap
plunked down on the hard crown OF
my new tile last winter. At least
wanted to laugh-in church, you
know, and it's so awful how you feel
there when something you know!
And If you could have seen that poor
fellows face!
By Jove, how glad 1 was for her
jolly sense of humor that could see
the point of things so quickly, and
think them clever. Always had so
dashed little patience with stupid peo-
pie, don't you know. And just here
another little thing came to me and !
let her have it:
ooh, 1 say!"-I leaned nearer,
chuckling-"your father pretends to
think her a most beautiful and win
ming girl-fancy!" And my face
stretched itself in such a jolly grin
that 1 could hardly hold my glass.
She bent toward me, smiling ador'
ably. You mean this-er-'Miss
Kirkland?'"
I nodded chortlingly.
She peered at me through her long
what-you-call-'e -'ems-oh, such way!
"But you don't think so, do you?"
How sweetly, how fetchingly she said
it.
"Me?" 1 gasped. By Jove, in my
horror, I lost my grip upon my jolly
grammar. "Oh, I say now! l think
the frump-this Miss Kirkland, you
knows fright-regular freak, dash
it! l told the Judge SOL"
"You-you-"
"Of course!" And 1 shrugged dis
gustedly, making the ugliest grimace
I possibly could. why, dash it, If
were a woman and had face like
hers, I never would have left China,
or England-or wherever her jolly
home was-no, sir!"
She caught her breath with little
gasp-then she was of again! This
time she rested her arms upon the
rail behind and buried her head in
them, her lovely shoulders juggling up
and down, her sobbing laughter send
ing her off at last into spell of cough
ing.
"Oh!" she breathed, lifting at last
her gloriously blushing face and dab
bing at it with her ridiculous little
handkerchief, "oh, you'll kill mel
KNOW you Will!
1 certainly had stirred her up, and 1
was delighted. It was funny to think
of any one calling the trump beautiful
it must seem funnier still to her, OF
course-to Frances, l mean. Why.
dash it, she seemed to find funny
side to it that I didn't, don't you
know
Tell me, now"-she clasped her
knee, lifting her lovely face coaxing'
ly-'tell me all that she said about
me-everything!"
And I did-every word, by Jove!
And no one could look into that
sweet, ingenious face as I proceeded,
and doubt that the slanders were new
to her. Never a jolly one touched
her-only you could see their absur-
dity amused her. Several times had
to pause as she bent under a gale OF
laughter.
Only once was she brought up,
shocked.
Obi" she uttered family, as came
to the intimation about her being hail
fellow-weli-met with the footmen and
1er drinking and carousing with them
and other men-servants until three in
the morning. realized that it wasn't
the matter of tae drinking that
feazed her and drew from her little