Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1912-04-05

u.
batting at her and turning hot and
cold by turns. Came devilish near
losing consciousness, by Jove, that's
! what
OF course, knew she didn't know
what she was talking about. Hadn't
eny sisters myself, don't you know,
and never had learned much about
other fellows sisters; but, dash 1t,
! knew something about faces, and l
would have staked my life on hers.
You can nearly always tell, you know.
! But, anyhow, l thought / had better
60 now.
got up. 81 say, you want to just
make yourself ct home" said. And
If you don't mind, I'll see you at the
boat in the morning"
She stood up, too, looking rather
surprised. You're not going away?'
"Oh, no; not out of town." thought
that was what she meant. | added:
And as go out, I'll stop downstairs
and have some one come up and stay
with you"
She dropped to the arm of the chair,
her pretty face showing dispay.
"Oh, but see here! I'm running you
off know l am. Say, Mr.. Lightnut,
l don't want to do that I thought
sure you were going to be here. Broth
er insisted you would be-
Brother! Nice brother, indeed, for
| her-poor little thing!
"Oh, you'll be all right" l said re-
assuringly. I'm just going over to
the club. don't you know-not far
away"
She came right up to me and placed
a hand on each shoulder.
Honest Injun, now" she said-and
her smile was ravishing. Honest,
now, Mr.. Lightnut, you're going just
because I'm here. Say now, own up"
And, dash it, there was nothing to
do but admit it.
"All right" she said; and thought
her eyes flashed little. Then l go
to a hotel-that's ALL"
"a hotel! Why, you can't do that
oh, l say!"
Why can't II" She was downright
angry could see it; and how dis
tractingly lovely she was with that
flame in her cheeks!
But she was just a ~child-an inno-
cent little child; and how the deuce
could ever make her understand?
| stammered: "Why-er-not in
New York, you know. They won't take
a lady in at this time of night. They"
She snapped her fingers. "Oh, l
say, Mr.. Lightnut, play easier on that
grille and lady pedal; cook up a fresh
gag! I tell you, I've put all that be-
hind me. Say, wait till you've known
me little, and I'll bet purse you
never call me lady again! Lady!
Say, that's FUNNY"
And 1t certainly seemed to strike
her sense of humor. She gave me
sudden punch in the side that fairly
left me breathless, and her laughter
rang out birdlike, joyous. OF a sud-
den l felt devilish awkward and fool
ish.
"Oh, please stop stringing me, Mr..
Lightnut-don't treat me like a kid.
| want to get acquainted" Then her
bright face sobered. Say, was that
on the level-that about your going
to leave me? See here, I'm not both
ering you, am l, Mr.. Lightnut?"
"Bothering mel" calculated. Both
ering me? I should say mott"
l think I must have said 1t heartily
and convincingly, don't you know, for
her lovely face looked pleased.
Because if l am" she said earn
estly, "I'll fade away into my own lit
tie room there" Her glance ranged
toward her door. Its sure some
swell, that room"
80 jolly glad you like 1t" I said.
"Well, 1 should say!" Then her
| beautiful eyes looked at me full.
"You know, l didn't expect this-I
mean having a room all to myself.
| Never"
And then, while I gasped, she went
on, sweetly and calmly:
| why, Mr.. Lightnut, Brother Jack
would throw seventeen thousand fits
| If went to hotel, because" She
laughed deliciously. well, promised
| him that If he would let me come
home by New York I would stay right
here with you and behave myself"
! Behave YOURSELF" l echoed indig-
| nantly. why, look here, do you mean
to say Jack Billings-your own broth
er, you know-thought you wouldn't
-er-do that at a hotel?"
Thought" Her laugh this time
was explosive. mo, he never thought;
1t; he knew I wouldn't! He knew |
would be tearing around all night with
the boys--that's what"
And dash me, if she didn't throw
herself back with kind Of swagger,
by Jove!
"Why, you-you wouldn't do such
thing" I uttered family.
"Wouldn't u" She Strengthened sud-
denly. and her lovely blue eyes mar
rowed at me. "Say, Mr.. Lightnut, l
don't want you to get me sized up
wrong. I'm none of your little waxy
gardenias-not much! When I'm in
New York, it's the bright lights and
the Great White Way for mine-yes,
sir, every time!"
And she gave me blow on the
shoulder that was like stroke from
mans arm. 1t sent me down into
my chair.
eff YOU don't believe me- she add
ed, her face shining with excitement.