Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1912-10-23

/ I've arranged q little "Trip 10 the COun.
try tomorrow, and I'm going to con-
vince you before we return. Make
the announcement tonight. dear! On
my honor l promise to convince you
tomorrow that we are ready. I've an
argument that never fails-an argu-
| ment no woman can resist" f. =.
mot tonight, JIM" was the laughing
reply.
Cant you trust me when l tell you
that I've discovered something today
that makes it necessary? have seen
| Mr.. Bivens."
Nan leaped to her feet. her face
flushed, her voice ringing with tri-
amph.
"And you did what I asked you. Oh.
you're darling! Why did you tease
ne so last night? You accepted his
offer?"
"1'm sorry to disappoint you. dear.
but did not"
The girl dropped into her seat, with
q sigh. while he went on:
"Bivens further cont1ded in me the
! TACT that he is hopelessly and desper-
ately in love with you"
A flash of anger mantled Mans
cheeks.
THAT will do, Jim," she said in quiet
cold tones. Your joke has gone far
enough"
"Joke! Do you think could joke on
such subject?''
emilia booon IN Mo y about <ho oor
ners Of the full lips.
II never dreamed he was so easy"
Still smiling dreamily Nan crossed her
hands over her knees and studied the
pattern in the rug, ignoring the pres
ence Of her lover.
Lets not joke. Nan. It's too seri-
ous."
Serious! fail to see it."
"Can't you see that we must at once
announce our engagement"
The girls lips curled with the faint
est suggestion Of sarcasm.
Il don't see it at all. You may be
good lawyer, but l fail to follow your
logic"
Stuart rose, with a gesture of anger.
"Come to the point Nan. Let's not
beat the devil around the stump any
longer. You know as we'll as do that
you've been trying to flirt with this lit
tie insect. You know in your heart Of
hearts you despise Bivens."
ION the contrary, l vastly admire
him. The man who can enter with his
handicap this big, heartless city and
successfully smash the giants who op-
pose him Is not an insect. I'd rather
call him hero. All women admire
success
Its disgs>stingv'
Nan fixed her dark eyes on Stuart.
How dare you use such q word to
me?'
Because it's true, and you know it. :"
'True or false, you can't say it''-she
rose deliberately--"you may 60 now"
"Forgive me. DEAR" Stuart STAN
mered in a queer. mufled voice. II
didn't mean to hurt you. l was mad
with jealousy"
"You may CO., was the hard. even
answer.
II can't 60 like this, dearest" be
pleaded. "You must forgive me-you
must! Look at me!'
| She turned slowly, stared him full in
the face for moment without the
culver of an eyelid, her fine figure
tense, erect, cold, as she quietly said:
'You are firing me. jim"
For the first time he saw q cold
blooded calculation behind her beauti.
full eyes and felt it in the smile which
showed the white teeth-the smile of q
woman who would pause at nothing to
get what she wanted.
A blush of shame tinged his face as
he tremblingly said:
"Please. dear. let's not part like this!
I've suffered enough today. You're only
teasing me. And I've acted like fool
Say that you forgive me!'
"Our engagement is at an end, Mr..
Stuart" was the quiet answer.
! MAN.
| Before he could recover from the
shock or utter protest she opened the
door and he had passed out into the
night.