Gilpin observer., 1912-06-06

vyi
on. no-I assurs-certainly not
hammered hastily. Dash It. never
was 30 rebuked and mortified In all
my lie. What an ass had been 10
seem to notice at ALI
She looked troubled. Say, do you
mind my wearing themf" she inquired.
~ Certainly not-well. I should
say not!" retorted, almost with TN.
dignation.
"sure7" BY Jove, what ripping eyes
she hadi
Or course not!" emphatioally.
her sunny head nodded satisfao-
aon. That's all right. then. was
afraid you wouldn't like it-afraid you
would think was acting a little free.
But your man Jenkins-isnt that his
name said he thought you would
hke for me to wear them"
gasped.
Jen-what's thatf" was amased1
indignant at Jenkins effrontery. He
DE suggested that you wear-er-
she nodded. her glorious eyes shin
ing wistfulIy.
"Ysu see. went to a frat dance Last
night In Cambridge" she explained;
and In the hurry this morning. some
how, one OF my bags-a suitcase
was left behind. And when I got here
tonight and began piling the things
out OF my other bag-well, 1 saw
was up tree. Not a thing to slip
into. you know-not so much as q
dfessing-gown or even a bathrobe.
Then your man saved my lne-sus-
gested thess pa1amas. Seer
'Oh. I seel"
did. for I knew 30 devilish little
about girls
must cut along now" l thought:
internal shame to be taking advan-
tage OF her this wayl" And then |
thought would Just wait a wee min
ute longer.
Just then she turned toward me,
her elbow on the arm Of the wicker
chair, her dainty, manicured finger
tips supporting her chin.
You know, Mr.. Lightnut, / wasn't
sure you would remember me at ALL"
she said. Il was such a kid when
yOu eaW me last.
"Oh. yes." I said. trying to recall
the rather hoydenish children I had
seen on the motor trip to Billings
home five years before. ''I remember
you were quite a little girl-werent
your
I thought her face darkened a lit
tie: then her smile flashed through,
like sunshine through a cloud. Her
laugh came on top, like the mellow
ripple OF tiny brook-that sort OF
thing-oh. you know!
"Oh, say now, Mr.. Lightnut, cut
out the JOSH" she demonstrated; and
l thought she grew little red. No
more for mine those sissy. grille ways
I've got well over all of that!"
She tossed one knee over the other
and threw herself back in the chair.
She seemed a little piqued She went
on:
Z Just tell you what-there's moth
ing like couple of years of at col
lege for toughening you! Gets all
those mamma's baby ways out of you,
you bet your life, and all the slushi-
ness you get from trying to be like
your sisters. Shucks!"
! caught my breath. OF course, she
had no idea how It sounded-this
sort Of talk; 1t was Just her innocent
frankness. her-what dye call it?-
her ingenuousness-dash It!
She continued musingly: Gee, but
| was soft when I frst went away-a
regular pie-faced angel-child!" Her
voice had in It sneer. Then she
Strengthened up. whirled her chair
facing me. and gave me sounding
slap on the knee. Say. maybe the
fellows I met didn't educate that out
OF me mighty quick! Well. l reckon
yes' And she nodded. eytng me side
wise, her pretty chin In the air.
But; dash me. l was SO aghast |
couldn't get out word. Just sat there
batting at her and turning hot and
cold by turns. Came devilish near
losing consciousness. by Jove. that's
what!
OF course. l knew she didn't know
what she was talking about. Hadn't
any sisters myself. don't you know,
and never had learned much about
other fellows sisters; but. dash 1t,
knew something about faces, and
would have staked my life on hers.
You can nearly always tell, you know.
But, anyhow. thought l had better
90 now.
! got up. II say, you want to Just
make yourself at home" said. And
II 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 I 60 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