Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1912-07-11
7HeGLOW
RI fhe
II RUBIES
Ill By
Ill FRANCIS PERRY
III ELLIOTT
UIHJtrafioHg by
Ill RAY WALTERS
(COpyrght 1911. by BObbs-Mernn Company


dashed idea l wanted to express.
Don't know" l continued, boring
away at her toe, yet hardly seeing it,
out suppose that's the reason knew
all the time she was lying: but still,
somehow that doesn't seem to be the
real reason l knew. / think the real
reason 1 knew it couldn't be and
wasn't true was"-I sighed heavily
oh, dash 1t, it's so hard to get hold
of the jolly thing"
And there was a pause.
THE real reason?" her voice coaxed
gently.
was because" Then she moved
the toe and It put me QUIT think
Just because-oh, yes, l know now!"'
And looked up eagerly. Just be.
cause l knew that you-are you!" !
finished beamingly.
"Oh, see!" She said it musinglv,
her finger lightly pressing upon her
lips, her beautiful eyes studying me
with the oldest, keenest side-glance.
A pause; and then: And how long
have you known me, pray? Just "a"
"A thousand years!" said PROMPT.
" and earnestly. "A thousand years
and all my life, don't you know!
Never will know you any better"
Il wonder" she murmured, nodding
slowly. And then for a moment she
didn't say word, just sat there look
Sng me over curiously, her expression
half shy, half quizzical. don't you
know.
Then her smile flashed again--a re.
diant, dazzling brightness that brought
her nearer, like the effect Of the sun.
lights sudden CLEAN there at times
upon the blue line of the west
Shore" away across the broad, three
mile span of the old Tappan Zee.
And now"-again her splendid
young arms were cEasped, wing-Iike.
behind her head; and its golden glory
hung like picture against the dark
vine leaves. bossed with the clustered
purple fowers-"now," she repeated,
settling comfortably, you must Just
90 on and tell me the rest-I can bear
IT! What did my"-her big blue eyes
.twinkled as she smiled-"my father
say about me?"
I shifted uncomfortabIy, oh I
can't, you knowl" demurged. IL say,
what's the use, dash it," Poor old
boy, somehow / just hated to round
on him-he was so JOLLY hard hit al.
ready; Jack, don't you knowi Be-
sides
'"Please!" Jova, how abe said I'll
"Oh, dash II. I'm afraid 1t will hurt
you." l protested uneasilyj and
don't think the Judge really"
Il just don't care that snap
from her little fingers and her arm
went back-"for anything he ever
said about me that was mean! SO,
please go on must go dress for
luncheon"
And SO just took deep breath, a
long running leap, and cleared the
bar-told her all, you know!
Oddly, this time she didn't laugh
and knew why: it was her father,
and 1t had cut her to the heart. This
was what had feared. AS proceed
ed, narrating the interview in the IL
brary, she just grew roster and roster
red, but sat looking at me wide-eyed
and unfiinching. The pulsation Of her
bosom quickened a little, but her dear
face remained unchanged, save for
her little trick of dragging her under
lip through her white teeth
And, by Jove, that's ALI" finished
with relief as l mopped my face. But
who cares, don't you know, or believes
any bit of It? Anyhow, We DON'T
for we know!"
Are you sure?" She spoke grave
~. yet In her eyes were the dancing
star-motes OF laugh. THE extrava-
gance. the gambling, and the--oh, all
Of NJ I must tell you heard some
SAD things myself about Francis Bill
lngs while l was at Cambridge"
l grunted scornfully. II know: from
The twofaced cat, Miss Kirkland! Say,
how 1 wish, by Jove, that woman
would pack up and go back to China
the sponge!" And I screwed my glass
Indignantly.
oh, now!" she demonstrated sweet
", you mustn't say that. You might
be sorry!" She smiled archly.
l grunted CONTEMPORARY.
Again she rested her little chin up-
on her hand, eying me thoughtfuIly,
earnestly.
"And 80 you don't believe any OF
1T"
chuckled at the idea. "oh, 1 say
now, Frances, you know dont!" And
] showed bit nearer, looking into
her eyes. But just then l saw Wilkes
come out and look around