The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1912-12-27

him. But papa u a very good trav-
eler."
Then she changed the subject. do
come and meet mamma. 1t would
cheer her up 80. She Is 80 fond OF
you. Only this morning she was say.
ing, OF all the boys you were ever
engaged to, Kathleen, the one like
most of all was Edgar mean Clar'
ence-er-Harry Mallory"
"Awfully kind of her."
"You must come and see her-she's
some stouter now!"
"Oh, Is she? Well, that's good"
Mallory was too angry to be sane.
and too helpless to take advantage OF
his anger. He wondered how he could
ever have cared for this molasses
and mucilage girl. He remembered
now that she had always had these
same cloying ways. She had always
paved him and, like everybody but
the PAYERS. he hated paving.
1t would have been bad enough at
any time to have Kathleen hanging
on his coat, Strengthening his tie.
leaning close, smiling up in his eyes.
losing him his balance, recapturing
him every time be edged away. But
with Marjorie as the grim witness 1t
was maddening.
He loathed and abominated kath-
leen Llewellyn, and If she had only
been man, he could cheerfully have
beaten her to pulp and chucked her
out of the window. But because she
was a helpless little baggage he had
to be as polite as he could while she
sat and tore his plans to pieces, en-
Uttered Marjorie's heart against him.
and either ended all hopes of their
marriage, or furnished an everlasting
rancor to be recalled in every quar-.
rel to their dying day. Oh, etiquette,
what injusuces are endured in thy
name!
So there he sat, sweating his souls
blood, and able only to spar for time
and wonder when the gong would
ring. And now she was of on a new
tack:
And where are you bound for.
Harry, dear?"
1.-The Philippines" he said. and for
the first time there was something
beautiful In their remoteness.
Perhaps we shall cross the Pacific
on the same boat"
The first sincere smile he had ex.
perienced came to him: Il go on an
army transport. Overwhelmingly"
"Oh, just love soldiers. Couldn't
mamma and | 90 on the transport!
Mamma is very fond Of soldiers. too"
I'm afraid it couldn't be arranged"
TOO bad. but perhaps We can stop
off and pay you visit just love
army posts. So does mamma"
"Oh, dol"
What will be your address,"
Just the Philippines-just the Phil
ippines."
But aren't there quite a few OF
them%
only about two thousand"
Which one will you be on?"
"I'll be on the third from the left"
said Mallory, who neither knew nor
cared what he was saying. Marjorie
had endured all that she could stand.
She rose in tightly leashed fury.
"l'm afraid I'm In the way"
Kathleen turned in surprise. She
had not noticed that anyone was near.
Mallory went out OF his head com.
pletely. "Oh. don't go-for heavens
sake don't co." he appealed to Mar
jorie.
"A friend Of yours?" said Kathleen,
bristling.
mo, not a friend" in chaotic tan.
gle, Mrs. Miss-Miss-Er-
er-"
Kathleen smiled: Delighted to
meet you, Miss Ererer."
1.-THE pleasure Is all mine," Mar.
jorie said, with an acid smile.
Have you known Harry long?"
said Kathleen, jealously, ''or are you
just acquaintances on the train?"
We're just acquaintance on the
train!"
Il used to know Harry very we'll
very well inded."
$50 should Judge. You won't
mind II ! leave you to talk over old
times together?"
How very sweet Of you"
"Oh, don't mention it."
But. Marjorie" Mallory cried, az
she turned away. Kathleen started
at the ardor of his tone, and gasped:
Marjorie! Then he--you--"
mot at all-not in the least" said
Marjorie.
At this crisis the room was sudden.
y inundated with people. Mrs. Whit.
comb. Mrs. Wellington, Mrs. Tempe
and Mrs. Fosdick, all trying to look
ike bridesmaids. danced in. shout.
ng:
Here they come! Make way for
he bride and groom!"
(To BE CONTINUED)
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