The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1912-07-26

you were Trying 10 JOSH me aOout'
but not since these two years I've
been ut college" She shook her love
ly, bright head, and followed long
enjoyable pull at the cigar. projected
five perfect rings at a frescoed cherub
in the ceiling.
She leaned forward eagerly.
Look here, l do wish you would let
me call you 'Dicky.'"
"Oh, | say-will you?" exploded
from my mouth.
will II" Her look made my blood
leap. You just watch me-Dicky!
oh. say. this is great; maybe 1t Won't
take a fall out Of old Jack-al~ays
Dragging that you allow only two or
three to call you that"
II hope you will always call me
Dicky." said-and said II very soft
ly. By Jove. could hardly keep from
taking her hand!
You bet l think IT'S awfully good OF
you. Lightnut-I mean. Dcky." Then
her face grew pensive. Say, do you
know. I need a friend like you-just
now. I mean-oh, worst kind"
do your said eagerly. and
hitched nearer. She proceeded:
Haven't you had things sometimes
you wanted to talk about to some.
body-well. things you couldn't just
tell to your brother or sisters-oh.
nor even your roommate? You un-
derstand"
wasn't sure that I did. for she
was blushing furiously. and in her
eyes was an appeal.
BY Jove. some jolly love affair, 1
guessed suddenly. My heart just sank
like a lump Of what 's-its-name. but my
whole soul went out in sympathy for
her. I made up my mind. then and
there. to put myself aside.
"Devilish glad mean delighted to
have you tell me anything" | MUIR
INJURED rather weakly: "but-er-I
should think your mother"
The mater--tell her!" Her hand
lifted. shed guy the life out OF me!
Besides. she's in Europe" She paced
to the window and back.
protested Indignantly: Il don't see
how any mother"
Jaw, forget IT," she broke in. and
! WINGED again at slang from those
sweet lips No, sir: I'm going to un-
load the whole thing on you, or no
body" ,
And. by Jove. the next thing knew
she had perched on the broad arm or
the Morris chair In which | sat, her
arm resting lightly above my shout
ders.
Here's what want to know
about" heard her sigh. when
you're engaged &c one person and
meet another you like better, how are
you going to-well. chuck it with the
first. you know-and still do the
square thing? There. that's what hit
me. Dicky; and I'm up against 1t for
fair" Her hand gently patted my
shoulder. I'm telling you. old chap.
because I know you'll understand
because like you better than any
man ! ever saw-thats right"
was just afraid to move! Afraid
she'd stop: afraid she'd go on. And
all the while was feeling happier
than l ever had In all my life-hap-
pier than I ever knew people could
be. you know. never thought her
bold-dash II, no-kncw II was just
her adorable. delicious. Arcadian sim
plicity, by Jove! That explained II.
just as Il explained to me all her
other unconventionality.
80 now it's up TO you." she said.
land want to know what's the an
swer."
The answer.
And how could give her any an
swer? No. by Jove. l knew jolly well
I couldn't take advantage OF such cir
her artless confes-
sion; knew devilish well II wouldn't
do, you know. Might reproach me in
years to come; and then-and then,
there was Billings!
So I just contented myself with
looking up smilingly. but II was hard
awfully, awfully hare, dash it-and
just felt like jolly cad-or fool
Couldn't tell which.
-~ CHAPTER WI. ~