Gilpin observer., 1912-06-13

but not since these two years I've
been at college" She shook her love
ly. bright head, and followed a long
enjoyable pull at the cigar, projected
nve perfect rings at frescoed cheruh
in the ceiling.
She leaned forward eagerly.
Look here, I do wish you would let
me call you 'Dicky'"
"Oh, I say-will your" exploded
from my mouth.
VIII II" Her look made my blood
leap. You just watch me-Dicky!
oh, say. this is great; maybe 1t won't
take fall out of old Jack-always
Dragging that you allow only two or
three to call you that"
y hope you will always call me
Dicky," l said-and said it very soft
ly. By Jove. could hardly keep from
taking her hand!
You bet think it's awfully good OF
you, Lightnut-I mean, Dicky." Then
her face grew pensive. Say, do you
know, I need friend like you-1ust
now, mean-oh. worst kind"
DO you'll" said eagerly, and
hftched 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 I'M
derstand"
l wasn't sure that l did, for sha
was blushing furiously, and in her
eyes was an appeal.
By Jove, some jolly love affair. l
guessed suddenly. My heart Just sank
like 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-I mean delighted to
have you tell me anything" I muir
INJURED rather weakly; "but-er-I
should think your mother"
THE mater-tell heri" Her hand
lifted. Shed guy the life out OF mel
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. mo, 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 Of
the Morris chair in which l sat, her
arm resting lightly above my shoul-
ders
Here's what l want to know
about" heard her sigh. when
you're engaged to one person and
meet another you like better. how are
you going to-well, chuck 1t 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
fart" Her hand gently patted my
shoulder. I'm telling you. old chap.
because I know you'll understand
because l like you better than any
man l ever saw-that's right"
l was Just afraid to move! Afraid
she'd stop; afraid she'd go on. And
all the while / was feeling happier
than ever had in all my nfe-hap-
pier than / ever knew people could
be. you know. | never thought her
bold-dash 1t, no-knew 1t was Just
her adorable, delicious, Arcadian sim.
plicity. by Jove! That explained 1t,
Just as It explained to me all her
other unconventionality.
so now it's up to you." she said.
and l want to know what's the an
swer."
The answer!
And how could I give her any an
swer? No, by Jove, knew jolly well
couldn't take advantage OF such cir
cumstances-of her artless confes-
sion; knew devilish well It wouldn't
do. you know. Might reproach me in
years to come; and then-and then.
there was Billings!
So ! Just contented myself with
looking up smilingly. but It was hard
swfully. awfully hard. dash it-and
Just felt like n jolly cad-or fool.
Couldn't tell which.