The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-05-31

didn't bother her, don't you know, for
| knew she did drink-could drink, I
mean to say; for had not forgotten
the two full whisky glasses of high
proof Scotch she had tossed of that
night in my rooms. Why, no, dash it,
she was able to drink-it went in the
family! I could never forget with
what pride she had told me Of putting
her brother Jack under the table two
nights running. That was all right
it was the other part Of the frump's
scandal that brought her up, stand
Ing, so to speak.
For now she really looked embar.
rassed, despite another lapse to laugh
ter. Her face and neck were dyed a
lovely crimson.
"Oh, dear!" she said finally; and
she wiped her eyes. What you must
think Of me!"-and she locked away,
a pretty frown contracting her face;
then the jolly dimple deepened once
again and she choked into her hand
kerchief. "Oh, dear!" she repeated,
biting her lip to hold her quivering
mouth corners. ooh, it's a shame" I
heard her mutter; Il mustn't let him
its too" She wheeled upon me,
her lips tightened. "Oh!" she ejacu-
lated sharply, almost petulantly, and
her foot struck smartly on the boards.
81 wonder how much you think
think"
Think lots,'' I said simply, watch.
ing her little toe as it tapped.
We'll, I should think as mucp!"
And this time her laugh was short
oddly constrained. She looked away
off down the slope to the river. "Oh!"
This time it was a tiny gasp as of dis.
may. And the toe tapped like an
electric what's-its-name.
"Yes," 1 said, watching it musingly,
II suppose It's because you're the only
girl, don't you know, that ever did
think of before-oh, ever at all, dash
It!
The toe stopped. I could feel her
looking at me sideWise, but I did not
glance up, that I remember; was
looking down, trying to get hold Of a
dashed idea I wanted to express.
Don't know" 1 continued, boring
away at her toe, yet hardly seeing it,
"but suppose that's the reason I knew
all the time she was lying; but still,
somehow that doesn't seem to be the
real reason I knew. I think the real
reason I knew 1t couldn't be and
wasn't true was"-I sighed heavily
'oh, dash it, it's so hard to get hold
Of the jolly thing!"
And there was 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, I know now!"
\And l looked up eagerly. Just be-
cause I knew that you-are you!" I
finished beamingly.
"Oh, see!" She said 1t musingly,
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!" I said prompt
ly and earnestly. "A thousand years
and all my life, don't you know!
Never will know you any better"
81 wonder" she murmured, rodding
slowly. And then for a moment she
didn't say word, just sat there look
ing me over curiously, her expression
half shy, half quizzical, don't you
know.
Then her smile flashed again-a ra-
diant, dazzling brightness that brought
her nearer, like the effect of the sun
lights sudden gleam 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 clasped, wing-like,
behind her head; and its golden glory
hung like picture against the dark
vine leaves, bossed with the clustered
purple flowers-"now," she repeated,
settling comfortably, "you must just
go 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 uncomfortably. "Oh,
can't, you know" demurred. Il say,
what's the use, dash it?" Poor old
boy, somehow l just hated to round
on him-he was so jolly hard hit al
ready; Jack, don't you know! Be-
sides
"Please!" Jove, how she said it!
ooh, dash it, I'm afraid it will hurt
you," 1 protested uneasily; land l
don't think the judge really"
'I just don't care that"-a snap
from her little fingers and her arm
went back-"for anything he ever
said about me that was mean! So,