Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1912-07-04
was what she wan,eu.


"Oh!" Then she leaned slowly back,
looking at me thoughtfully through
half-closed eyes, her lips parted in
the oldest smile.
And / screwed my monocle tight and
let her have smile for smile, deter
mined to chirp her up and make her
feel our oneness-that sort of thing,
you know. And l succeeded! For OF
O sudden her head went back and the
joyous peal of her canary laugh start
ed off the jolly birds in the trees
above us.
"Oh, you" A stare, and then an
other burst as she bent forward, face
buried in her hands. Then it lifted
sharply, flame-dyed-her lips tremu-
lous, her eyes shining like sapphire
stars. OH" she gasped, and how |
envied the little hand she pressed
against her waist; but the windows
dash the windows! "That's-that's it
-Frances-just that much! But, do
you know, l don't-don't believe you
really know my full name. l remem-
Der now several TIL" She bent to-
ward me witchingly, her wide blue
eyes challenging my candor. Hon
estly, now-do-you"
So it was that thought that was
tickling her! Well, by Jove, had her
there, for had heard the judge men,
ton her name in full. l would sur
prise her!
"Oh, don't II" exclaimed, winking
as l polished my glass. We'll, how
about Frances Leslie Billings?" let
her have it slowly, distinctly, and
with yet note of triumph l could
not altogether hide. And then re-
morseful for her amazed expression,
explained frankly: Got it from your
father this morning, don't you know,
during our long talk about you in the
library"
"Wh-"
Then she swallowed and her face
fell perfectly blank By Jove, could
have kicked myself for jolly ass for
breaking 1t to her so raw! OF course,
she would know that II her father
talked of her, it would be nothing for
me to hear that was true or kind
nothing she could wish might be said
to the man she loved.
I fastened to reassure her:
But l don't believe a dashed word
of anything he said about you'll
spoke hotly-"and don't care jolly
hang for what the others said, either
80 there you arei"
"Oh, you don't" Could tell how /
had touched her by her expression,
don't you know; and she fell to look
ing at me the queerest way. And
would you mind telling me who the
Others are?"
l eyed her gloomily, sympatf ID ical-
". As II she didn't know already!
"Well--oh. dash 1t, my mind has
been filled with-er-just anything!"
I began cautiously.
II know,'-she murmured it as II
to herself-"one can see that" And
she BIT her lip.
I'm the first place, you know"-and
there / pulled up. No, dash It, 1
wasn't going to say jolly word about
poor Jack-no. sir! But then, about
the other one-well, she was Just
treacherous snake in the what's-its-
name, and she ought to be exposed.
By love, she should bel
''It's the trump, you know" l said
indignantly.
''The-the what?"
Her pretty teeth flashed like the
keyboards Of q tiny organ--you could
even hear q little gurgly, musical
culver somewhere behind. And then
remembered that. OF course. she
wouldn't know whom meant.
'Oh. your guest, you know-your
friend from school," went on, try
ing to tread cautiously and yet feel
ing myself growing red. 'Oh. see
here now, I don't like to say things.
but-er-"
"Oh, go ont" she trilled, her sweet
face shining wistful.
well, I mean this-er-Miss Kirk
land; came out with US this morning.
$50