The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-05-16

tnat our engagement shall be Kept Sc
ere until we are ready to marry. We
must play fair"
II will We are ready now"
Mans votce broke into a ripple of
laughter.
"Oh, are we? l didn't know it,
Yes. that's what came to tell
you," Stuart went on, catching her
spirit of fun and pressing her hand
| I've arranged little trip to the couD
try tomorrow. and I'm going to con
vince you before we return. Make
the announcement tonight dear! on
my honor | promise to convince you
tomorrow that we are ready. I've an
argument that never fails-an argu
ment no woman can resist"
Not tonight. Jim" was the laughing
reply.
Cant you trust me when | tell you
that I've discovered something today
that makes 1t necessary? | have seen
Mr.. Bivens."
Nan leaped to her feet, her face
flushed, her voice ringing with tri
umph.
And you did what asked you. Oh.
you're a darling! Why did you tease
me so last night? You accepted his
offer?'
Pm sorry to disappoint you, dear.
but did not"
The girl dropped into her seat, with
sigh, while he went on:
"Bivens further confided in me the
| fact that he is hopelessly and desper
ately in love with you"
A flash of anger mantled Mans
cheeks
THAT will do, Jim," she said in quiet
cold tones. "Your joke has gone far
enough"
Joke! Do you think could joke on
such subject?'
A smile began to play about the cor
! ners of the full lips.
II never dreamed he was so easy
| Still smiling dreamily Nan crossed her
hands over her knees and studied the
pattern in the rug, ignoring the pres
ence of her lover.
Lets not joke. Nan. It's too ser
GUS"
Serious! fail to see it,
Cant you see that we must at once
announce our engagement"
The girls lips curled with the faint.
est suggestion of sarcasm.
II don't see it at all. You may be q
| good lawyer. but | fail to follow your
logic
Stuart rose, with a gesture of anger.
"Come to the point, Nan. Let's not
beat the devil around the stump any
longer You know as well as 1 do that
you've been trying to flirt with this lit
tie insect. You know in your heart of
hearts you despise Bivens."
"On the contrary, | vastly admire
him The man who can enter with his
handirnp this big. heartless city and
successfully smash the giants who op-
pose him is not an insect I'd rather
call him a hero. ALI women admire
success"
ITS disgustingT
| Nan fixed her dark eyes on Stuart
How dare you use such word to
| me?"
Because it's true. and you know It."
True or false, you can't say it'-She
rose deliberately-"youm may 60 now."
Forgive me. dear" Stuart STAN.
mered in a queer, muffled voice. 81
aidn't mean to hurt you. / was mad
with jealousy"
"You may co. was the hard. even
answer
" can't go like this. dearest" he
pleaded. "You must forgive me-you
must! Look at mel"
She turned slowly, stared him full in
the face for a moment without the
culver Of an eyelid. her fine figure
tense, erect, cold, as she quietly said:
you are firing me, jim"
For the first time he saw a cold
blooded calculation behind her beauti-
full eyes and felt it In the smile which
showed the white teeth-the smile of a
woman who would pause at nothing to
get what she wanted.
A blush Of shame tinged his face as
he tremblingiy said:
"Please, dear, let's not part like thisl
I've suffered enough today. You're only
teasing me. And I've acted like fool
Say that you forgive mer'
"Our engagement is at an end. Mr..
| Stuart" was the quiet answer.
| Nam
| Before he could recover from the
shock or utter a protest she opened the
| door and he had Dassed ont into the