The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1913-05-16

/ have been trying to write It, though,
since | came down, but have had one
interruption after another. | think /
will go into your fathers Office and do
1t there" She gathered up her paper
and turned to leave the room 1T is
hard letter for me to write, you
know" she added as she went away.
Wilfred, evidently much relieved at
his mothers departure, took the pack
age from under his coat, put II on the
table, and began to undo It. He took
from it a pair of very soiled, dilapi-
dated, gray uniform trousers. He had
just lifted them up when he heard
Caroline's step on the porch. and the
next moment she came into the room
through the long French window. VIII
fred stood petrified with astonishment
at the sudden and unexpected appear
ance of his young beloved, but soon
recovered himself and began rolling
the package together again, hastily
and awkwardly, while Caroline
watched him from the window. She
coldly scrutinized his confusion while
he made his ungainly roll, and, as he
moved toward the door, she broke the
silence.
"Ah, good evening, Mr.. Varney," she
said coolly.
Good evening"" he said. his voice
as cold as her own.
They both of them had started for
the hall door and in another second
they would have met.
Excuse me-" said Caroline. I'm in
a hurry"
That's plain enough. Another par
ty, suppose, and dancing"
What Of It? What's the matter
with dancing, I'd like to know"
Nothing is the matter with dancing
if you want to, but must say that it
is a pretty way of going on, with the
cannon roaring not six miles away"
well, what do you want us to do?
Cry about It! | have cried my eyes
out already; that would do a heap of
good now, wouldn't it?"
"Oh, I haven't time to talk about
such petty details. l have some i'm
portant matters to attend to-" he re-
turned loftily.
1T was you that started it," said the
girl.
Wilfred turned suddenly, his man
ner at once losing its badly assumed
lightness.
ooh, you needn't try to fool me-" he
reproached her; Il know well enough
how you have been carrying on since
our engagement was broken off. Half
dozen officers proposing to you-a
dozen for all kncw."
What difference does it maker?
she retorted pertly. II haven't got to
marry them all, have IL"
"Well, it isn't very nice to go on
like that" said Wilfred with an air
into which he in vain sought to infuse
detached, judicial, and Indifferent
appearance. Proposals by the whole
sale!"
Goodness mel" exclaimed Caroline.
whats the use of talking about it to
me. Il Aty le IlS OhIo hho1 PASPSSN'
don't. How can help it?"
"Oh," said Wilfred loftily. you can
help it all right. You helped it with
me-"
WELL" she answered, with queer
look at him, that was different"
"And ever since you threw me over
-" he began.
81 didn't throw you over, you just
went over" she interrupted.
81 went over because you walked off
with Major Sillsby that Eight we were
at Drury's Bluff" said the boy. "and
you encouraged him to propose. You
admit it," he said, as the girl nodded
her head.
"Of course l did. didn't want him
hanging around forever, did 1? That's
the only way to finish them off. What
DO you want me to do-string a pla-
card around my neck, saying. No pro-
posals received here. ApplS at the Of
fce?' Would that please you any bet
ter? Well" she continued, as the boy
shrugged his shoulders, IF it doesn't
make any difference to you what do,
it doesn't even make as much as that
to me-"
"Oh, it doesn't? l think it does,
though. You looked as If you enjoyed
it pretty well while the Third Virginia
was in the city"