The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-05-21
BY J. MORTON LEWIS.

hosV piomCu tuV oCblOus Uut Wutu
pair of blue eyes-aglow with life and
insouciance-surveys you, blame takes
wings, and you laugh with the culprit.
Besides, Irene is Irene-that sums up
the whole situation.
We have been friends for years;
close friends, if the fact that she has
refused me on three separate occasions
makes the friendship any the more bind
ing. 1t was about week after the
third refusal. We were seated in the
garden, eating strawberries and cream,
and discussing nothing with solem-
nifty that was worthy Of better cause.
Irene was seated ON a low basket
chair with grace that was positively
disconcerting. From beneath the folds
of her skirt peeped patent leather
shoe and few inches of openwork silk
stocking. The sun shone on her hair,
picking out the golden strands. Alto
gether the sight of her made me envious
and bad-tempered.
"And SO you are going to stay with
the Kempshots for few weeks,' she
said
| nodded. 1t was duty visit, and
the prospect did not fill me with wild
paroxysms of enthusiasm.
"Why don't you propose to Amyi"
Irene surveyed me languidly.
~ might do worse" l retorted.
"Mucn worse" she acquesced.
"You might have been accepted by me-
Think of it,"
"1rlly | have much to be thankful
for" replied.
Irene laughed. She is truly provok
ing.
~ have seriously thought Of pro-
posing to Amy" said
''Dear girl. How happy she will be.
And what a good wife she will make
ycushc could manage beautifully on
$500 year. And | IN sure / couldn t. !"
So am /, = retorted. "Your stock
ings alone must cost you small for
tune.
Irene flushed, and withdrew her foot.
1t was very paltry point to score.
Half an hour later | rose to take
my leave. "Then | shall expect to hear
you are engaged to Amy when you
come back, she said, smiling in fare
we'll
"you are sure she will accept met"
"Could anyone refuse such an aw-
fully nice, eligible boy such as you
arei"
- know one who did. shall begin
to think you are repenting in min
ute.
''And if I dids"
| locked at Irene. never know
whether she is serious or not. She was
Surveying me demurely, but there was
a mocking smile playing round the
corners Of her mouth.
''Then Amy can 60 to-"
"No, she can't, Dickie, dear. She g
going to make you an ideal wife. Nice
little tasty dishes when you come home
tired from the city" ("
"Goodby, Irene" I said.
The mocking laugh followed me as
! walked up the garden path.
The spirit Of mischief must have en-
tered me after had been staying at
the Kempshots for "a hours. Perhaps
it was respite from the awful gayety
of their house-gayety which would
would drive a tortoise mad with ennui.
At any rate, despatched telegram to
Irene on one Of my walks 1t ran:
"Amy wants you to como to her we'd
ding After had paid my sixpence,
/ thought no moro about il until next
morning.
At the breakfast table . couple Of
letters lay awaiting me. Mr.. Kempshot
had gone to town; only Mrs. Kempshot
and Amy were at the table.
"Do read your letters If you would
Ike to- said Mrs. Kempshot.
I thanked her and opened the en-
velope, which was addressed to me in
1rcne's somewhat sprawling handwrit
ing.
It WIS q long letter. How she must
have laughed a. she wrote It.
"Dear Dick" ~ ran, "what did I
sayf ! cannot tall you how happy I
an. am overioyed at the good news