Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1914-06-12

Wd6 pldluly Out VI sOTtb. IL eSduo, "A
you don't mind. Beastly tiresome. sit
ting in a hot. stuffy train"
He took a couple Of turns across the
porch. his eyes shifting in the eager.
annoyed manner of one who seeks for
something that, in the correct order of
things. ought to be plainly visible.
Please sit down. Leslie. You make
me nervous. tramping about like that.
We can't 90 In for half an hour or
more"
Cant 60 in?" he demanded. stop
ping before her. He began to pull at
his little moustache.
mo. Hetty's posing. They won't
permit even me to disturb them"
He glared. With a final, almost dra-
matte twist he gave over Jerking at
his moustache. and grabbed up q chair.
which he put down beside her with a
vehemance that spoke palmer than
words.
Il say" he began. scowling in the
direction of the doorway, how long il
he going to be at this silly job!"
SILLY job! why. 1t is to be q mas
terpiece," she cried.
Il asked you how long?"
"Oh. how can / tell? Weeks, per-
haps. One can't prod a genius"
IT'S all tommy-rot," he growled.
Il suppose I'd better take the next
train back to town."
Don't you like talking with met"
she inquired. with a pout.
"Of course do" he made haste to
say. But do you mean to say they
won't let anybody in where Oh.
say! This 10 rich!"
Spectators upset the muse. or
words to that effect"
He stared gloomily at his cigarette
case for q moment. Then he carefully
selected cigarette and tapped 1t on
the back Of his hand.
See here, Sara, I'm going to get
this OF my chest" he said bluntly.
i've been thinking 1t over all week.
l don't like this portrait painting nom
sense"
Dear me! Didn't you suggest IT,"
she inquired innocently. but all the
time her heart was beating violent
time to the song of triumph.
He was jealous. It was what she
wanted. what she had hoped for all
along. Her purpose now was to en-
courage the ugly fame that tortured
him. to fan 1t into fury. to make 1t un-
endurable. She knew him we'll: His
supreme egoism could not Withstand
an attack upon its complacency. Like
all the Wrandalls. he had the habit
Of thinking too well Of himself. He
possessed q clearly-deined sense of
humor. but 1t did not begin to include
self-sacrince among its endowments.
He had never been able to laugh at
himself for the excellent reason that
some things were truly sacred to him.
She realized this, and promptly
laughed at him. He stiffened.
Don't smoker. Sara" he growled.
He took time to light his cigarette. and
at the same time to consider his an
swer to her question. In . way. yes.
I suggested q tort Of portrait, OF
course. A sketchy thing. something
like that. you know. But not an all
summer operation"
But she doesn't mind" explained
Sara. In fact. she 10 enjoying It. She
and Mr.. Booth get on famously to-
gether"
she likes him. chr"
Certainly. Why shouldn't she like
him? He 10 adorable"
He threw his cigarette over tho rail.
ing. Comes here every day. I sup
poser"
my dear Leslie, he il to do me a.
soon a. he has finished with her. /
don't like your manner"
oh" he said in dull sort Of won
der. No one had ever cut him short
In just that way before. Whats up,
Sara! Have done anything out of
the way?"
You are very touchy, It seems to
me-"
I'm sore about this confounded Dor.
trait monopoly"
I'm sorry. Leslie. suppose you
will have to give in, however. We are
three to one against you-Hetty. Mr..
Booth and l."
Il see." he said, rather blankly.
Then he drew his chair closer. "See
here. Sara. you know I'm terribly keen
about her. l think about her, dream
about her. + oh, well. here 1t IL in q
I'm in love with her. Now
do you understand"
Il don't see how you could help be-
ing In love with her." she said calmly.
II believe It 10 habit men have where
she is concerned"
You're not surprised" he cried.
himself surprised.
Not in the least"
Il mean to ask her to marry me-"
he announced with fnality. This was
to bowl her over completely. !
She looked at him for an instant. |
and then shook her head. I'D like to
be able to wish you good luck"
He stared. You don't mean to say
she'd be fool enough" he began in
credulously. but caught himself up in |
time. "Of course. I'd have to take my |
chances" he concluded. with more hu- |
mility than she had ever seen him dis |
play. DO you know Of any one else?"
mo" she said seriously. She doesn't |
con3de In me to that extent, ! fear.
I've never asked"
DO you think there was any one
back there in Englandf" He put II |