Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-01-08

all question worried and anxious there
was no fear in her voice. look oil man
e
And what do you say about It all
this marvellous ~forecast?" she smiled
as they paused. March loved her. she
knew 1t and sometimes took a won,
ans advantage Of a lovers devotion.
You have always pretended to me
that you were SO excessively intelli.
gent, you know. I shall not be salts
fed until you have settled the whole
matter n way or the other" He
shook his head h~elplessly.
Il can say what l think. which
Is this. l have great respect
for Professor Desmond's ability and
judgment. yet all mankind is full Of
error and false reasoning. Therefore,
in common with everybody else l can
only hope that he is mistaken. By the
way, Doris. have l told you yet tonight
that l am still In love with you? I
really do not remember" She shook
her head impatiently.
Certainly you have-twice-each
time We happened to be alone for a
moment. And l think It Is perfectly
absurd Of you to make love to me
when my head is SO full Of serious
things that l don't hear a word you
say about love-"
But you at least heard that much"
1T must have been entirely subcon-
sciously and mechanical. You are al
ways making love to me at such ride
ulous times and places-for instance
when my throat was sore and l could
not tell you to stop, and once even in
church under your breath when I was
trying to listen to a most interesting
sermon"
Call church a ridiculous placer"
"Of course not-except as a place to
make love in"
Yet 1t is the place of all places for
the love knot to be tied in. Then
why not an ideal place for the weav-
ing Of the skein?"
you should have said, the spinning
of the yarn"
He picked up the handkerchief
which she had dropped, inhaled a
breath Of its faint fragrance and thrust
it into his own bosom. Another
keepsake" he grinned. That is the
way / have to get all Of them from
you-steal them. However, I will ad-
init that 'skein' was not a good word
in that case. for it implies a material
easily broken and therefore not suit
able for permanently binding people
together. / should have said 1t was an
ideal place for the forging of the
chain"
Il have no faith whatever In
.forgers." She turned upon him tri.
umphantly, indicating with her head.
Anyway. here comes Clay Tolliver
and now you will be compelled to be-
have whether or no." Alan glanced
aside. To his genuine dissatisfaction
he saw the only rival who at all wor-
ried him approaching them.
Clay raised the shapely fingers to
his lips as he always made 1t a point
do when he greeted her in March's
presence, knowing that 1t worried his
opponent in this affair of hearts and
much satisfaction from the in
stinctive knowledge that the act Of
gallantry made the other squirm In
wardly. And squirm inwardly March
certainly did, not SO much at the act
itself as from the fact that Doris
seemed rather to approve of it, while
should he attempt a similar homage
he would appear but as an imitator
and therefore ridiculous to himself as
well as her. Good evening, Miss
the newcomer said in his low,
smooth voice. his dark eyes soft when
they gazed at her, hard as brilliants
when they flashed over March. Il
have been hoping all day that | might
find you looking Just as you do this
evening" He turned upon her COM
p%anion. his rather thin but Clearly cut
face expressionless save '0r the CLINT
Of his eyes which Alan had often
TO be the most peculiar he had
rfSi oSSb' ANU 4 hopO yOu, pCO, are
well, sir" March nodded casually as
for a feeting second their hands and
.glances met. Clay went on.
81 have to beg your pardon, Miss
for coming here tonight unin-
vited, but as you know ! have been
out of town for a week and Just came
back an hour ago. When I got off
the train / learned for the first time
1t had been stated by Professor
that a terrible disaster is
threatening US, and / Immediately
came here-not that any mortal could
TO be Of any particular physical
in case such an inconceiv-
able event should take place, but rath-
err In the hope that I might be Of some
slight service to you in some other
way Am I to be granted your par
don for intruding?" That Doris was
genuinely moved by the speakers sim
certify and thoughtfulness March.
watching her. could not doubt.
She flashed him a look Of gratitude
that March would have paid high for.
Not only are you pardoped, but
you are rewarded by my sincere
thanks-if that be any reward" she
exclaimed impulsiyely. She dropped
a light hand upon the sleeve OF each
man, smiling from one to the other i'm
partially. 1T is difficult to believe that