The Forrest City times., 1914-06-19

to be mine at first sight, l believe Please don't look so uneasy. I'm not going to propose to you" She laughed her little ironic laugh.
 So that is the way things stood, eh?" he said. still little amazed by her candor.
 Yes. And what is more to the point, I am quite sure I should have said yes if you had asked me. Sounds odd. doesn't it? Rather amusing, too, being able to discuss it so unreserved- ly, isn't it?"
 Good heavens. viv!" he cried un- comfortably. IT had no idea you cared
 "Cared," she cried, as be paused T don't care two pins for you in that way. But would have married you, just the same. because you are worth marrying. I'd very much rather have you for husband than any man know, but as for loving you, Pooh, I'd love you in just the way mother loves father, and I wouldn't have been a bit more trouble to you than she is to him"
 Cad. you don't mind what you say!"
 Failing to nab you, Brandy, 1 dare say I'll have to come down to a duke or, who knows? maybe a mere prince It isn't very enterprising, is it? And certainly it isn't gay prospect. Real ly, l had hoped you would have me l fatter myself, I suppose, but, hon estly now. we would have made a rather nice looking couple, wouldn't we?"
 You fatter me-" he said.
 But she resumed, calmly exhal- ing. you very foolishly fell in love with some one else, and it wasn't necessary for me to pretend that I was in love with you-which I should have done, believe me, If you had given me the chance. You fell in love, first with Hetty Castleton"
 "First?" he cried. frowning.
 And now you are heels over head in love with my beautiful sister-in-law Which all goes to prove that l would l have made just the kind of wife you need. considering your tendency to fuctuate. But how dreadful it would 1 have been for sentimental, loving | girl like Hetty!" He sat bolt upright and stared hard at her.
 See here. Viv, what the dickens are you driving at? I'm not in love with Sara-not in the least-and-" He checked himself sharply. What an ass I am! You're guying me" Tn any event. l am right about Het 1 ty," she said, leaning forward, her man. ner quite serious
 If 1t will ease you mind" he said stifhy, T plead guilty with all my | heart
 She favored him with slight frown of annoyance.
 And you deny the fuctuating charger"
 Most positively. I can afford to be honest with you, Viv. You are a corker. I love Hetty Castleton with all my soul"
 She leaned back in her chair. Then why don't you dignify your soul by be ing honest with herr" | mat uO yOu mean
 For a halfminute she was silent. Are you and of the same stripe. after all? Would you marry Sara without loving her, as l would have done by you? It doesn't seem like you. Brandon"
 Good heaven, I'm not going to marry Sara!" he blurted out. Its never entered my head"
 Perhaps it has entered hers"
 Nonsense! She isn't going to marry anybody. And she knows how feel toward Hetty. If it came to the point where l decided to marry with out love, pom my soul, Viv, believe I'd pick you out as the victim"
 Wonderful combination" she said with a frank laugh. The quintes- sence of no love lost But to resume! !! Do you know that people are saying you are to be married before the win ter is over"
 Let 'em say it." he said grufly.
 "Oh, we'll she said, dispatching it all with gesture, if that's the way you feel about it. there's no more to be said"
 He was ashamed. T beg your par don, l shouldn't have said that"
 You see" she went on, reverting to the original topic. people who know Sara are likely to credit her with mo | tiyes you appear to be totally ignorant of. She set her heart on my brother Challis, when she was great deal younger than she is now, and she got him. If age and experience count for anything. how capable she must be | by this time" He was too wise 10 venture an opin- ion. T assure you she has no designs on me"
 Perhaps not. But fancy that even you could not escape as St Anthony 1 did. She is most alluring" You don't like her" Obviously And yet don't dislike | her She has the virtue of consist ency. if one may use the expression She loved my brother Leslie says