The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-05-22


very best for the light of day, to
be followed as soon as possible by
the silver teapot. though she had
just had tea herself.
And there stood Hilton Toye,
chin blue and collar black, his
trousers all knees and no creases.
exactly as he had jumped out of
the boat train.
II guess I'm not tit to speak To
you," he said. but that's just
what I've come to do - for the
third time!"
oh, Mr.. Toye." cried Blanche,
really frightened by the face that
made his meaning clear. II re-
Taxed a little as she shrank in
voluntarily, but the compassion
in his eyes and mouth did not
lessen their steady determination
II didn't have time to make
myself presentable." he ex-
planned. Il thought you wouldn't
have me waste a moment IL you
understood the situation. l want
your promise to marry me right
now,"
Blanche began to breathe
again. At first she had thought
he had bad news to break to her.
She knew her own mind, and
spoke 1t much as he had spoken
his, quite compassionately. but
just as terself to the point.
"One moment" he interrupted.
Il said nothing about my feel
ings, because they're a kind of
stale proposition by this time;
but for forms sake / may state
there's no chance there except in
the only direction | guess a per-
sons feelings are liable to change
toward you, Miss Blanche! I'm
a worse case than ever, If that
makes any difference"
Blanche shook her yellow head.
Nothing can" she said. There
must be no possible mistake about
1t this time, because | want you
to be very good and never ask
me again. And I'm glad you
didn't make all the proper
speeches, because | needn't either,
Mr.. Toye! But know my own
mind better than I ever did until
this very minute and l could
simply never marry you"
Toye accepted his fate with a
ready resignation, little short of
alacrity.
That's talking" said, he. Nov
will you promise me never to
marry Cazalet?"
'Mr. Toye!"
That's talking, too and /
guess | mean 1t to be. It's not
all dog-in-the-manger, either.
want that promise lot more than
| want the other. You needn't
marry me, Miss Blanche, but you
mustn't marry Cazalet."
Blanche was blazing. But this
is simply outrageous"
Il claim there's an outrageous
cause for it. Are you prepared
to swear what | ask, and trust
me as I'll trust you, or am | to
tell you the whole thing right
now"
You won't force me to listen
to another word from you, II
you're a gentleman, Mr.. Toye."
Its not what / am that
counts. Swear that to me, and
I swear, on my side, that / won't
give him away to you or any one
else. But it must be the most
solemn contract man and wom-
an ever made"
The silver teapot arrived at this
jucture, and not inopportunely.
She had to give him his tea.
She had time to think, almost
coolly; and one thought brought
thrill. If 1t was question OF
her marrying or not marrying
Walter Cazalet, then he must be
free, and only the doer of some
dreadful deed!
What has he done?" she
begged.
Must tell your" His re-
luctance rang genuine.
III iHSiSt upoh II! she lldsucu
again.
We'll, it's long story"
Never mind. | can listen"
you know. | had to go back
to Italy"
Had your"
We'll, | did CO." He had
slurred the first statement; this
one was Enthusiastically DELHI
crate. 81 did go, and before |
went | asked Cazalet for an in
PRODUCTION to some friends of his
down in Rome"
II didn't know he had any,
said Blanche.
mo more he has," said Toye,
"but he claimed to have some.