The evening world., 1914-04-20
over in the vicinity at . protecting

hover in the vicinity at q protecting
distance?"
"Oh. no." she refused quickly.
That would spoil It, and besides.
anything OF the sort really would
make people talk"
II suppose So" ne admitted rue
fully. But, Mamie turned to her
earnestly-'will you promise me one
thing? VIII you promise that II you
need some one. II things don't turn
out Just as you anticipate. n the
people you meet do not prove to be
exactly what they seem, II anything
at all goes wrong, you will let mo
know? VIII you send mo word at
once"'
"There's one thing. Nan" He
looked at her approvingly with his
grave. gray eyes. mo person with
an atom Of intelligence could mis-
take you for anything but q lady.
That Is q protection anywhere"
Nan smiled her appreciation.
"Nor could you tho less readily he
mistaken for anything but a gentle-
man."
He laughed in turn.
"Since we think 80 highly OF each
other. Nan. why Is II that--well. that
you insist upon taking this trip
alone? I'm ready TO go in any ca
pacity from courier to a mere hus-
band"
"I've tried to explain that to the
family" said Nan soberly. but they
think / am perfectly silly and won't
see my point OF view at all. It's Just
that I want to be sure OF myself
and ! know You SO we'll and like
you so much that I'm not sure the
feeling l have for you isn't only
friendship. I want to know another
kind OF men from those i've met
In my comparatively brief Social ex.
perience. 30 that when finally
marry the man will be tho man ]
have chosen intellixsntly from
have thought we'll enough OF me tc
ask me to marry them. ! like ~
active man. q man who Is doinG
something In the world. making his
own way" she concluded vaguely
''or something like that
And you think I'm an unambi.
tious idler"-his color had risen
slightly-"that haven't aggression
and-well. the manly. fighting quail
ties which would attract q girl like
your"
"Oh. I didn't mean to imply Yhat.'
Nan answered quickly; feeling that
laughed. " 10 hear S. ' my.sif." anu 'n'
II know" he nodded ruefully. and
added, IT'S q fact, though. that
don't do much but amuse myself
But what am ! to do, Nan? hi
pleaded half humorously. half ir
earnest. II don't want to reform
anybody 90 ] wouldn't get in poll
tics. and besides I'm not keen or
strange bedfellows. There Isn't any
reason why should make more
money, because with my simpl,
what I have, and you won't help me
Philanthropy would make q cynic o.
me In q week. for I have discovered
there's nothing like dispensing char
ity to wreck ones faith in human
nature"
"You could practise law. VIVA
was the use OF studying II n 20,
don't practise2"
ITO protect myself from other law,
yers. Yes" with mock gravity. 80
could Join the noble army Of ambu
Nonsense! You don't have to b'
an ambulance chaser. You could b'
est"
Thank you. Nan, for those few
kind words" he bowed in exaggerated
appreciation. but I'm afraid the ONLY
thing In which am in deadly earnest
10 my desire to induce you to MARI,
me or to let mo marry you--as YOU
hke-Im very humble. Last summer
) as. you know. I went to Newfound
land and spent three wretched week.
camping on the Humber River. fight
Ing mosquitoes and waiting for tn
mall to bring me . letter from you
and trying to forget you: but Just a
soon as the mosquitoes let up a min
ute I was loving you harder than ever
Most humiliating experience OF m!
life. assure you. for II convinced m
that ! hava no will power. In tn,
end I gave In and went down to tn
Jersey coast where the mosquitoes q
least night according to the rules o
ctvihsed warfare, and gave my
self up TO the sensation Of being hope
isssiy In love I zee plainly that an
. weak chaTAo1B and Q pooe worm.