The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1914-04-17

screened upper bG'cony with Vivian
lie liked her. She was keen-witted,
plain-spoken y-nung woman, with few
false ideals and no subtlety. She was
less snobbish than arrogant. Of all
the Wrandalls, she was the least self
centered, Leslie never quite under
stood her for the paradoxical reason
that she thoroughly understood him.
you know, Brandon" she said,
after long silence between them.
they've been setting my cap for you
for long, long time" She blow
thin stream Of cigarette smoke toward
the moon.
He started. It was a bolt from a
clear sky. THE deuce.'
YES" she went on In the most cas-
/ ual tone, mothers had her heart set
| on it for months. You were supposed
to be mine at first sight, believe.
Please don't look SO uneasy. Pm not
going to propose to YOU She laughed
her little ironic laugh. s
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 should have
said yes IL you had asked me. Sounds
odd, doesn't It? Rather amusing, too
being able to discuss 1t so unreserved
ly, isn't it?" s.
| Good heavens, Viv!" he cried un
comfortably. IL had no idea you
| cared" a
Cared" she cried. as he paused
81 don't care two pins for you in tina,
way. But would have married you
just the same. because you are worth
marrying. I'd very much rather have
you for q husband than any man
know, but as for loving you! Pooh
I'd love you In Just the way mothe
loves father, and | wouldn't have beer
bit more trouble to you than she Il
to him"
Cad. you don't mind what 20,
say!"
Failing to nab you, Brandy, dar,
say I'll have to come down to a duk,
or, who knows? maybe mere prince
1t isn't very enterprising, is it? An,
certainly 1t isn't u gay prospect. Real
ly, | had hoped you would have me
f1atter myself, / suppose. but, hon
estiy now, we would have made {
rather nice looking couple. wouldn'
we?"
eYou fiatter me-" he said.
But" she resumed, calmly exhaI
ing, you very foolishly fell In love
with some one else. and 1t wasn''
necessary for me to pretend that
was in iovefwith you--which shoult
have done. believe me. IL you haG
given nae the chance. You fell In love
first with Hetty Castieton.'
sFIrstf'' he cried. frowning.
z sAnd now you are heels over heat
In love with my beautiful sister-in-lav
Which all goes to prove that woul
have made just the kind OF wife yo
need, considering your tendency
fiuetuate But how dreadful It woul
4
girl like Hetty,"
He sat bolt upright and stared haT
at her. $3.50 ---i--
Il "See here, Wv. what the dickens al
, you driving at? I'm not in love wit
Sara--not In the least--and--' II
, checked himself sharply. What q
ass | am! You're guying me-"
In any event. am right about He
/, ty," she said, leaning forward. her ma
ner quite serious
/. "If 1t will ease you mind" he ga
stifiy, Il plead guilty with all n
!. | heart"
n She favored him with slight rrov
S OF annoyance. p
"And you deny the fuctuatil
1 charger"
'Most positively. ! can afford to
, honest with you, Wv. You are
g corker. l love Hetty Castleton wi
all my soul"
II She leaned back In her chair. ''Th'
why don't you dignity your soul BY .
ing honest with herr"
What do you mean?"
. For a half-minute she was siler
g Are you and of the same strip
s after all? Would you marry Sal
s without loving her, as | would ha'
done by your 1t doesn't seem III
le you, Brandon"
l