The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-10-04

storm losses it first to heaven and then to hell. He is so psychic, and in a way attuned to me, that he partly un- derstands my purpose in declaring my love for him to put him at a disad- vantage in his lovemaking to me, and he hasn't let me do it yet, while his tacit suit goes on.7 It is a drawn bat tie between us and is going to be fought to the death. In the meantime Nell
 And while I was on the porch sit ting with Richard Halls letter in my hand, still unread, Nell herself came down the front walk and sat down be side me.
 ..Why, I thought you had gone fish ing with Polk said as I cuddled her up to me a second. She laid her head on my shoulder and heaved such a sigh that it shook us both.
 q didn't quite like to go with him alone, and Henrietta wouldn't go be cause a bee had stung the red headed twin, and she wanted to stay to scold Sallie,', she answered with both hesi- tation and depression in her voice.
 Polk isis strenuous for a whole days companionshjp, I answered ex- pefimentally, for I saw the time had come to exercise some of the biceps in NelI's femininity in preparation for just what knew she was to get from Polk. My heart ached for what knew she was suffering I had had exactly xthose growing pains for months follow ing that experience with him on the front porch after the dance four years ago, and had had change of scene and occupation to help.
 tsI don't understand him at all,'' fal-
  she barred her wound to me.
 s'Nell,'' I said with trepidation as I began on this, my first disciple, syou aren't a bit ashamed or embarrassed or humiliated in showing me that you love me, are you?"
 You know I've adored you ever since I could toddle at your heels, Evelina, g she answeredy and the love message her great brown eyes flashed into mine was as sweet as anything that ever happened to me.
 t1Then why should you wonder and suffer and restrain and be huniliated at your love for Polk p I asked, firing point blank at all of Nelrs traditions. why not tell him about 1t and ask him if he loves you ?''
 The shot landed with such force that Nell gasped, but answered as straight out from the shoulder as I had aimed.
 T would rather die than have Polk Hayes know how he-he affects me- she answered, with her head held high.
 Then what you feel for him is not worthy love. but something entirely unVorthy," I answered 1ofti1y, with a very poo1 imitation of lanes impres- siveness Of speech.
 "I know it,'' she faItered into my shoulder. ssIf it were MT. James liar din I loved I wouldn't mind anybody's knowing it, but something must be wrong with Polk or me or the way I feel What is it?"
 For a moment got so stiff all over that Nell raised her head from my shoulder in surprise. Do all women feel about the Graz as do?
 'sI don't know answered weakly
 And I don't knowl Oh. Jane, your simple experiment proposition is about to become compotnd quadratics.
 Then I got a still further surprise.
 '1 wouldn't in the least mind telling MT. James how like hin-if you think it is all right Nell unused, looking pensiveIy at the first pale star that was rising over Old Harpeth. ''I would enjoy it because I have always adored him, and it would be so interesting to see what he'd say"
 "Nell," I said suddenly with deter imitation, t'do it! Tell any man you like how much you. like him-an6 see what happens"
 @I feel as ff-7as if''- Nell faltered, and don't blame her; wouldn't have said as much to her. .I feel that to tell MT. James love him would ease the pain, the-pain-that I feel about Polk. It would besso Interesting to tell a man a thing like that
 '.Do itp' I gaSped and went foot in the class in romantics.
 s If any jungle explorer thinks he has mapped and charted a woman's heart he had better pack up his instruments of warfare and recorders and come down to Glendale, Tenn.
 Nell and I must have talked further along the same lines, but I don't re- member what we said. I have record cd the high lights on the conversation, put long after I lost her I kept my whiriwind feeling of amazement. It was like trying to balance calmly on the lid of the finder box when you didn't know whether or not you had touched off the fuse.
 Has honeysuckle garbed old Har- peth been seeing things like this go on for centuries and not interrupted? ? I thi<1k would have been sitting there questioning him until now if Lee and Caroline hadn't stopped at the gate and called to me.
 Cn he