The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1915-11-29
CLEARING THE COAST
BY FAITH ROBINSON.

Toor Ola boy, Sno said. And /
did want him to come so much"
Who, Amer"
"Fennimore Diggs."
There came sudden movement
from the hammock. Bah threw her
book across the veranda and sat bolt
upright, eyes sparkling, color rising
in her vivid, changeable, young face.
When did he cor1e back?"
"Oh, lately, l believe" her sister
answered with a sigh. do you feel
like having storm on the spot over
1t, Bab?"
Bah sat irresolute and mute for the
moment.
Il wish the world were not round"
she exclaimed passicnately. They
never go away forever. They just go
round AID come back again. They
ought to tumble off the edge
My dear Bah" said Mrs. Law.
renee firmly, and in her very best
elder sister style, Il don't see why
Fenns return. He's nothing at all to
you. You threw him over without the
least prOvocation.'
That's a nice thing to say; a nice,
loyal thing, Anne, when you know the
whole circumstances. He didn't even
deny that he had visited at the Ray
monds the same time she was there"
They were only tacitly engaged,
and it was four years age when he
came cut of college. AIRY girl with any
charm at all and tact can make a col
lege boy propose to her. They simply
beg you to encourage them, and she
really was very pretty, Bah
Il hate her, Bah declared with dig
nifty to the adjacent atmosphere. Il
had no idea that you would invite
him either while l was staying here.
But if you really want him so much,
Anne, l shall 60 straight over to
Olives and stay with her till your
house party is over
And ali Anne's coaxing awaited not.
She would go, and Olive welcomed
her gladly, sympathetically. They
had been chums at Bryn Mawr to-
gether. and debutantes together.
She knew the whole affair over Fem
nimore; had even known the girl
Marion Wallace.
And, dear, she's married a perfect
old mummy with oodles Of cash and
five grown children. So if she Lad
cared fer Fem, ste could nave had
him, when you broke the engage
ment"
If Fem had wanted her," Bab
corrected tearfully. Tn afraid I'd be
little idiot and forgive Kim the mir
ute he asked me-"
! Maybe he wouldn't ask you,
goosie"
| Bah flushed, her dark eyes wide and
/ indignant.
! Yes he would, to. He never
gives up
Sunday morning she slept until
! seven. Dressed in . pink chiffon
morning negligee, with pink lace
cap, laced e3ge, size stepped down.
stairs and out on tie veranda with.
| cut warning before FeZLinOre, drink,
ing his second cup of coffee Ieisurely
with Olive.
Il want to speak to Murray just q
minute, please" Olive said hurriedly
setting the cup down. Bah, dear, will
you pour for me?"
Bah took her seat with ominous ST
lence. Then slowly, almost perforce
she raised her lashes and net Fem Z
eyes full of suppressed enjoyment OF
the situation.
You did this en- purpose she said
haughtily
Il did not. l didn't know you were
here
Il left Anne's SO she might have
you at her house party
Most sweet and thoughtful of you
came here so that you might stay
with Anne without fear of my com
pany."
Silence. Bah poured herself a cuI
of coffee.
You look adorable, Bah. If 20,
had expected ME you could not have
dressed prettier, dearie."
Dap eyebrows raised slightly.
Is this necessary"
Very. l only have two minutes
and you'll escape me. You may ever
make getaway IL the car before
can stop you. Bah, do you really
want &c escape from me?'
Bah hesitated The cid wooin,
charm of his voice swept over he
again. She closed her eyes to keel
from looking at him. And slowly thu
tears came.
How could you go there when yo,
knew she was there?' she said. "Af
ter-after you had been engaged tt
her"
Il never loved her.
} You must have asked her to mar
ry you. You must have kissed ner-
. ofken. And you always call her Ma
, rion.''
Bah, listen to me. Stop that cry
ing. He held Fer hands closely. -
: boy OF twenty does foolish things
Let's thank God 1 didn't marry FER
{ We'd have been wretched ard in tht
} court ICrg ago / want ven for ,lfe