The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1915-12-30

oSOA Voys AOllOWCu Wy IA0 ICCIOA.
"The sweetest flower that blows In
any dale" quoted Daddy" Manning,
patting Calls hand affectionately.
The rector stood by, waiting to greet
her, after Manning had monopolized
her selfish moment, and the newly
aroused eye for color in him seized
upon the gold and blue and red of her
straight Egyptian costume, and recog-
Mined In them a part of her endless
variety. The black on her lashes. He
was close enough to see that; and he
marveled at himself that he could not
disapprove.
Gail was most uncomfortably aware
of him in this nearness; but she
turned to him with frank smile Of
friendship.
This looks like q conspiracy" she
commented, glancing towards the
study. which was thick with smoke.
"It's an extensively innocent one."
returned Manning, giving the rector
but small chance. We're discussing
plans for the new Vedder court tene-
ments"
"Oh!" observed Gail, and radiated
a distinct chill, whereupon Rev. Smith
Boyd, divesting himself Of some cour-
teous compliment, exchanged inane
adieus with Mrs. Davies and young
Van Ploon, and took his committee
back into the study.
Mrs Davies remained but a moment
or So She even seemed eager to retire,
and as she left the library, she cast
hopeful backward glance at the dane
ing-eyed Gail and the correct young
Van Ploon, who. with his Dutch COM
plexion and his blonde English mus
tache and his stalwart American body,
to say nothing of his being a Van
Ploon, represented to her the ideal of
masculine perfection. He was an ell
gible who never did anything second
too early or second too late, or de-
Waited by one syllable from the exact
things he should say.
II the anxious Aunt Helen had
counted on any important results from
this evenings opportunities, she had
not taken into her calculations the
adroitness of Gail. In precisely five
minutes Van Ploon was on the door
step, with his Inverness on his shout
ders and his silk hat In his hand, with
out even having approached the elabo-
rate introduction to certain important
remarks he had definitely decided to
make Gail might not have been able
to rid herself Of him so easily, for he
was a person of considerable momen.
tum. but he had rather planned to
make a more deliberate ceremony of
the matter, impulsive opportunities
not being in his line of thought.
A tall young man in an Inverness
walked rapidly past the door while
Van Ploon was saying the correctly
clever things in the way of adieu; and
before she had closed the door on Van
Ploon, Dick Rodley walked into the
house with careless assurance.
Gracious, Dicky, you can't come
ini" protested Gail, with half frown-
ing, half laughing remonstrance TITS
a fearful hour for calls"
I'm a friend Of the family" In
sisted Dick, calmly closing the door
behind them and hanging his hat on
the rack. Il guess you've forgotten
the program"
ooh. yes, the proposal. Well. have
1t over with"
"All right" he agreed, and taking
her arm and tucking her shoulder
comfortably close to him, he walked
easily with her back to the library.
Arrived there, he seated her on her
favorite chair, and drew up another
one squarely In front of her.
"I'm going to shock you to DEATH"
he told her. "I'm going to propose Sc
riously to you"
Some laughing retort was on her
lips, but she caught look in his eyes
which suddenly stopped her.
II am very much in earnest about
it, GAIL" and his voice bore the stamp
Of deep sincerity. II love you. want
you to be my wife,"
Dick" protested Gail, and 1t was
she who reached out and placed her
hand in his. The action was too con-
fidingly frank for him to mistake 1t.
Il was afraid you'd think that way
about It," he said, his voice full of
a pain of which they neither one had
believed him capable. This is the
first time ever proposed, except in
fun, and / want to make you take me
seriously. Gail, I've said SO many
pretty things to you, that now, when
/ am in such desperate earnest, there's
nothing left but just to try to tell you
how much love you; how much
want you'll" He stopped, and. holding
her hand, patting it gently with uncon-
scious tenderness, he gazed earnestly
into her eyes His own were entirely
without that burning glow which he
had, for so long. bestowed on all the
young and beautiful. They were al
most somber now, and in their depth
was q humble usefulness which
1c;I,c + ~ A<,vu o,rf ~ him