The Madison journal., 1915-11-06
CLEARING THE COAST
BY FAITH ROBINSON.

again with a little smile of grd, '
standing.
Poor old boy" she slid. And
did want him to come so uucb,"
Who, Anne?"
"Fennimore Diggs."
There came a sudden movapent
from the hammock Bah threv her
book across the veranda and sat boI,
upright. eyes sparkling, color rising
in her vivid. changeable, young facs
When did he come back" x
"Oh, lately. | believe" her sistl y,
answered with a sigh. DO Won fee,
like having a storm on the spot over
it. Bab?"
Bah sat irresOlute and mute for the
moment.
Il wish the world were not round {"
she exclaimed passionately. "Thev
never go away forever. They inst po
round and come back again. Tbev
ought to tumble off the edge"
My dear Bab,' said Mrs. Law.
renee firmly, and in her very host
elder sister style, Il don't see wbv
you should feel anything at al, over
rem S return. He's nothing az all 10
you. You threw him over without the
least prOvocation."
That's nice thing to say. a psaA
loyfi thing, Anne, when you know 4
whole circumstances. He didn't eyy
ueny that q had visited at the Raw
mohds the same time she was there ~
They were only tacitly engaged.
and it was four years ago when no
came out of college. Any girl with apy
charm at all and tact can make a col.
lege boy propose to her. They simply
Deg you TO encourage them. and she
really was very pretty, Bah"
i hate her." Bah declared with dig.
nifty to the adjacent atmosphere. Il
had no idea that you would invite
MIN either while | was staying here.
But If you really want him SO much.
Anne. | shall go straight over to
Olives and stay with her till your
house party is over"
And all Anne's coaxing availed 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 Fen.
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 IL she had
cared for Fem, she could have had
him, when you broke the engage
ment."
If Fem had wanted her." Bah
corrected tearfully. I'm afraid I'd be.
a little idiot and forgive him the miy
ute he asked me-"
Maybe he wouldn't ask youy
goosie."
Bah Iushed, her dark eyes wide and
Yes he would. too. He never
gives up"
Sunday morning she slept until
seven. Dressed In pink chiffon
negligee, with a pink lace
cap, laced edge. she stepped down
stairs and out on the veranda with.
out warning before Fennimore, drink.
ing his second cup Of coffee leisurely
with Olive.
Il want to speak to Murray Just q
minute, please" Olive said hurriedly,
setting the cup down. "Bab, dear. will
you pour for me?"
Bah took her seat with ominous 81.
ence. Then slowly, almost perforce.
she raised her lashes and met Fenn's
eyes full of suppressed enjoyment OF
he situations
You did this on purpose" she said
1aughtily.
Il did not. didn't know you were
1ere."
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 cup
If coffee.
You look adorable, Bah. II you
had expected me you could not have
dressed prettier. dearie."
Bsb's eyebrows raised slightly.
rs this necessary"
Very. l only have two minutes,
md you'll escape me. You may even
make a getaway in the car before I
,an stop you. Bah. do you really
want to escape from me?" q
Bah hesitated. The old wooins
charm OF his voice swept over her
again. She closed her eyes to keen
rom looking at him. And slowly the
ears came.
How could you go there when you
Knew she was there? she said. "Af.
.er-after you had been engaged tn
her."
Il never loved her."
You must have asked her to md
y you. You must have kissed her
,ften. And you always call her Ma.
'ion."
Bah, listen to me. Stop that cry.
ng." He held her hands closely. "A
boy of twenty does foolish things.
Let's thank God l didn't marry her.
We'd have been wretched and in the
court long ago. want you for life,
sweetheart. do you hear? You sent
ne away year ago and l went. like
/ chump, but | won't go this time.
VIII you stop or must call olive"
She married an old mummy with
i've children" Bah told him content.