Middletown transcript., 1915-07-17
CHAPTER IV-contInued.

CHAPTER IV-continued.
Hail had gone into a momentRry
reverie. In that day-dream he had al
ready lived three years with Carolyn,
travelled abroad, even to Constantine
pie, had seen her entertain grand
dukes on his yacht, had fought two or
three duels with offensive Italian Of
ficers on her account. They had rid
den horseback up California canyons.
Just now they were back in New York
There was even a little Hall Boni-
stelle-
Here! Wake upl"
He was suddenly jerked back into
the present, with Carolyn now seated
on a couch, impatiently staring at him.
He smiled self-consciously.
Whats the matter with you, Hall?"
she asked, looking at him queerly.
'You haven't got a hangover or any
thing, have you? didn't think you
doped."
He laughed nervously. 81 suppose
you fascinate me, Carolyn"
She gave a whoop of joy. me,
uncle?" She pointed inquiringly at
her breast. Say, Hail. old chap, pass
the molasses. We women Just eat it
up, you know! Makes us fat need
a lot of it, Exit headachei"
This was hopeless for Hall. He
must get serious, or there would be no
managing a proposal. Or, perhaps
her manner gave him the cue
wouldn't she be more amenable to a
humorous offer? TRY it," said his
intuition. He walked up to her.
Carolyn, see here, how would you
like 1t If you thought I'd lain awake all
last night thinking about you-yes,
and the night before, and all last
week."
Fine! feel better already. Too
good to be true, though. Did you, real
ly?" She rumpled his hair affection
ately.
Il certainly did. The fact is. Caro-
lyn, I'm pretty desperate about YOU"
Carolyn winked. Easy nOw-easy!"
she said calmly.
That's right though! I've got a
case of Carolyn Dallys good and
plenty. It's begun to hurt, girl; dyou
know it,"
Carolyn rose, yawning. "Oh, well, If
you're going to be silly. Hall, / think
I'd better be going. How about these
proofs, anyway%
Proofs be darned! You're not go
ing-not till settle this thing. Shall
bare my breast and let you give it
the stroke. smiling? Or do you prefer
to administer an opiate?"
He dropped the mock-heroic pose
and took up the blunt-sincere. He
walked over to her and took her hand
She had no objections whatever, ap-
parently. Carolyn, it's an honest fact
want you'll"
"Mr. Bonistelle, am l really to un-
derstand that you are proposing to
me?" Carolyn smilingly looked him in
the eye.
"Oh, l suppose you think it's a joke,
just because l don't speak in blank
verse;"
well. I'll be darned! / believe the
mans serious!"
She said nothing for a moment, mar
rowing her eyes and looking at him
with the same amused tolerant express
sion. Then she spoke: "Well, Hall,
it strikes me you must be pretty sure
of me to do 1t In a two-step, like this
Why, usually they crawl all over the
carpet"
Hall interrupted her: "Oh, don't
Carolyn! Please dont!"
Carolyn's face changed. You don't
actually mean it, honey?" she asked
anxiously, putting hand on his arm.
Mean it! Why, Carolyn, of course
mean it! It's no use, can't make
1t theatrical. You have a sense of
humor; so have l. Perhaps a girl
ought to be entitled to a little fire.
works on such an occasion-or even
poetry-IT try it If you insist. you
know-but, somehow. / can't take my
self SO seriously" She withdrew her
hand frowning. "Oh, that doesn't
mean that don't take you seriously,
Carolyn, or rather that l don't want to
i mean-confound it, I'm not con-
ceited enough to convince myself that
I'm even little bit worth your while. "
well, then, try to convince me, why
don't your"
That's what I'm trying to do, girl!
Lord, Carolyn, there's no use in your
not believing; you must believe it! l
want you something fierce, really do!
want you the way little kid wants
\ ice cream-the way a girl wants a new
Easter hat"
'Heavens, is it really as bad as
that?" She turned away. "Ob, Hall,
really, you know, you're too Isdlcu.
lous!"
~oh. I'm the clown with the dying