The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-10-16
.an arrange'1--

erabIe all summer and crowded so close under his chin that he couldn't see my face I told him all about the finder box Jane had loaded and then set me on the lid to see that it ex- pIoded.
 I had just worked myself up to the point of how Dy incendiary mission was about to touch off all the other love affairs in town when he began to shake so with disrespectful laughter that I felt that my dignity was about to demand that withdraw coldly from his arms, where I had just got so warm and comfortable and at home. But with the first slight intimation of my intention, which was .conveyedsby a very feeble indeed loosening of my arms from around his Henry Clay col lar he held me firmly against him and controlled his unseemly mirth, only I could still feel it convulsing his left lung, though. as I had no business be ing near enough to notice it, I felt it only fair not to.
 Please don't worry about those oth- { CT five dear women,'' he begged in the incest and most considerate voice pos sib1e so that frightened my arms again as listened. .sIf Miss Mathers doesn't feel Justified in giving up the dowrfes by your-your failure to prove the . proposition we can just invite them all down here and in Glendale and Bolivar and Hillsboro and Providence, to say nothing of the countryside, we can plant them all cozily. I can delicateIy explain to their choices exactly how to let them manage circumstances like"- he illustrated his scheme just here un- til it took time for me to get breath to listen to the rest of his apology-etI1is, and there is no telling, with such q start as the cult has got in the Har- peth valley already, how far it will spread. Please forgive me, dear!'
 'Yes,'' I answered doubtfully. Then I raised my head and looked him full in the face as made my declaration calmly, but with the perfect conviction that still have and always will have, world without end. sYes; but don't you think for one minute I don't know that what Jane and I and all the most advanced women in the world are try ing for is the right and just and the only way for men and women to come logically into the kind of heritage you and have stumbled into. Absolute freedom and equality between all hu- man beings is going to be the price Of Kingdom come I shall always be hu- initiated that got scared out in the graveyard and didn't do it to you. It is going to be the regret of my Ife."
 Truly, I'm sorry, sweetheart" he answered most contritely If I were to take my hat and 50 back to the gate and come in again properly and let you do it, would that make you feel any better?'
 "No, it wouldn't I answered quickly because why should I be separated from him all the two and half min utes it would take to play out that farce, when I have been separated ] from him all the twenty five years>that stretch from now back until the day of my birth? T am going tQ bear it brave1yf and hold up my head and tell Jane''-
 "I wouldn't bother to hold up my head to tell her, Evelina,'' came from the doorway in Folks delighted druwl as he and Jane stepped into the room Pretty comfortably placed, that head, I should say'
 I l"Oh, JaneT positively walled as I extracted myself from the Crags gray arms and buried myself in Jane's white serge ones that opened to receive me. And the seconds that I rested silently there Polk spent in shaking both of the Crag's hands and pounding him on the back so that I grew alarmed "I didn't do it, Jane, I didn't do it, I almost sobbed with fear of what her i disappointment was going to be. "He beat me to it!'' 1 Truly, I'm sorry,'' Cousin James add 1 ed to my apology as he stood with his l arm on Folks shoulder.
 "I dare you-dare you to tell 'em, ] Jane,' Polk suddenly said, coming over and putting a hand on one of my shou1- 1 ders and one on James.
 "Evelina and MT. Hardin,'' Jane am swered gallantly with her head as- surning it's lovely independent pose, but with the most wonderful blush spread i ing the beauty that always ought to have been hers all over her one time plain face, the wager stands as won l by Evelina Shelby. She had properly prepared the ground and sowed the seed of justice and right thinking that IT harveste l tonight. had the hon or of offering marriage to MT. Hayes 1 just about fifteen minutes ago. I con- | sider that mode of procedure proved as feasible and as soon as I have re-
 shall immediately proceed with mak- ing the endowment and choosing the l five young women according to the agreement
 \ Polk" I exclaimed, turning to him l in a perfect panic of alarm. Could he i be trihing with Jane?
 tEvelina,' answered Polk giving me 1 shake and a shove over in the direc-
 tion of the Graz, you ought to know
 me better than to think I would an
 swer such question as Jane put to me while driving a cranky car in wan
 ing moonlight. If you and James will l just mercifully betake yourselves out
 there on the porch in the cold for a
 few minutes I will try and add my
 ata to this equality experiment with l due dignity. Cor