The Delta independent., 1915-11-05

'lE! M MlE!'I'lN''
"a Guess I'm Not Fit to Speak to You,"
He Said.
had ever done by day for Walter GAIA
let; at least she put on a "dressy"
blouse, her calling skirt (Which al
ways looked new, and did what she
could to her hair. All this was only
because Mr.. Toye always came down
as if it were Mayfair, and it was rotten
to make people feel awkward if you
could help it. So in sailed Blanche,
in her very best for the light of day,
tc be followed as soon as possible by
the silver teapot, though she had just
had tea herself. And there stood Hill
ton Toye, chin blue ard collar black,
his trousers all knees and creases. ex-
actly as he had jumped out of the boat
train.
Il guess I'm not fit to speak to you,"
he said, but that's just what I've
come to do-for the third time!"
"Oh, Mr.. Toye!" cried Blanche,
really frightened by the face that
made his meaning clear. 1t relaxed
a little as she shrank involuntarily.
but the compassion in his eyes and
mouth did not lessen their steady de-
termination.
II didn't have time to make myself
presentable," he explained. Il thought
you wouldn't have me waste a moment
If you understood the situation. l
want you to premise to marry me
right now!"
Blanche began to breathe again.
Evidently he was on the eve Of yet an
other of his journeys, probably back
to America. and he wanted to go over
engaged; at first she had thought he
had bad news to break to her, but this
was NO worse than she had heard be-
fore. Only it was more difficult to
cope with him; everything was differ
ent, and he so much more pressing
and precipitate. She had never met
this Hilton Toye before. Yes; she
was distinctly frightened by him. But
in a minute she had ceased to be
frightened of herself; she knew her
own mind once more, and spoke it
much as he had spoken his, quite COM
passionately. but Just as tersely to
the point.
"One moment" he interrupted. 81
said nothing about my feelings, be-
cause they're kind of stale proposi-
ton by this time; but for forms sake
] may state there's no change there,
except in the only direction l guess a
persons feelings are liable to change
toward you, Miss Blanche! I'm worse
case than ever, If that makes any diff
ference"
Blanche shook her yellow head.
"N&hing can," she said. There must
be 10 possible mistake about it this
time, because | want you to be very
good and never ask me again.
Toye accepted his fate with ready
resignation, little short of alacrity.
There was CLEAN in his somber eyes
and his blue chin came up with jerk.
That's talking!" said he. Now will
you promise me never to marry GAIA
let?"
"Mr. Toye!"
That's talking, too, and guess |
mean it to be. It's not all dog-in-the-
manger, either. / want that promise a
lot mere than / want the other. You
needn't marry me, Miss Blanche, but
you mustn't marry Cazalet."
Blanche was blazing But this is
simply outrageous"
81 claim there's an outrageous cause
for it. Are you prepared to swear
what l ask, and trust me as I'll trust
you, or am / to tell you the whole
thing right now?"
You won't force me to listen to an
other word from you. If you're a gen
tleman, Mr.. Toye"
'It's not what ! am that counts
Swear that to me. and / swear, on my
side. that / went give him away to
you or anyone else. But 1t must be
the most solemn contract man and
woman ever made"
The silver teapot arrived at this
iuncture, and not inopportunely She
had to give him his tea. with her
young maids help. and to play a tiny
part in which he supported her really
beautifully. She had time to think. al
most coolly; and one thought brought
a thrill. II it was a question OF her
marrying or not marrying Walter