The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1916-02-03


"Sit down and have chocolate.
Aunt Helen" Hospitality offered Gail,
slipping n marker in her book.
Mrs. Davies consumed great deal
of time in selecting chocolate. but
she did not sit down.
"Shal you be at liberty this evening
Gail?" she inquired. with much care
lessness.
why" and Gall, whose feet were
stretched out and crossed, In lazy ease.
looked up at her aunt sidewise from
under her curving lashes.
Mrs. Davies hesitated moment.
Houston Van Ploon would like to
call"
Are they still downstairsT Gail
suddenly unveiled her eyes. and
brought her slippers sQuarely In front
of her diyan. Also she sat bolt up
right
YES" and Mrs. Davies betrayed
signs of nervousness.
Are they making the appointment
for Houston7"
yes" The word drawled.
"Why?" and Calls brown eyes be-
gan to crackle
Mrs, Davies thought 1t better to sit
down.
my dear. a great honor has come
to you"
Gail leaned forward towards her
aunt and tilted her chin.
Houston wants to propose, and he's
sent his father and sister to find out
If he mayl" she charged.
yes" acknowledged Mrs. Davies
driven past the possibility of delay or
preparation, and feeling herself unjust
ly on the defensive.
81 shall not be at home this eve
ming" announced Gall decisiyely, and
stretched out her feet again. and
crossed her little gray slippers, and
took a chocolate. "Or any other eve.
ning' she added.
Mrs. Davies lost her futter imme.
dlately This was too stupendously
serious a matter to be weakly treated.
MY dear, you don't understand"
she protested. not in anger but in pa
tient reason. Houston Van Ploon has
been the unattainable match OF New
York He is a gentleman in every pa..
ticular, a desirable young man in every
respect. and gifted with everything
young girl would want. He has so
much money that you could buy a
kingdom and be a queen, If you chose
to amuse yourself that way. He has a
dignifed old family. which makes mere
social position seem like an ignomini.
Gus scramble for cotillion favors; and
1t is universally admitted that he is
the most perfect of all the Van Ploons
for many generations. Not exception
ally clever; but that is one Of the rea
sons the Van Ploons are so particular
to find a suitable matrimonial alliance
for him"
Gail, nibbling daintily at her choco
late, closed her eyelids for a second
the long, brown lashes curved down on
her cheeks, and from beneath them
there escaped a sparkle like the snap
Of live Goals. while the corners of her
lips twitched In that little smile which
she kept for her own enjoyment.
You cannot appreciate the compli.
ment which has been paid you. Gail
Every debutante for the past FIVE
years has been most carefully consid
cred by the Van Ploons and sincere.
ly believe this to be the first time
they have unanimously agreed on a
choice. 1t is a matter of eugenics. Gail
but in addition to that, MIR. Van Ploon
assures me that Houston is most fer
yently interested"
How careless Of them" criticized
Gail "They have neither asked for
my measurements nor examined my
teeth"
Call" Her chaperon and sponsor
was both shocked and stern.
Il positively decline to even discuss
the Van Ploon eugenics," stated Gail,
pushing aside her chocolates. while a
red spot began to appear on her
cheeks 81 shall not, as stated be.
fore, be at home to Houston Van Ploon
this evening-or any other evening"
81 shall not deliver that message,
announced Mrs. Davies. setting her
lips. "As your present sponsor, shall
insist that you take more time to con.
slider a matter so important"
81 shall insist on refusing to con.
slider 1t for one second" returned Gail
quietly. 81 am very fond Of Houston
Van Ploon and hope to remain So
but wouldn't marry him under any
circumstances. This is firm, fiat, and
final"
Mrs. Helen Davies dropped patient
reason Instantly. She was aware OF
an lmpulsiye wish that Gail were in
pinafores, and her own child, 30 she
could box her ears.
CAL, you compel me to lose my pa
tiencel" she declared when you
came, strained every influence
possessed to have you meet the most
desirable eligibles this big city could
offer, Just as II you were my owl
daughterl have succeeded in work
ing miracles! have given you an
opportunity to interest the very best
You have interested them. but have
never seen such extravaganza in the
waste Of opportunities! You have re
fused men whom thousands in thu
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! botanical knowledge Even Burban
? himself could not produce a new frui