The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1916-09-01

that sort Of thing, was seen walIxing
rather aimlessly about the aisles Of
his great store in the vicinity Of the
gloves.
sIt's Stacey himself whispered
Lucy.
rhe merchant idly turned over .
few pairs.
LET me see," he said to Mary Alice
Brown, have you some of those new
washable chamois, size seven and
three-quarters 2"
Il think SO. Mr.. Stacey"
"Those are the ones" said Stacey.
"Let me see, what time is it? Dear
me, I'm afraid I'm too late" The usu-
ally alert and decisive Mr.. Stacey
peered about him, as If in perplexity.
''You see, I'm in rather embarrass-
ing position. 1.-The fact is, promised
a friend of mine pair of these gloves.
and said I'd send them to him before
closing time. You don't happen to
know where Mr.. Willett's-Mr. John
Willets office is, do you, young ladyg
He looked innocently at Mary Alice,
over the tops of his glasses.
Yes, sir. know. It's in the Grad
dock building"
That's right. that's right. Well,
now, suppose you do this GRAND for
me. Take this message to Mr.. Wiilett,
and be very careful to deliver it just
as give it to you. Say, Mr.. Stacey
wishes me to tell you that he has sent
you what he promised Do you under
standY
To say that Mary Alice was quite
unsuspecting would be doing her intel
ligence scant justice; yet she certainly
could not see into the mystery. 1t
might have just happened; still
She told the clerk in John Willett's
outer Office that she wished to speak
to Mr.. Willett personally. She said
to tell him Miss Brown was there,
from Stacey's. The clerk came back
and very politely ushered this unusu-
ally pretty girl into the inner office.
Hello, Mary Alice said Wiliett.
Mary Alice walked UP to Willett and
took the cordial hand he held out to
her. He acted as it he had actually
expected her. Then the message:
MIR. Stacey wishes me to tell you
that he has sent you what he prom
ised.'
Il should say he had, and mighty
promptly, too" cried Willett; and the
funny part was, Mary Alice hadn't
given him the package containing the
gloves. She laid it on the desk.
.'Sit down, Mary Alice. want to
talk to you"
He paid no attention to the gloves;
SO this was plot. She began to feel
excessively uncomfortable.
Mary Alice, what do you think of
my boy?'
The girl jumped. "Francis?" This
was a foolish question. of course: but
Mary Alice felt foolish.
Francis. You thought enough of
him once to save him from drowning"
But. Mr.. Willett-''
Mary Alice, has Francis been
making love to your"
"Ye-no-weIl-wh Mr.. Willett.
what question:"
That's all right. He has. of course.
Now, Mary Alice, do you love Fran
cis?"
She said nothing this time.
That's all right, them" went on
Willett. 81 just wanted to say to you.
little girl, that nothing would please
me so much as to have my boy marry
as nice al mean, marry your
fBut I'm afraid"
'You needn't be. But there's some
thing in the way. You're pretty SEN
sible girl, guess. You have brains
enough to know that wise young
woman never marries man whose
habits
II don't think he"
Yes. he does: don't you tell me.
have it on the best authority that he
does. Do you see him often? After
Moons or mornings?"
Sometimes little while in the
morning. but not very often-lately.
He's-he's rather put out with me.
guess"
"He'd better not be. he'd better not
be want you to cultivate him-en.
courage him. Mary Alice. You'll make
him fine wife. If you love each other.
But he must stop this foolishness.
He'll stop for you
mo. he won't"
HE won't? How do you knowf
Have you tried it? l thought you said
he didn't drink much? How did you
come to-
Mary Alice related her experience at
the Boreas Country club.
MARY Alice, which of us is crazy?
First you say he wanted to promise.
and you wouldn't marry him; and then
You say you wanted him to promise.
and he refused"
,lt's-you and Mrs. Willett."
you mean you thought"
THAT you wouldn't want Francis to
marry Il ShoDgirl So l said that III