Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-01-21
LOVE inc ~
MUDDY S@R)
BY ELETT DURGE SSQ
ILLUSTRATED 81 RAY WALILB5

arm. "Oh, o poor dear man! Oh,
wish | could help him out!"
"Oh, no, I'm afraid you can't help
me-" he said irritably. Il wish to
heaven YOU could. Now look up!" he
commanded. Then he dived under the
focusing cloth, and emerged to say,
Its partly you that I'm worrying
about, though, Rena."
ABOUT me? MOI" Mrs. Royalton
was delighted.
Eyes, l am, really" He went up 10
her and adjusted her jabot.
Her eyes went off at him like d
double-barreled shotgun in an expio-
sion of coquetry. 81 suppose you tell
that to every woman you know"
He was in for 1t, now. Nonsense!
It's true, Rena."
She opened her eyes still wider.
what in the world do you mean
She was hungry for more. =.
wait till l get another picture.
Hall wheeled his camera into a new
position, wondering what to say next.
She was animated enough, now, her
big eyes fairly blazed. The tigress
had scented the antelope.
For some time he held her off while
she leased for further revelation, IN
quisitive, tantalized. Finally he sat
down beside her on the couch under
the window, stretched out his hand,
obtained hers without much trouble,
and felt of it softly. She stared at
him excitedly.
"You know, Rena, the reason why 1
haven't been to see you, don't you?"
"Oh, some other woman, I'm sure"
mo; | just didn't dare. l hadn't the
courage"
She drew her hand away, but per-
mitted it to be r%ecaptured with ease.
"You must know what I've been think
ing" he went on. "You must have
seen 1t in my eyes,"
why, your eyes look all right, Mr..
Bonistelle. l haven't any idea what
you're talking about" She was a
forty-year-old baby, now.
81 wish l could see some of 1t In
your eyes, Renal"
What In the world? See what?"
1--WE admired you yer since l first
saw you, Renal" He plunged in, now,
over his head. He shut his eyes for
the jump, to give it intensity. Il
can't get you out of my Mindful
love you, Rena, didn't you know that?"
She moved away, as If a bit alarmed,
and withdrew her hand. why, Mr..
Bon-Hall! had nc idea you thought
of me III that way. It's absurd. You
haven't known me but a few weeks"
"Oh, I've known you long enough.
I've been desperate about it" Hall
began almost to mean it. "Rena,
you're the only woman l ever loved!"
"Hall,"-she paused and gave him a
long languishing look. why, l can't
believe it! When did you first dis.
cover that you loved me, Hall?" she
cooed, drawing nearer.
This stopped him for a moment.
"Why-since-since-the second time,
l think it was"
"You think it was! You mean that
time you came to dinner? Why, !
thought you were much more inter.
ested in Carolyn Dallys!"
Don't you believe me, Rena? l tell
you, l can't stand it any longer. I've
simply got to have you. Don't say no
yet-just listen! Give me some en-
enlargement, Rena. just a Bit"
She looked at him with immense
delight. you poor boy" Softly she
patted his hand.
"Then you do like me a little,
Rena?" He seized her hand firmly.
Rena was pleased and happy, radi-
ant. ITO think that you're in love with
just poor little mel"
Then you will say yes-and make
me the ~happiest man in the world
the richest man in the"
Mrs. Royalton would squeeze every
precious drop out of the orange. do
you really love me so much?"
"Oh, do l! Why, Rena, 1 simply
can't wait-I want to marry you i'm.
mediately-as soon as possible-today
even"
1eend rose. 'On, tnatS Impossible!
Her voice lost its JUNCTION and became
Immediately matter-of-fact. Don't be
silly, Hall. Why, l haven't said yes
yet. l must have time to think it
over"
Timer" Halls face dropped.
i want to be sure, this time!" She
shook her head in swift retrospection.
Don't torture me, Rena! You know
how must suffer. Think of my being
deprived of the opportunity Of"
What?" Again her cowlike gaze
disconnected him.
oh, of eyerything-of you-of hap.
plness-of, of-you know!" He looked
at her helplessly. She still smiled,
proud of his ardor. Something in her
pleased eyes encouraged him, and he