The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1916-04-13

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 may!" she charged.
Yes" acknowledged Mrs. Davies.
driven past the possibility OF delay or
preparation, and feeling herself unjust
~ on the defensive.
Il shall not be at home this eve
Ming" announced Gai; decisiycly, and
crossed her little graY slippers. and
took a chocolate. "Or any other eve
ming" she added.
Mrs. Davies lost her fiutter imme-
diately. This was too stupendously
serious a matter tc 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 unattains bic match Of New
York. He is a gentleman in every par.
~ticular. a desirable young man in every
respect, and gifted with everything a
young girl would want. He has so
much money that o could buy a
kingdom and be a queen. if you chose
to amuse yourself that way. He has a
dignitied old family. which makes mere
social position seem like an ignomini-
GUS scramble for cJtillion 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 thst is one Of the rea-
sons the Van PlooIIs are so particular
to find a suitable II. atrimonial alliance
for him."
Gail, nibbling da!ntily at her choco-
late, closed her eyelids for a second.
the long. brown lasoes curved down on
her cheeks, and from beneath them
there escaped a 81 arkle like the snap
of live Goals, while the corners of her
lips twitched in thai little smile which
she kept for her enjoyment.
You cannot appreciate the compli-
ment which has besn paid you. Gail.
Every debutante far the past five
years has been mose carefully consid.
cred by the Van Ploons, and | sincere
ly believe this to lie the first time
they have unanimously agreed on a
choice. 1t Is a mattet of eugenics, Gail.
but in addition to that, Mr.. Van Ploon
assures me that He uston is most fer
vently 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 .aer chocolates, while y
red spot began to appear on her
cheeks. 81 shall not, as | stated be-
fore, be at home to Houston Van Ploon
this e~vening-or any other evening""
II shall not deliver that message"
announced Mrs. Davies, setting her
lips. las your present sponsor. | shall
insist that you take more time to con.
slider a matter so important"
Il shall insist ON refusing to con.
slider it for one second" returned Gail
quietly. Il am very fond of Houston
Van Ploon. and ! hope to remain so,
but | wouldn't marry him under any
circumstances. This is firm, fat, and
final"
Mrs. Helen Davies dropped patient
reason instantly. She was aware OF
an impulsive wish thas Gail were
pinafores, and her own child, SO +
could box her ears.
Gail, you compel me to lose my pa.
t~ience!" she declared. when you
came, | strained every influence
possessed to have you meet the most
desirable eligibles this big city could
offer, just as IL you were my own
daughter! | have succeeded in work
ing miracles! hs We given you an
opportunity to iutert st 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 the
highest circles have sought; and now
you refuse the very choice of them
all! What or whom do you want?"
Calls red spots were deepening, but
she only clasped her knee In her inter
locked fingers, her brown hair waving
about her face, and her chin uptilted.
You can't always expect to retain
your youth, and beauty and charm!"
went on her Aunt Helen. You can't
expect to come to New York every
year and look over the eligibles until
you find one to suit your fastidious
taste! You're capricious, you're un-
grateful. and you're unsatisfactory"
Calls eyes turned suddenly moist.
and the red flashed out of her cheeks.
"Oh, Aunt Helen!" SHE exclaimed in
. instant contrition. "Im SO very, very
7 sorry that ! am such a disappointment
to you! But If | just can't marry Mr..
Van Ploon, l can't, al /? Don't you
see?" She was up now and down
again. sitting on a hassock in front of
Mrs. Davies, and the face which she
upturned had In II so much of beauti.
full appeal that wen her chaperon and
sponsor was softened. II was nasty
a while ago. and / had no excuse for
IL. for YOU have been loving and sin.