Middletown transcript., 1916-12-23

mention visitors. Joe, you're not ra-
tionaI."
mo-" he said heavily, "Tm not. If
it's got to be someone, Sidney, I'd
rather have it the roOmer upstairs
than Wilson. There's lot of talk
about Wilson,"
"It isn't necessary to malign my
friends" l.-e- d
He rose.
"Wilson had better look out. I'll be
watching. If l see him playing any
of his tricks around yOu-well, he'd
better look Out!'
That, as it turned out, was JOe's
farewell. He had reached the break
ing-point. He gave her long look,
bIinked, and walked rapidly out to the
Street. Some of the dignity of his
retreat was lost by the fact that the
cat followed him, close at his heels.
Sidney was hurt, greatly troubled.
She even shed a tear or two, very
surreptitiously; and then. being human
and much upset, and the cat startling
her by it's sudden return, she shOOed
it off the veranda and set an imaginary
dog after 1t. WhereupOn, feeling some
what better, she went in and locked
the balcony window and proceeded up
stairs.
LIE -MOyne's light was still going. The
rest of the household slept. She
paused outside the door.
"Are you sleepyY'-very softly.
There was a movement inside, the
! sound of a book put down. Then: "NO,
indeed"
Il may not see you in the morning.
leave tomorrow"
"Just a minute"
From the sounds, she judged that
he was putting on his shabby gray
coat. The next moment he had opened
the door and stepped out into the cor
ridOr.
Il believe you had fOrgOtten"
81? Certainly not. l started down
stairs a while ago, but you had visi-
tor"
"Only Joe Drummond."
He gazed down at her quizZically.
"And-is Joe more reasonable?"
He will be. He knows that L
that shall not marry him."
"POor chaP! He'll buck up, OF
course. But it's little hard just now
When do you leave?"
"Just after breakfast"
81 am going very early. Perhaps
He heSitated. Then, hurriedly:
Il got a little present for you-nOth.
ing much, but your mother was quite
willing. In fact, we bought it to-
gether.'
He went back into his room, and re-
turned with a small box. She opened
it with excited fingers. Ticking away
on it's satin bed was a small gold
watch.
you'll need it, you see," he ex
planned nervously.
"a watch" said Sidney, eyes on it
"a dear little watch, to pin on and
not put in a pocket. Why, you're the
best persOn!"
Il was afraid you might think il
presumptuous," he said. 81 haven't
any right, of course. And then, youl
mother said you wouldn't be offend
ed"
Don't apologize for making me sc
happy" she cried. "It's wonderful
really. And the little hand is fol
pulses! How many queer things you
znoww
After that she must pin it on, ant
slip in to stand before his mirror anC
inspect the result. 1t gave LIE MOynt
queer thrill to see her there in thG
room, among his books and his pipes
1t made him a little sick, too, in view
of tomorrow and the thOusand-Odd to
mOrrOwS when she would not be there
"Pve kept you up shamefully," shC
said at last, "and you get up so early
l shall write you a note from the hos
pital, delivering a little lecture on ex
travagance-becauSe how can l now
with this Joy shining on me? AnC
about how to keep Katie in Orde
about your socks, and all sorts o
things. And-ahd now, good night"
She had moved to the door, and h,
followed her. STOPPING little to pas
under the low chandelier.
Good night" sale Sidney.
"GOOd-by--and God bless you"
She went out. and he closed the doc
softly behind her.