The Arvada enterprise., 1916-02-24

! "''' way ioIO"cu by the rector.
'lhc sweetest flower that blows IN
| any dale quoted Daddy" Manning
pattins Calls hand afectionately.
Inc rector stood by. waiting to greet
her. after Manning had monopolized
her selfish moment, and the newly
aroused eye for color In him seized
| upon the gold and blue and red OF her
straight Egyptian costume, and recoy.
hized In them part of her endless
variety. The black on her lashes. He
was close enough to see that: and he
maryeled at himself that he could not
disapprove.
Can was most uncomfortably aware
OF MIN In this nearncss; but she
! turned to him with frank smile OF
| friendship.
This looks like a conspiracy" she
mmented. glancing towards the
study, which was thick with smoke
IT'S an extensively innocent one"
returned Manning, giving the rector
but small chance. We're discussing
| plans for the new Veddcr court tene-
ments"
on" observed Gail. and radiated
distinct chill. whcreupon Rev. Smith
| Boyd divesting himself of some cour.
] teous compliment, exchanged inane
adieus with Mrs. Davies and young
Van Ploon, and took his committee
back into the study.
Mrs. Davies remained but a moment
or so. She even seemed eager to retire.
and as she left the library, she cast a
hopeful backward glance at the dane.
ing.eyed Gail and the correct young
Van Ploon. who. with his Dutch com
plexion and his blonde English mus
tache and his stalwart American body.
to say nothing OF his being Van
Ploon. represented to her the ideal OF
masculine perfection He was an eli
gible who never did anything a second
too early or second too late or de
waited by one syllable from the exact
things he should say
II the anxious Aunt Helen had
counted on any important results from
this evenings opportunities. she had
not taken into her calculations the
adroitncSs OF Gail. In precisely five
minutes Van Pioon was on the deer.
step. with his Inverness on his shoul.
ders and his silk hat In his hand. with
out even having approached the elabo.
rate introduction to certain importaut
remarks he had definitely decided to
make Gail might not have been able
to rid herself of him so easily. for i,e
was "A person OF consider momen
tum. but lie had rather planned to
make more deliberate ceremony Of
the matter, impulsive opportunities
not being in his line OF thought
tall young man in an Inverness
walked rapidly past the door while
Van Ploon was saying the correctly
clever things In the way of adieu; ard
before she had closed the door on Van
rloon. Dick Rodley walked into tn.
house with careless assurance.
Gracious. Dicky. you cant come
in" protested Gail with half frowu
ing, half laughing rcmon5trauce ITS
a fearful hour for calls"
I'm friend of the family" in.
sisted Dick. calmly closing the door
behind them and hanging his ha, on
the rack Il guess you've forgotten
| the program"
"oh, yes. the proposal Well. have
| 1t over with"
An right" he agreed aud taking
her arm and tUcking her shoaId,r
| comfortably close to him. he walked
easily with her back to the library
/ A Ir. ~
;ayoritr chair and drew up another
one sQuarcly in front OF her
I'm going to shock you 10 DEATH
| he told her. I'm going to propose so
, r,ously To you.
Some laughing rctort was ON npr
| lips, but she caught look In his eyes
which suddenly sopped her
Il am very much N earnest about
II, Gall,' aud his voice bore the stamp
OF deep sincerity 81 love you. | wan,
you TO be my wife"
Dick" protested Gail. and It wns
! she Who reached ont aud placed rer
hand tn his The action was too con.
udhusly frank Tor him to mistake IT
y was afraid you'd think that way
/ ABOUT H. ne SAID, MS voice iulI pf
q pain OF which they neither one had
1 believed him capable This Is the
hrs, time | ever proposed except IN
fun. and want to make you take me
/ seriously. Gan. I've said so many
. pretty thinss to you. that now, when
am In such desperate mrucst. there's
nothing lcll but just to Try to tell YOU
how much love you; how much |
. want yuu'" lIo stopped and holding
her hand, pntting II gently with uucon
sclous tenderness, he ga2"d earnestly
into her eyes. His OWN we're entirely
without that burning glow which he,
had, for so long bestowed on all the
young and beautiful They we're al.
most sombcr now, aad IN their depth
was humble wistfulnuss which
made Calls heart now on, to him
u can't Dick she told him, smiling
n''cctlonately at him. You're the
dearest boy IN the world. and | want
you Tor my friend ~ long as We live;
for my very dear triond,"