The Dickson County herald. (Dickson, Tenn.) 1907-1979, 1916-01-07


doorway. followed by the rector.
The sweetsst flower that hlowa In
any dale" quoted Daddy" Manning.
pattihE Calls hand affectionately.
The rector stood by. waiting to greet
her. after Manning had monopolized
her a 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 recog'
Missed Ia them part OF her endless
variety. The black on her lashes. He
was close enough to see that; and be
maryeled at himself that he could not
dlsapproye.
Gail was most uncomfortably aware
OF him In this nsarness: but she
turned 10 him with a frank smile OF
friendship
This looks like conspiracy" she
commented. glancinG towards the
study, which was thick with smoke.
ITS an Extensively innocent one"
r.sssraed Manning. giving the rector
but small chance. We're discussing
plans for the new yedder court tene-
ments''
"oh!" observed Gail. and radiated
n distinct chill whereupon Rev. Smith
Boyd, diyestiug 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 10 retire.
and as she left the library. she cast q
hopeful backward glance at the dane
ing-eyed Gall and the correct young
Van Ploon. who, with his Dutch com.
plexIon and bis blonde English mus
tache and his sta!wart American body.
to say nothing OF his being a Van
| ploon, represented 10 her the ideal OF
masculine perfection lie was an eli.
gble who never did anything a second
too early or a secoLd too late. or de-
waited by ono 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 tho
adroitness OF Gail. In precisely ave
minutes Van ploon was on the door.
step. with his Inverness on his shout
ders and his silk hat In his hand. with.
out e7en having approached the elabo.
rate introduction 10 certain important
remarks he had definitely decided to
make Gail might not have been able
to rid herself OF him so easily. for he
was n person Of considerable momen-
tum, but he had rather planned 10
make more deliberate ceremony OF
the matter, impulsiye opportunities
not being In his line Of thought
! A tall young man In an Inverness
walked rapidly past the door while
! Van rloCn MAS saying the correctly
clever things In the way OF adieu. and
before she had closed the door on Van
Ploon, Dick Redley walked into the
house with careless assurance,
+ ''tgrHcit,Ns 'irtcky. y0Si vsue come
! In" protested Gail. with half frown.
Ing, half laughing. rcmonstrance. Its
n fearful hour for calls"
I'm friend OF the family" In.
sisted Dick, calmly closing the door
behind them and hanging his hat on
he rack Il guess you've forgotten
the program"
"Oh, yes. the proposal Well. have
Il over with"
"All right" he agreed. and taking
her arm and tuckinE her shoulder
/ comfortably close to him, he walked
easily with her back TO tho library.
Arrived there. no seated her on her
tavortte chair. and drew up another
/ one squarely In front OF her
I'm going to shock you TO death"
he told her I'm going to propose Sc.
riously TO you
Some laughing retort WAS on her
lips, but she caught q look In hts eyes
which suddenly stopped her.
Il am very much in earnest about
II, Gail" and his voice bore the stamp
OF deep sincerity, Il love you. want
you to be my wife"
Dick protested Gail, and II was
! she who reached on, and placed her
hand In his The acton was too con.
idi sly FRANK for him to mistake 1t.
4 was afraid you'd think that way
aecu, H." he said. his voice full OF
pain ot which they neither one had
believed him capable This Is the
frst time | ever proposed, except in
fun, and want 70 make you take NE
seriously, Gail, I've said so many
pretty things TO YOU, that now. when
am III such desperate earnest. there =
nothing left but tust to try 70 tell you
how much love yoQ. how much |
want you" lie stopped. and. holdius
her hand, patuag Il seat,y With uacon-
scicus tenderness, he cared earnestly
into her eyes HIS own were entirely
without that burning glow which he
had. FOR 50 lorE bestowed on all .he
young ard beautiful They we're al.
most somber pcN, ard IN their depth
was humble Wisttd.ness which
made Gail $ heart aow out 10 him.
Il caut Dick. she told htru. smiling
aNecttonately AZ BIN. You're tie
dearest boy IN the world and | van,
you for my friend as long as We live;