The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1917-04-12

BY A. M. BROWN.


had never realized what different
nature possessed until tried to bring
myself to propose to Mlllicent.
was pretty sure she would accept
me if could but screw up my courage
to the sticking point.
Two or three times, indeed, had
very nearly taken the plunge. One aft
ernoon Millicent and / grew confiden-
tial over the tea table, and my lips
were actually framing the fatal ques-
ton, when shot the muffin dish into
her lap.
A brilliant strategist would have risen
to the occasion with remark wittily
appropriate and complimentary. Mil
licent would have blushingly said that
it did not matter, and the inevitable
tableau would have resulted. AS it
was, seeing the havoc caused by the
melting butter on her new silver-gray
gown, seized my hat and fled.
Again, one Sunday evening on the
river, 1 let the oars trail in the water
as we drifted under the bank. mil
licent," / began, hoarsely, leaning for
ward. "NNill you" A cough interrupt
ed me, and l found two elderly dowa-
gers on the towing path eyeing me with
stern disapproval l concluded lamely:
C. pull your left, please"
The strain at last began to wear me
thin and determined to resort to des-
perate measures. With this end in
view, 1 invaded Regent street.
81 want an engagement ring" / SAID
cursing inwardly at the fine acoustic
proper jos of the shop. Half a dozen
people turned round to smile broadly
in my direction.
Its for a friend of mine," added
loudly.
"Yes, sir, I quite understand. What
stone does the lady prefer, sir?"
my friend didn't say" told him.
The shop door swung open again. /
turned round and found myself face to
face with Millicent.
'Fancy meeting you here!" L STAN
mered.
"Fancy meeting up she replied.
"Um-er-yes, hal hal Isn't it
funny? The fact isl dropped my
voice to a confidential whisper-"I am
buying an engagement ring for-for
Tommy Hasler. He is confoundedly
shysabout those things, you know"
"How sweet of you. Who is the girlT
Don't you knowY
81 can guess"
"You mustn't" I said. Tommy
wants it to be dead secret"
"What is the size Of the lady's finger,
sir?" asked the shopman, returning
with a tray of rings.
81 don't know" 1 said, glancing at
Millicent's gloved hand.
''If it's Ella Burnaby," said Millicent
softly, shes got rather fat fingers,
and will want large ring"
Tommy told me to be careful to get
small ring. l like this one, do you"
Millicent nodded.
"I'll take it," j said, "and chance it
being the right size"
"Thank you, sir"
81 want a solid silver cigarette case,"
said Millicent to another salesman.
you see, Ella Burnaby asked me to
buy this for her, as she's rather a shy
girl, you know. / think it is for a
Christmas present"
'Can / help your" I said. 81 am a
bit of a connoisseur on cigarette cases.
Is the fellow Tommy Hasler?"
II mustn't tell" said Millicent.
Because if it is, Tommy does not
smoke"
"Ohw she exclaimed blankly.
celia must be playing a double
game" l insinuated.
81 am sure she isn't. Yes, that one
will do"
"You'll have the initials engraved on
the case, ma'am?" asked the salesman.
"Yes," said Millicent.
"T. l.. H." told him.
"Yes, sir"
"No," broke in Milllcent quickly,
"these are the initials" She scrubbed
something on a card and pushed it
across the counter without letting me
see. "Of course, the initials must be
engraved on Tommy's ring. They
are"
"They are not" said quickly. "Here
they are" l wrote something on an
other card.
as that rightP l asked reclzlessly,
and handed the card to Millicent.
81 think so,' she said, after pause ;
dropping her eyes and handing the
card to the salesman. "And-I hope
,rn,,i1I ILL., ,.n,t, al 20 rnitn % % y