Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-08-04
CHAPTER TX.
Engaged IT,

ID as the girl gained her breath.
at least you were not conscious
when you first saw each other"
"What name did you sny?"
"Mr. Bopp, my liancc."
"Your fianccT' calculated.
Eyes" Lucille turned to me. IL
wanted to tell you two the first ones.
. knew you would appreciate our hap
piness."
My mind refused to grasp this dis
aster. I had never seriously consider
ed Bopp rs running even very dan
gerous second.
My mind puzzling over Lucile's state
ment, heard Vida's clear soft voice
saying, "Mr. Bopp, ( am pleased-why,
aren't you called 'BoppyT"
"Boppy7" repeated Lucille curiously.
Eyes, don't you call him that? All
the girls in tho Show Girl company
did. was In the chorus then. We
used to regard him as almost ono of
the, company, he was around with us
so much. We had a good time that
l season" she added reflectively. II
Lucille m,irmured, "T should Imagine
sou 4 YAK
IT know you will be happy" Vida
was saying. "I've been engaged d good
many times and enjoy 1t more every
time"
"You must be terribly tired, Monty"
heard Lucille say; mo sleep for thir-
ty-six hours and no food for three days.
L wish that there were something that
I could do for YOU"
listened In amazcment, Could this
be Lucille, and was she addressing me3
She was. l puzzled over the gentle
ness In her tones and the solicitudc
she was showing for my welfare.
did not hit upon the answer then, but
L have since.
After awhile the rain let up, and We
went back to the house to see what
the others might have discovered and
lay plan OF campaign. Vida elected
TO stay out Of doors, and ! suggested
that she take OH Mr.. Clair for n walk
told her that he was a woman hatcr
and thus inadvertently aroused her in.
terest.
"Tll have to make him change his
ideas" She looked up Mt me innocent
~. "Do you think can do it2"
"Ask him." suggested.
Meaning that you don't think can
I'll bet my seal ring against yours that
L can make him propose before dark
Mine Is u very curious one too. y
Russian duke gave 1t to me. I never
met him, but he sent it to my dressing
room with some flowers"
1t seemed to me to be possible way
ITO gain little solitude for reflection,
and assentcd to tho wager.
"You don't intend to tell him, then,
that you are engaged already?"
"Oh, no, not until he proposes. OF
course might like him better than I
do Ned. Then I'd never tell him."
could see that Ned Blaney was 60
,ang to have the time of his life immc-
diately after he found himself hitched
moro or less for life to this volatile
young person. Vida was not one Of
those who would pass by an inviting
pasture lot simply because she was In
harness.
The rest Of us went into the house.
AS we came In the telephone was ring.
ing. Asking Lucile's permission, I an
:SWered it,
"Hello" said a male voice, speaking
with staccate sharpness. MAY speak
ITO Mr.. Upton s. Clair?"
put my hand over the mouthpiccc
and turned around. Lucille had gone
upstairs, but Bopp was gazing idly
..out of the window. t...
as Mr.. Clair still there in the yard p
II asked him.
emo; he went off down the beach
with Miss Dunmore."
"Hello" spoke again into the tele.
phone. "Mr. Clair was here moment
ago. but he has just gone for a walk
with, young lady"
"ImpossibleW The voice at the other
lend shot that emphatically at me.
tits So"
"Clair Is q woman hater."
what If he Isl This \one is going
ito convert him"
"Humph. SHE can't do It. Who Is