Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1917-10-11
4 forlorn, lonely, young and inexperi-

f0rlorn, lonely, young and inexperi-
enced.
She turned at length from unseeing
contemplation of Central park's dismal
perspectives, to look curiously Mt Peter,
who forthwith grinned gracelessly.
"What do you want-madman?"
''Just to talk TO you," he replied
frankly. "You keep to yourself so
much-I get Lonesome and desperate.
Think what it must mean not to see
you in over twelve hours to man of
my mcrcural temperament Honest,
l WAS feeling awful low when you
showed up just now. In another hour
Id We been taking things seriously
the same as you"
WHAT makes you say that?"
"lccuuse you show it,"
"Do l, rcnly?" she pleaded anx.
ionsy.
Not SOS anybody'd notice it but me.
Yol'li have to learn that you cun hide
nothing from me. Consider what q
swell time you'll have when we're mar.
ricd.'
"No-don't joke, please. IL am not
very happy tonight
You aren't!" Peter sat up at atten.
/ ton. serious for once ut least.
ITS nolhing-don't ask me, please.
Tin just II bit low-spirited"
"Nothin" doing." declared Peter
firmly. "pissimiulntion isn't your long
| suit. l know" He nodded with i'm.
Mrnsc gravity. you're frctting about
that cusscd necklace" He drew II long
/ breath and lied mngniticcntly. "Iou
see, we were talking it over when you
| came in: Quoin calling Betty down for
| making Craven try to smuggle, and
| Betty fghtin,:: back like good ono
the whole story coming out. / don't
care If Tad is your father, he hadn',
any right to put Il raw deal like TINT
over on you. Now" Peter wound uI
dcfcnSivcly, turn loose the heavy artil
lcry! I've spoken my mind when II
WAS none Of my business, and it's VI
to me to take the count without G
whimper."
Lydia was silent, her lace averted
NO" she said presently. "Im no
angry with you. Why should l be?
myself don't think it was right. It
it's pleasant to know somebody sympa
thizcs, when everybody else seems t.
think it nothing at ALL"
Not my way OF looking ut it," Pete
insisted. Listen to me now Why no
marry me and chuck the whole gam.
I betty. Tad, Quoin, the whole outfit
Think how good 1t would be to know
you don't have TO care what they think
Just say Peter, you're on. and Weir
of--wintcr in Egypt-everything Xix
that. You see? Not bit Of use fret
ting about people when life makes ii
self 50 easy"
"pIca$e dUn't. Peter. 1t makes yo
seem-unsylnpathc,ic after ul!."
Don't You believe it. I'm so full O
sympathy for YOU that it hurts me
ilC:!Se won't YOU marry me?'
81 can't listen TO you Il you will &
on this way she cried, half distract
ID. I'm not thinking of marrying an.
body"
81 know. It's just as good n line n
it ever was. and you read it to perfc'
ton. But ii loses force with repetition
my dear. Don't forget that this is III
: other Sccne-sever;.l chapters fartlit
on-nnd no other fellow has turned Il
to make it difficult for you to decide.
know, cause I've been watching"
"Please be-kind-it you can't b
serious"
'But am serious"
"Ah, but you promised me you nevt
were and never would be-! She trie
: TO laugh; but not very successfully.
''That just goes to show how little
knew myself. The diagram is, of cours
, l never wanted to be serious before
. fell in love with you. Don't you unde
stand that, really? l love you, Lydia
The girl sighed and looked ava
troubled, a strange, sweet fluttering
+ her bosom. And Peter was senrchir
her shudowed face with eyes she dare
not meet lest they surprise her agit
q ton and wrest Il victory from it. H
| N~O ~DA~DlI