Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1917-08-02
CHAPTER TX.
Engaged IT,

LIN uciIcVc yOu nave mct NE.
Bopp yet" said Lucille to Vida
~ the girl gained her breath.
AT least you were not conscious
when you Hrst saw each other"
what name did you say?"
"Mr. Bopp, my fiance."
"Your flance r. calculated.
yes" Lucille turned to me. Il
wanted to tell you two the first ones.
I knew You would appreciate our hap
piness."
My mind refused to grasp this dis
aster. had never seriously consider
ed Bopp as running even a very dan.
gerous second.
Ny mind puxzling over Lucile's state
ment, / heard vida's clear soft voice
saying, 'Mr. Bopp, am pleased-why.
aren't you called 'Boppyr"
"Boppyr' repeated Lucille curieusly.
Eyes, don't you cab him that? All
the girls In the Show Girl company
did. was In the chorus then. We
used to regard him as almost one Of
the company, he was around with us
20 much. We had a good time that
season." she added refectively.
Lucille murmured, II should imagine
20"
II know you will be happy" Vida
was saying. I've been engaged a 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.
I wish that there were something that
I could do for YOU"
] listened In amazement. Could this
be Lucille, and was she addressing me?
She was. ! puzzled over the gentle
ness In her tones and the sOlicitude
she was showing for my welfare. /
did not bit upon the answer then, but
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 a plan Of campaign. Vida elected
to stay out Of doors, and suggested
that she take on Mr.. Clair for walk.
told her that he was woman hater
and thus inadvertently aroused her In.
terest.
''I'll have to make him change his
IDEAS" She looked up at me innocent
ly. do you think can do it,"
ASK him." suggested.
Meaning that You don't think can.
I'll bet my seal ring against yours that
can make him propose before dark.
Mine is very curious one too. A
Russian duke gave 1t to me. never
met him, but he sent 1t to my dressing
room with some flowers
1t seemed to me to be possible way
to gain little solitude for reflection,
and l assented to the wager.
you don't intend to tell him. then.
that you are engaged already?"
"Oh. no, not until he proposes. OF
course l might like him better than
do Ned Then Id never tell him.
could see that Ned Blaney was 60
ing to have the time Of his life imme-
diately after he found himself hitched
more 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 Lucie's permission. l an
swered It.
"Hello!' said male voice. speaking
with staccato sharpness. MAY speak
to Mr.. Upton s. Clair?"
put my hand over the mouthpiece
and turned around. Lucille had gone
upstairs. but Bopp was gazing Idly
out OF the window.
lis Mr.. Clair still there In the yardT
asked him.
"No; he went of down the beach
with Miss Dunmore."
Hello" l spoke again into the te!e
phone. "Mr. Clair was here moment
ago. but he has just gone for wali
with young lady"
"Impossiblev' The voice at the othel
end shot that emphatically at me.
Its 80"
Clair Ii q woman hater."