Gilpin observer., 1917-03-22
The Spur

jumped up, dropping her magazine to
the table. She could distinguish
Philip Somers' pressure upon the push
button bell from that of anyone else
who had occasion to call at the Han
son home. Hurrying through the front
hallway. she patted the sides, front.
and top of her neatly coiled coiffure.
and she sm0Othed an imaginary
wrinkle from her new dress. She was
near the door when she slowed her
steps and sought to dull the light OF
joyous expectancy in her eyes. When
she swung open the door, she had as
sumed the outward appearance of per-
feet cOmpOsure.
"GOod evening, Phil |" she greeted.
"Good evening, Doris!" responded
the tall, 1.-THE young man with sandy
hair, who stepped into the hall.
After his topcoat and soft felt hat
had been placed upon the hat tree,
they proceeded into the parlor. He
seated himself in the heavily built, up
holstered rocker, she dropping down
upon an end Of the divan.
'By lingo. but it seems good to sit
down and take 1t easy for awhile"
he exclaimed. "rve put in a mighty
busy day; not without results, though.
secured the largest order for loose
leaf and manifold books today that my
firm has received during the past six
months"
Doris sighed inaudibly. AS usual,
Phil was discussing his work as city
salesman for the Farnes company. Not
but what she liked to hear of his busi-
ness successes, and of his business
tribula tons, for that matter, and to
sympathize with him when he con-
fded the latter to her; but there were
other subjects-subjects vitality inter-
esting to heron which she lOnged for
/ him to speak. She had decided def
nitely that she preferred him above
all others who sought her. Moreover,
/ she was certain that Phil reciprocated
her feeling; for. though he persisted in
talking of business and prosaic matters
while at her home or in her COM
pany at the theaters and other places
of entertainment, she had seen his eyes
express things that his tongue could
seemingly not articulate. She raised
hes shapely hand to an arm of the
-livan and permitted 1t to rest there
where he could look upon it.
Farnes was as pleased as
youngster with a new train of cars"
he was saying. He" He broke
off abruptly and gazed toward her
hand, resting upon the arm of the di-
van. "Why-what-" he hesitated,
his eyes intent upon the delicate gold
band, set with modest, but dazzling
white stone, which graced her third
finger. "Why-Doris, what"
aren't you going to give me your
best wishes?" she asked smilingly. She
moved the ring-anger causing the stone
to sparkle splendidly.
He sat there, rigid and speechless
for moment. Then his hands
clinched spasmodically and an angry
CLINT came into his eyes-a CLINT
mingling surprise, Illustration, and
anger. His jaw squared truculently.
"Is-is it Webber-Ellis Webber?"
he demanded hoarsely.
She forced the flicker Of a frown
upon her forehead. "Why, Philw she
pOuted; II presumed that you ut least
thought enough of me to wish me well.
1 never expected you to act like this"
Sliding to the very edge of the great
rocker and leaning forward, he
| grasped the hand upon which she wore
the ring. He retained the small hand
4, within his large one, despite her slight
struggle to draw it away.
"Do you love him. Doris?" he asked,
his voice throbbing
"I-I-why, the very idea of asking
me such "a" This time 1t was she
who hesitated.
In an instant he was seated beside
her on the divan, his arm about her
and with his face close to hers.
"You don't love him! You don't
you can't-you mustnT!" he ex.
claimed, pressing her tightly to him
II love you. Doris! You don't know
how much 1 love you, girl I'll dc
nything-anything for you, girl, ex
cept give you up. Webber can't love
you as l do! Why, only today 1 saw
him dining with" His teeth clinked
as he broke off. "Tell me, Doris
don't you love me?" he pleaded In
gentler tone. "Let me remove that
ring from your finger? I'll bring yor
one tomorrow night to replace 1t. Lee
me, please, girlT"
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