Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1917-05-10
real DIPLOMACY
By A. M. BROWN.

nature possessed until tried to bring
myself to propose to Millicent.
was pretty sure she would accept
me II ! 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-
tion, when / shot the muffin dish into
her lap.
A brilliant strategist would have risen
to the occasion with a remark wittIly
appropriate and complimentary. MIL
llcent would have blushingly said that
1t did not matter, and the Inevitable
tableau would have resulted. AS 1t
was. seeing the havoc caused by the
melting butter on her new silver-gray
gown, seized my hat and fed.
Again, one Sunday evening on the
river, let the oars trail In the water
as we drifted under the bank. 'Mil-
lleent," began, hoarsely, leaning for
ward. "Will you" A cough interrupt
ed me, and found two elderly dowa-
gers on the towing path cycling me with
stern disapproval 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, invaded Regent street.
Il want an engagement ring" said,
cursing inwardly at the fine acoustic
properties of the shop. Half a dozen
people turned round to smile broadly
in my direction.
TITS for a friend of mine," added
loudly.
"Yes, sir, l quite understand. What
stone does the lady prefer, slr?"
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" STAN
mered.
"Fancy meeting you'll" she replied.
"Um-er-yes, hal hal Isn't II
funny7 The fact ls''-I dropped my
buying an engagement ring for--for
Tommy Hasler. He is confoundedly
shy about those things, you know"
"How sweet OF you. Who is the giri7"
Don't you known
Il can guess"
"You mustn't" / said. "Tommy
wants IL to be dead secret"
"What is the size of the lady's finger,
slr7' asked the shopman. returning
with a tray Of rings.
81 don't know" said. CHANGING at
Milllcent's gloyed hand.
"If it's Ella Burnaby," said Milllcent
softly, "she's got rather fat fingers,
and will want a large ring"
Tommy told me TO be careful to get
a small ring. like this one, do your
Mlllicent nodded.
"rn take It," said. "and chance 1t
being the right size"
THANK you, sir"
II want a solid silver cigarette case"
said Milllcent to another salesman.
you see. Ella BHrnaby asked me to
buy this for her, as she's rather a shy
girl, you know. | think II Is for u
Christmas present"
"Can ! help your said. II am
bit Of a connoisseur on cigarette cases.
is tiIG fellow Tommy Hasler7"
II mustn't tell" said Milllcent.
because II It Is, Tommy does not
smoke"
ooh y she exclaimed blankly.
celia must be playing double
game" l insinuated.
81 am sure she isn't. Yes, that one
will do"
"You'n have the initials engraved on
the case, ma'amY" asked the salesman.
yes" said Mlllicent.
"T. L. H." ! told him.
"Yes, sir"
mo" broke In Millicent quickly
these are the initials" She scrubbed
something on n card and pushed II
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" wrote something on an
other card.
us that rlght7" l asked recklessly,
and handed the card to Milllcent.
II think So" she said, after pause
dropping her eyes and handing the
card to the salesman. "And-I hope
you'll like your cigarette case"