The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-04-26
CHAPTER x-continued.


did not know where he was, had
sore throat was under physicians or
ders not to call any one, my mother
had trained me not to yell at stran
gers, and. besides, | never did any
calling except on Thursdays.
Vida pointed her finger at me fol
shame, the way children do, and lee
him away before could think Of any
thing more.
"Ned says" she smiled at me as
they went on up the beach, that heav-
en- is place where there are no dra.
matte critics"
you tell him for me-" / retOrted
that he knows more about heaven
now than he ever will from actual ex-
perience-unless,' added, "the girl he
is engaged to actually marries him."
She waved her thanks and trotted
ON at the fat magazine mans side.
Yes, | said fat. There was something
about him that was annoyingly fat
possibly his intellect. In figure he was
no more fat than / am, but some
way his avoirdupois Haunted itself fla
grantly
disliked Mr.. Clair so thoroughly
and heartily for few minutes that l
nearly forgot what l was standing in
the lake for. gathered up my clans
and went back to the house. With
criminal caution l went in the back
way, so that no one would see what
had brought, and built a fire in the
long unused stove. In getting those
bivalves to loosen up l ruined two
hatchets, can opener, thumb and
an already frazzled temper.
Lucille came downstairs while / was
in the kitchen, but she did not come
out where l was. l heard her asking
some one in the living room, "Who
left the telephone off the hookT
There was mumbled reply in the
voice of Captain Perkins which l did
not catch. Lucille apparently put the
receiver back in its place, because
presently the telephone bell rang, and |
she answered it.
No" l heard her say. "AIr, Clair is
not here" Then, after a pause: mo, |
Miss Dunmore isn't here either. Who |
shall | say called? Oh, you don't wish
them to be notified? Very WELL"
There was a click as of the receiver
being placed on the hook.
came in from the kitchen. Lucille
greeted me pleasantly enough when l
asked her how she had enjoyed her
nap.
Il don't think I've been asleep" she
denied. II just rested, that was ALL"
l did not tell her that l did not be-
lieve her.
"Your mother called up" 1 said
briefly.
Called up?" Lucille repeated. How
could she?'
"Irom Huntingdon's island" l ex-
planned and went on to tell what l
knew of Mrs. Green's experience.
"She had no right to frighten me so,"
Lucille exclaimed; also Lucille selfishly
disreGarded my sufferings; also those
Of BOpp. His emotions, l imagine,
were chiefly confined to his digestive
apparatus, but suppose they must be
classed as sufferings just the same.
l pointed out to Lucille that her moth
er had escaped only by miracle.
''What possessed her to do such
thing?" Lucille was as petulant as a
half awakened child.
II had a brother once who used to
walk in his sleep. There was q zebra
that
interrupted Captain Perkins. your
mother was scarcely responsible" /
said
my brother was that way" chlmed
In the real estate captain "You never
could tell where you could find him
nights. But the time that the zebra
bit him was the curiousest, l allow"
'"The zebra bit him?" Lucile's inter- u
est was aroused.
The captain settled himself to tell Ills a
favorite tale, but did not get started n
because Vida breezed in with a rather n,
;hamefaced Clair in tow. ht
She came directly to me. sc
"Pll take that ring, please" she said.
"Do you really want it?" 81
"Certainly. l am entitled to wear It," th
"Of course she ought to have your of
Ing" urged Lucille. THAT one will be
10 until you can get her something d
lse. May congratulate you, Miss
)unmoreY tn
HAS Mr.. Blainey told you about it?" tn
ida asked, naturally surprised that a av
bird party should take an interest in tn
jesting wager. tn
"He didn't need to-" Lucille smiled. sill
With Clair present 1 could hardly co
ynloin TINT Miss nunDoora had ,,x, fn
ly ring because she had made him
ropose to her. Thus l allowed my idG
slf to be misunderstood once more. to
retired as gracefully as possible to ne
lie kitchen, to be followed there short. try
by Upton s. Clair. sw
MAY | speak with you alone?" he hir
amanded cautiously, looking first I
ght and then left like a stage villain. be
You will never see me more lone mu
me than in your company" l return. "
|, stirring my clans. hin
Have you ever been engaged?" He "
'tually blushed as he said it. cbe
why, yes"-I was inclined to be All
"chronically. I've been ~
gagged ever since l was about six Wi
EN- years of age. Do you care to nIo
ten to the history Of my romances?" s
'No, no." he reiterated, mot now. tho
hat want to ask" he began hasti- lon,
chOked by emotion and one of my
liars, which was quarter size too +o,.
lall for him, lis how do you break roo,
an engagement nre,
"You have me there. / never broke sof,
nm enpopamnnt In NV lifa Coroa | :.