Cleveland County herald., 1919-11-06

we've never asked Lucy.
 q wouldn't ask her anything so ab- surdt"
 George would" Georges father re- marked. That's what he's gone to do."
 MT. Minafer was not mistaken: that was what his son had gone to do. Lucy and her father were just rising from their dinner table when the stirred youth arrived at the front door of the new house. It was q cot tage, however, rather than house; and Lucy had taken a free hand with the architect, achieving results in white and green outside and white and blue inside to such effect of youth and daintiness that her father con- plained of ''too much springtime !" The whole place, including his own bedroom, was young damsefs bou- doir, he said, so that nowhere could he smoke a cigar without feeling like a ruffian. However, he was smoking when George arrived, and he encour- aged George to join him in the pas time but the caller, whose air was both tense and preoccupied, declined with something like agitation.
 q never smoke-that is. I'm sell dom-I mean, no, thanks" he said. q mean not at all. I'd rather not"
 Aren't you well, George?" Eugene asked, looking at him in perplexity. Have you been overworking at col lege? You do look rather pa-''
 'T don't work" said George. q mean I don't work. I think, but don't work. I only work at the end of the term. There isn't much to do."
 Eugene's perplexity was little de creased, and a tinkle of the doorbell afforded him obvious relief. "It's my foreman" he said, looking at his watch. "I'll take him out in the yard to talk. This is no place for fore man." And he departed, leaving the living room" to Lucy and George.
 What's wrong, George?" she asked softly.
 "What do you mean: Whats wrongY What makes you think any things wrong with me?''
 "You do look pale. as papa said, and it seemed to me that the way you talked sounded-well. little con fused"
 "See here" George stepped close to her. Are you glad to see mel"
 'You needn't be so fierce about it! I" Lucy protested, laughing at his dra- matic intensity. "Of course am ! Do tell me what's the matter with you, George!"
 T will" he exclaimed. "I was a boy when I saw you last. l see that now, though I didn't then. Well, I'm not boy any longer. I'm a man, and man has right to demand a totally different treatment"
 q don't seem to be able to under stand you at all, George. Why shouldn't a boy be treated just as well as a man"
 George seemed to find himself at g loss. "Why shouldn't- Well, he shouldn't, because a man has a right tO CcIldlu SApIdudllOuS.
 What in the world do you want me to explain?"
 "Your conduct with Fred Kinney!" George shouted.
 Lucy uttered a sudden cry Of laughter; she was delighted "It's been awfGl!" she said. q don't know that I ever head of worse misbc- haviorl Papa and I have been twice to dinner with his family, and Ive been three times to church with Fred and once to the circus I don't know when they'll be here to arrest me!'
 "Stop that!" George commanded fiercely. T want to know just one thing, and I mean to know it, too .''
 "Whether I enjoyed the circus?"
 q want to know if you're engaged to him!"
 "Nor' she cried, and lifting her face close to his for the shortest in- stant possible, she gave him a look half merry, half defiant, but all fond. It was an adorable look.
 Lucy ne Sald nuSklly.
 But she turned quickly from him, and ran to the other end of the room. He followed awkwardly, stammering:
 Lucy, I want-I want to ask you Will you-will you-will you be en- gagged to me?"
 She stood at window, seeming to look out into the summer darkness, her back to him.
 "No," she murmured, just audibly
 "Why not?"
 You're too young''
 "Is that" he said, gulping-'is that the only reason you won't?'
 She did not answer.
 As she stood consistently staring out of the window with her back to him she did not see how humble his attitude had become; but his voice was low, and it shook so that she could have no doubt of his emotion. Lucy, please forgive me for making such row." he, said, thus gently. i've been-Ive been terribly upset terribly You know how I feel about