The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1919-10-17

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softly.
What do you mean: What's
wrongy What saakes 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 me?"
"You needn't be so fierce about 1T y
Lucy protested, laughing at his dra-
matte intensity. "Of course l am!
Do tell me what's the matter with
you, George"
81 will" he exclaimed. II was a
boy when saw you last. I see that
now, though / didn't then. Well, I'm
not boy any longer. I'm man, and
a man has a right to demand totally
different treatment"
II don't seem to be able to under
stand you at all, George. Why
shouldn't boy be treated just as
well as mann"
George seemed to find himself at a
loss. "Why shouldn't Well, he
| shouldn't, because man has right
to certain explanations"
"What in the world do you want me
to explain?"
"Your conduct with Fred Kinney !"
| George shouted.
Lucy uttered sudden cry Of
laughter; she was delighted. Its
been awful !" she said. II don't know
that I ever head of worse misbe-
havior! Papa and I have been twice
to dinner with his family, and I've
| been three times to church with Fred
and once to the circus! I don't
know when they'll be here to arrest
mev
"Stop that!" George commanded
| fiercely. II want to know just one
| thing, and I mean to know it, too u
whether I enjoyed the circus?''
II want to know if you're engaged
| to him!"
mol" she cried, and lifting her
| face close to his for the shortest in
slant possible, she gave him look
half merry, half defiant, but all fond.
1t was an adorable look.
| 'Lucy!" he said huskily.
| But she turned quickly from him,
and ran to the other end of the room.
He followed awkwardly, stammering :
Lucy, I WANT want to ask you.
Will you-will you-wfll you be en-
gagged to met"
She stood at window, seeming to
look out into the summer darkness,
her back to him.
mo" she murmured, Just audibly.
"Why not|
| 'You're too young"
els that" he said, gulping-
that the only reason you won'tY'
She did not answer. -..
AS she stood persistently 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 a row." he said, thus gently.
"rve beehive been terribly upset
terribly You know how feel about
you, and always have felt about you.
Don't your"
Still she did not move or speak.
SIS the only reason you won't be
engaged to me you think I'm too
young, Lucy?"
"It's-it's reason enough" she said
| family.
At that he caught one Of her hands,
and she turned to him: there were
tears in her eyes, tears which he did
not understand at all.
Lucy, you little dearI" he cried.
81 knew you"
"No, mol" she said, and she pushed
him away, Withdrawing her hand.
George, let's not talk Of solemn
| things"
"'Solemn things! Like what"
"Like-being engaged"
But George had become altogether
jubilant, and he laughed triumphant
ly. "Good gracious, that isn't SOL
emn!
"It is tool" she said, wiping her
eyes. "It's too solemn for u.s."
"No, it isn'tl l."
'Let's sit down and be sensible,
DEAR" she said. 'You sit over there
II will If you'll call me dear
again."
NO." she said. "Tn only call you
that once again this SUMMERTIME
night before you go away"
'That will have to do, then" he
laughed, $50 long as know we're en-.
gagged"
"But we're notr" she protested.
"And we never will be if you don't
promise not to speak of it again
until tell you tor
II won't promise that" said the
happy George. "rll only promise not
to speak Of it till the next time Won
call me DEAR and you've promised
to call me that the night before /
leave for my senior year."
"Oh, but didn't!" she said ear
nestly, then hesitated. 'Did IY
| didn't your"
II don't think I meant it." she MUIR
INJURED. her wet lashes Pickering above
troubled eyes.
II know one thing about you," he
said gayly, his triumph increasing.
"you never went back on anything
you said yet, and I'm not afraid of
this being the first timel"
/ xx,a
tered; then went on TREMENDOUSLY.