The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1919-10-31


"We've never asked Lucy" g
II wouldn't ask her anything so alb
surd!"
George would" Georges father re-
marked. THAT'S what he's gone to
do,
Mr.. 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. 1t was cot
tage, however, rather than house /;
and Lucy had taken 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 COM
planned Of "too much springtime !"
The whole place, including his own
bedroom, was young damsel's bou-
| doir, he said, so that nowhere could
he smoke cigar without feeling like
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.
81 never smoke-that is. I'm sell
dom-I mean, no, thanks" he said.
81 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"
ST don't work." said George. 81
mean I don't work. I think but
don't work. only work at the end
of the term. There isn't much to do"
| Eugene's perplexity was little de-
creased. and tinkle of the doorbell
afforded him obvious relief. "It's my
| foreman he said, looking at his
| watch 9TH 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.
whats wrong, George?'' she asked
softly.
"What do you mean: What's
wrong?' 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, q little con-
| fused"
"See here!" George stepped close
to her. "Are you glad to see me?"
'You needn't be so fierce about it !"
Lucy protested, laughing at his dra-
matte intensity. "Of course am
Do tell me what's the matter with
you, Georgev'
81 will! ~ he exclaimed. 81 was a
| boy when saw you last. see that
now, though I didn't then. Well, I'm
not boy any longer. I'm man. and
a man has a right to demand a totally
different treatment"
81 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
loss. "Why shouldn't Well. he
shouldn't, because man has a 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. ''It's
been awful !" she said. 81 don't know
that / 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! don't
know when they'll be here to arrest
mew
"Stop that!" George commanded
fiercely. II want to know just one
thing, and mean to know it, too !"
whether enjoyed the circus?'
| II want to know if you're engaged
to him"
"Nol" 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, / 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"
SIS that" he said, gulping-"is
that the only reason you wont?"
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.