The Aberdeen weekly., 1919-10-31

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-weil, a little con-
fused"
"See heret" 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 l am
Do tell me what's the matter with
you, Georger'
II Will - he exclaimed. 81 was a
boy when I saw you last. l see that
now. though / didn't then. Well, I'm
not boy any longer. I'm man, and
a mNn has right TO demand totally
different treatment"
II 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 a
loss. 'Why shouldn't Well, he
shouldn't, because a innn has a right
tO CeTtdlD eApia0dtlODS.
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 / have been twice
to dinner with his family, and I've
been three times to church with Fred
and once to the circusi 1 don't
mel"
stop that" George commanded
fiercely. Il want TO know just one
thing, and / mean to know it, too !"
whether I enjoyed the circus?"
IL want to know if you're engaged
to him'
mol" she cried, and lifting her
face close TO his for the shortest in
stant 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, 1 want-I want to ask you.
VIII you-wiil you-will you be en-
gagged to me?"
She stood at a window, seeming to
look out into the summer darkness,
her back to him.
''No,' she murmured, Just audibly.
"Why not?'
you're too young"
as that he said. gulping-"is
that the only reason you won't?''
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 row." he said, thus gently.
1--WE beehive been terribly upset
terribly You know how I feel about
you, and always have felt about you.
Don't you?"
Still she did not move or speak.
"Is 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 dear!' he cried
II knew you"
mo, mol" she said. and she pushed
George, let's not talk of solemn
things"
"'Solemn thingsr 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, wipfng her
eyes. Its too solemn for u.s."
'No, it isn't! l."
Lets sit down and be sensible,
81 will IL you'll call me dear
again"
NO." she said. I'll only call you
that once again this summertime
night before you go away"
THAT will have TO do, then," t~
$50 long as know we're en-
gagged
'But we're not !" she protested.
"And we never Will be if you don't
promise not to speak of It again
until tell you tor
Il won't promise that" said the
happy George. .I'll only promise not
TO speak of it till the next time you
call me dear and you've promised
to call me that the night before I |
leave for my senior year."
"Oh, but 1 didn't" she said ear
nestly, then hesitated. Did II"
Didn't your
Il don't think meant it." she MUIR |
her wet lashes Pickering above |
eyes.
Il 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 /
his being the first time!"
"But we mustn't let" she fall
-cred then went on trpyuuIouSlx