The Connecticut labor press., 1919-10-11

softly.
 What do you mean: What's wrOngT 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 me?'
 You needn't be so fierce about it. v Lucy protested, laughing at his dra- matic intensity. "Of course I am !! Do tell me what's the matter with you, George!'
 II will! '" he exclaimed. "I was a boy when I saw you last. I see that now, though I didn't then. Well, I'm not boy any longer. I'm man, and man 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 shOuldnt- We'll, he shouldn't, because a 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 a 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! 1 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, tool"
 'Whether I enjoyed the circus?"
 q want to know if you're engaged to him !'
 No" 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!" he said huskily.
 But she turned quickly from him,
  He followed awkwardly. stammering:
 Lucy, I want-I want to ask you. Will yOu-will yOu-wilI you be en- gagged to me?"
 She stood at q window, seeming to look out into the summer darkness, her back to him.
 'NO," she murmured, just audibly.
 "Why n0t?'
 "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 a row." he said, thus gently. i've been-Tve 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?"
 "Its-it's reason enough" she said faintly.
 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 T knew you"
 No, no" 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 7"
 Ut is too" she said, wiping her eyes. "It's too solemn for us"
 No, it isn't! T."
 Lets sit down and be sensible, dear" she said. You sit over there-'
 T will if you'll call me dear again."
 ''No," she said. "Tll only call you bAAttN OAANN 'lSdIII b141Fo 0A4Il4llCl l4lC night before you go away"
 That will have to do, then" he laughed, 'so long as I know we're en- gagged"
 But we're not '" she protested. | And we never will be if you don't l promise not to speak of it again until I tell you to"
 T won't promise that" said the | happy George "Tll only promise not 1 to speak of it till the next time you call me dear and you've promised 1 to call me that the night before leave for my senior year.
 "Oh, but I didn't!' she said ear nestIy, then hesitated. Did r."
 'Didn't yOu?'
 II don't think I meant it, she mur- mured. her wet Iashes tlickering above | troubled eyes.
 Il know one thing about you" he ! said gayIy, his triumph increasing, 1 you never went back on anything . yOu said yet and I'm not afraid of ] this being the first time!'
 Put we mustn't let" she fal- tered; then went on tromul0uSly. 1 'Gtorgr, we've got on So we'll together We won't let this make q difference i I}rtyVpCu us WiII HpI' And she joined !