The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1919-06-06

the next morning and In the afternoon
he took Amy to tea at the most fash
ionable hotel In town. Gardner liked
to be seen at smart places-especially
In company with q good-looking girl.
"Billy's sailing tomorrow" he said.
casually. In the course of conversation.
"Where tor" asked Amy. with APP
parent Indifference.
"France. He's going in aviation
over there. That's really why he came
east, you know. I've got to 60 down
town and fix up some things for him
as soon as we leave here-you won't
mind If l send you home In the car
alone, will your"
"Of course not, Gardner" Amy was
trying hard not to choke on the de-
licious piece of French pastry which
she was doing her best to swallow.
Then she received another shock.
Gardner leaned over the table and be-
gan to speak in lowered voice.
"Amy-will you marry meT
as this a surprise party?" gasped
Amy.
81 shouldn't think you would be sur
prised-I made up my mind some time
ago."
"But didn't know that, and as
much as I've seen Of you lately, it
never entered my head that you loved
me. l like you, but don't love you
any more than you honestly love me.
And 1 want to be friends-you're a
better friend than you would be
husband-don't you truly think, Gard
nerT
Gardner smiled in spite of himself.
"Where did you learn so much
about being in love, little AmyT"
II learned the little know from a
very poor teacher who didn't even
want me for pupil. I'm sorry. Gard
ner, but I do care for someone else.
He doesn't even know exist-hardly.
Forgive me, but it's the truth. And
you'll still be my friend, won't you"
"You can be perfectly sure about
that" returned the rejected sutton
promptly.
Amy waved her hand to him and
then turned and walked rapidly in the
opposite direction from her own house.
Her head was dizzy and her feet
seemed to travel too slowly. She
dragged herself YEARLY up the steps
of a familiar house and rang the bell.
''Is Mr.. William Lane INF" she
asked the man who answered her ring.
I'm the library, miss"
"Don't announce me, then-I'll 60
right in"
Billy was sitting with his back to
the door writing. Amy walked across
the room before he saw her. Then he
dropped his pen and sprang to his feet
in amazement.
"Amyl" he cried. HAS something
happened? You want Gardner?"
"No, don't want Gardner-I've just
refused to marry him. just want to
know why you are going away without
saying good-by to me. It's unbeliev-
able"
"Do you mean to tell me you're not
going to marry Gardner? Why not?"
ats really none of your business.
but I'll tell you. For the simple rea-
son that I don't happen to care for
him-not in the marrying way Of car
ing, l mean."
"What way is that?"
81 didn't come here to talk to you
about marriage. Mr.. William Lane.
only came to tell you how horrid I
fhfnIx owl fhinly oil hot IN
you"
Billy covered the distance between
them In less time than it takes to
mention It. Then he caught Amy in
his arms and held her till she had
ceased to struggle.
"And I love you, love you, love you,"
he told her for about fifty times in as
many different ways. look me In the
eyes and tell me you hate me-"
But Amy was too comfortable to
look up, so she didn't even answer
him.
After little while Billy looked at
his watch and found 1t was a quarter
to eight.
"Will you go to dinner with me this
time, Amy darling?" he asked her.
|" 1t looks as If I'd have to. You don't
know how much l wanted to go with
you that day, Billy. Let's get out of
the house before Gardner comes. I
think 1t would be better to break II to
him after you've been gone a few
days, even though he didn't really love
me at all. Oh, wish you didn't have
to go. Billy can't bear to think of
It."
"would you marry me tomorrow If
could get special license?"
"Yes, any time at ALL"
"Then We'll go and see about it
will you come with me?"
Anywhere. You won't be able to
lose me now. And Billy, my husband
and L will be glad to come and visit
you on your wild and woolly farm as
soon as you come back to u.s."
"Then, I'll have something worth
fighting for now-that's what helps
man to do his duty even II 1t Is hard
work, too. I'm the luckiest person in
the world today, Amy dearest"
with the exception Of one other"
corrected Amy, and was Immediately
dopriyod of thu rnwar NJ cpoqch n Qofn