The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-12-25


II wouldn't ask her anything so alb
surd |" itt
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. II was a cot
tage, however, rather than house !;
and Lucy had taken a 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 I"
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
n 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.
II never. smoke--that is I'm sell
dom-I mean, no, thanks" he said.
Il mean not at oil. I'd rather not"
"Aren't you well. George2" Eugene
asked. looking at him in perplexity.
Have you been overworking at col
legef You do look rather pa"
II don't work." said George. 81
mean don't work. think, but l
don't work. 1 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. "Tt's my
foreman" he said, looking at his
watch. 'I'll take him out In the yard
to talk. This is no place for a fore
man." And he departed, leaving the
"lving room" to Lucy and George.
whats wrong. GeorgeT she asked
softly.
"What do you mean: What's
wrongf' What makes you think any
things wrong with meT
"You do look pale, as papa said,
and 1t seemed to me that the way you
talked sounded--well, 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'll"
Lucy protested. laughing at his dra-
matte intensity. "Of course I am
Do tell me what's the matter with
you, George!" a.i
II will" he exclaimed. ~ was a
boy when saw you last. l see that
now, though didn't then. Well, I'm
not boy any longer. I'm a 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 a manf" ,.,t.
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 explalnT
"Your conduct with Fred Kinney |"
George shouted.
Lucy uttered Q sudden cry of
laughter; she was delighted. "It's
been awful" she said. IL don't know
that ever head of worse misbe-
havior! Papa and l have been twice
to dinner with his family, and I've
been three times to church with Fred
and once to the circusl don't
know when they'll be here to arrest
mew
"Stop that" George commanded
flercely. II want to know Just one
thing. and I mean to know II, too"
"whether / enjoyed the circus7"
II want to know IL you're engaged
to himr
"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. |
II was an adorable look.
"Lucyl" 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.
win 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 audlbly. |
"why not2"
you're too young"
"Is that" he said. gulping-"ts |
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 |
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 |