The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1919-09-18

10y /
We've never asked Lucy"
II wouldn't ask her anything so ab.
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 a cot
tage, however, rather than a 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!"
The whole place, including his own
bedroom, was q young damsel's bou-
doir, he said, so that nowhere could
he smoke q cigar without feeling like
a 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.
II mean not at all. I'd rather not"
"Aren't you we'll, George?" Eugene
asked, looking Mt him in perplexity.
"Have you been overworking at col
lege? You do look rather pa"
II don't work." said George. II
NEAR I don't work. I think, but I
don't work. I only work at the end
Of the term. There isn't much to do"
Eugene's perplexity was little de-
creased, and a tinkle of the doorbell
afforded him obvious relief. "It's my
foreman" he said, looking at his
watch. "IIl take him out in the yard
to talk. This is no place for a fore
man." And he departed, leaving the
"living room" to Lucy and George.
"What's wrong, Georges" she asked
softly. ......
"What do you mean: whats
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, a little con
fused"
"See here" George stepped close
to her. care you glad to see me?'
"You needn't be so fierce about it,!
Lucy protested, laughing at his ORA
matte intensity. "Of course I am
you, George"
II WILL" he exclaimed. II IA q
boy when I saw you last. I see that
now, though l didn't then. Well, I'm
not a boy any longer. I'm a man, and
a man has a right to demand a 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
we'll as a MANI"
George seemed to find himself at q
loss. "Why shouldn't Well, 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. cts
been awful" she said. II don't know
that 1 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 circus! / don't
know when they'll be here to arrest
mel"
"Stop that" George commanded
fiercely.' II want to know just one
thing, and 1 mean to know it, too"
"Whether I enjoyed the circus?"
II want to know if you're engaged
to him!"
"No!" she cried. and lifting hel
face close to his for the shortest in
slant 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
and a to the other end of the room
He followed awkwardly,. stammering
Lucy, I WANT want to ask you
Will you-will you-will you be Ell
gagged to me?"
She stood at a window, seeming to
look out into the sunmer darkness
her back to him.
NO" she murmured, just audibly
"Why notY
You're too young"
us that" he said, gulping-"is
that the only a 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 a row." he said. thus gently
40