The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1919-03-01
When a Maid
Laughs
@0
Copyright, by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate.)
By BERTHA r. MCDONALD

little path along the railroad he
walked as though he were treading on
air. His heart was in tune with all
the world and the autumn sun, just
setting, seemed great pot of gold, at
the end of his days rainbow, beckOn-
ing him on toward everlasting. happi-
ness. Lillith had given him to under
] stand that afternoon that she really
cared-Lillith, who had coquetted with
to school. There could be no mistake
about her attitude this time, her open
encouragement permitting but one in
depreciation.
MAY come-tonight?" he had whis-
pered as he was leaving her.
TRY and See," she answered coyly,
waiting him a butterfly kiss from the
| tips of her fingers. And he was going
to her now. He had determined to set
| tie the future that very evening, come
what may, and he was thinking with
| honest pride, as he walked along, of
| the comfortable nestegg in the savings
bank which he could offer Lillith.
When he was almost in front of the
house he heard q sound of laughter
and merrymaking from within, like
discordant note in the song his heart
| was singing.
Bother take it ~ he muttered. "Why
couldn't she have been alone tonight,
of all times?"
Here he isl" shouted Lillith gayly,
answering his ring; lets make him
stir the fudge"
He was dragged playfully into the
living room, Invested of outer gar
ments and adorned with a huge ging-
ham apron, which Lillith tied under
his arms.
Domestic roles are very becoming"
she whispered with a blushing smile
which set his heart to beating brisk
tattoo. Here's the spoon, and don't you
dare stop beating until l give you per-
mission"
She closed his fingers over the spoon
with an affectionate pat, turned the
blaze trif1e higher under the chatting
dish, and then left him to play a duet
with Hugh Birch. Still John had no
thought save that of being in Lillith's
home for just one purpose, which he
meant to accomplish in spite of Wis
itors.
"Why all the hilarity here this eve
ning?" he inquired casually of Nell
Blakesly, who had taken a place be-
side him at the table.
Nothing special that l know of. Lii
18th just telephoned late this afternoon
that she thought chafng-dish party
would be fun, so we all came over"
Lillth Anderson had resorted to her
old trick of playing with fire once too
often. John was confident she must
have known what he was coming for
and. with the courage born of despera-
ton, he decided there was no time like
the present.
"Lillith, come here" he called.
The new note of determination in !
his sudden command startled the girl |
into Obeying at once, a thing she was
not in the habit of doing.
"At your service, captain" she
Knocked, saluting, soldier fashion, as |
she slipped into the chair vacated by |
Nell. Fudge ready?"
Il don't know a thing about it, and |
neither do l care rap!" he answered
doggedly. II came here to see you
alone and you deliberately planned
this
Love is like the red, red rose,'"
she sang, interrupting him, while she |
took the spoon from his hand, turned
out the blaze and began beating the
steaming mass as though her very life
depended upon it. "Now, fellow citi-
zens," she called out, well soon have
delectable to please your
sweet teeth, if John will carry 1t out
to cool"
She poured the fudge upon a. platter
and held it out to him in such half
pleading way that, as usual,
he fell before the. spell of her wonder
full eyes and found himself carrying
the candy Obediently to the back porch.
But dash of the bracing night air re-
established his determination and he
tore off the apron as he strobe angrily
into the hall. "Must you 60, John?"
Lillith asked timidly, with a faint
note of concern in her voice.
Il shall not stay here and have you
mock me for one more second! You
knew-you must have Known was
coming here tonight to ask you to be
my wife, and you've played with me
Just as long as you're going to What's
your answerw
He led her into the vestibule and
shut the door, just as the rest of the
IL L