The Connecticut labor press., 1919-10-25

gratitude threatening to become emo | tional in spite of him. Isabel, how ever, turned instantly to Fanny. Give him your hand, Fanny" she said gay ly; and as Fanny mechanically | obeyed, '"There!" Isabel cried. "If brother George were here, Eugene would have his three oldest and best friends congratuIating him all at once. We know what brother George thinks about 1t, though. It's just beautiful, Eugene !"
 Lucy leaned toward George and whispered, Did you ever see anything so lovely?"
 AS whatT George inquired, not because he misunderstood but be- cause he wished to prolong the pleas ant neighborliness of whispering. "As your mother! Think of her do- ing that! She's a darling! And papa"-here she imperfectly repressed tendency to laugh-"papa looks as if he were either going to explode or utter loud sobs :"
 Eugene commanded his features, however, and they resumed their cus- 1 tomary apprehensfveness. 'T used to write verses" he said-"if you remem- l ber-"
 "Yes," Isabel interrupted gently. "I remember"
 'I don't recall that I've written any for twenty years or so," he continued. ''But I'm almost thinking I could do 1t again, to thank you for making a factory visit into such a kind cele- l bration."
 Gracious !" Lucy whispered, gig gling. Aren't they sentimental! '" People that age always are," George returned. "They get sentimen- tai over anything at all. Factories or l restaurants it doesn't matter what !" And both of them were seized with fits of laughter which they managed to cover under the general movement of departure, as Isabel had risen to go. Outside upon the crowded street George helped Lucy into his runabout and drove off, waving triumphantly 1 and laughing at Eugene, who was struggling with the engine of his car, | in. the tonneau of which Isabel and Fanny had established themselves. Looks like a hand-organ man grind ing away for pennies," said George, as the runabout turned the corner into ! National avenue. "Tn still take a horse, any day"
 He was not so cockSure half an hour l later, on an open road, when a siren | whistle walled behind him, and before the sound had died away Eugene's car, | coming from behind with what seemed fairly like one long leap, went by the runabout and dwindled almost instan- taneously in perspective, with a lace handkerchief in a black-gloved hand | fiuttering sweet derision as it was swept onward into minuteness-a mere white speck-and then out of sight. George was undoubtedly impressed ''Your father does know how to drive some," the dashing exhibition farced him to admit. "Of course Pendennis isn't as young as he was, and I don't care to push him too hard. We'll, enjoyed part of that lunch today quite lot, Lucy"
 ''The salad?" "No. Your whispering to me-" George checked Pendennis to walk. Whereupon Lucy protested quickly |: "Oh, don't!"
 "Why?'
 'T know when you make him walk it's so you can give all your attention toto proposing to me again! !' And as she turned a face of exag- gerated color to him, By the Lord but you're a little witch!" George cried. -@ .~- '. s.
 George, do let Pendennis trot again!" ....,.
 q won'ti"
 She clucked to the horse. "Get up Pendennis! Trot! Go on! Com mencei" 'e A} i Pendennis paid no attention; she meant nothing to him, and George laughed at her fondly. "You are the prettiest thing in this world, Lucy !" he exclaimed. Are you going to drop the almost and say we're really engaged?"
 "Oh, not for years! So there's the answer, and let's trot again" But George was persistent; more over he had become serious during the last minute or two. q want to know" he said. 'T really mean it.'
 Let's don't be serious. George" she begged him hopefully. "Let's talk of something pleasant"
 He was a little offended. "Then it isn't pleasant for you to know that I want to marry you?"
 At this she became as serious as he could have asked; she looked down, and her lip quivered like that of a child about to cry. Suddenly she put her hand upon one of his for just an instant, and then withdrew 1t.