Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1920-05-06
By HOLWORTHY HALL

L ike you better than any
body. else in the world-all but two.
. liked to be kissed by people I
like and you know
it's sort of like sunlight; / need lots
of it. People have always fused
over me. ~ :" Here she gave a
poignant sigh for her lost youth. "Only
-. it's funny, too -. but
one of the two people I do like bet
ferent way . is -. is Rufe
Waring. He's jealous as a -. a
tom cat but somehow I don't
mind it from him. l always like it.
He was so frightfully jealous
about you, and l leased him
about that. 1t was just because he
thought you weren't quite good enough
for me, I guess. And you've got to
give him credit for that, now, haven't
you? And l hope
you and Carol ii be awfully happy to-
gether."
Dear girl" said billiard gently.
"DO you understand" Her eyes
were very pleading, very misty.
"Understand?-yes. Can 1 wish you
happiness, too?"
"NOt yet" she said, adorably prim.
"He hasn't oh, we both know
about it, but he's got to graduate from
law school first, and-after that
maybe | can travel little"
She blushed shamefully. you needn't
grin like a Cheshire cat-I guess I'll
see Niagara Falls, anyway
81 wasn't grinnng," he said. 81
was smiling at you right out of my
heart. But I do wish happi-
ness to yOu-always and always. And
I'm happier myself than I've been for
ages . dear :" He stop
ped, swamped by the recollection
that it was Waring who was to
share in the demonstration of his per-
fidy. To wish happiness to an exc
Cutioner-and not be a hypOcrite? In
credibe-yet true Hillard wished
him happiness.
"What is it," she demanded, alert
to his altered expression.
"Nothing, I'm just sorry
I'm not a Mormon !"
"You're fibbing! Still :"
Hilliard rose hastily.
"Wait!" she said. you can't go
until you've told me one more thing
. you don't honestly think Rufe's
underhanded, now, do you?"
'No-oh, no, Angela. A man can be
so upset that he CAN"
you know we were just shocked
and surprised-and Dads awfully
quick tempered. And it was so sud-
| den We didn't stop to talk it over,
we sailed right into him, and all of us
| got excited, and then you came in.
We didn't know how frightfulIy jeal-
Gus Rufe could be-he's been bad
enough before, but this time was the
limit-and it's only because he's boy.
It's sort of primeval. You
| know"
"Yes, dear-yes
"And he did know us
long before he ever knew you. He
thought he was protecting us. 1t was
| just an Obsession-"
ITS all right-quite all right.
Pleasew He touched her hair lightly.
81 wish were as sure you'd always de-
fend me as l am that you'll stick to
him, Angela"
That's twice you've said that {.
and you know what think I've told
you. And are you going off
without telling me anything at all?"
Her voice betrayed the irreparable in
jury in it.
Hilliard moistened his lips.
angela, dear, next to one other per-
! son l love you better than any one else
on earth"
"Thats nice" she said, with a sigh
of perfect content.
He bent to her, but she eluded him.
"Oh, no" she gasped in flutterng
protest. Even if you but
I've told you about Rufe now--you
haven't told me about Carol, but it's
plain as day-it wouldn't be right |"
angela !"
She reented swiftly; his voice was
something to rely on.
"Well-just my cheek, then. Hon
estly l :"
mo, dear" said Hilliard. He COM
PEELED her chin upward, and smiled
down into her lovely, startled eyes,
and stopped and kissed her forehead
then her lips.
That's for goOd-by," he said, "to
the dearest little girl l ever knew
We're both growing up, aren't
weT
CHAPTER XIII.