The Jasper news., 1920-12-23

to her parents that he stu regarded
her as comparative stranger, Ellen
was blissfully happy. Every time
Clinton looked at her she blushed and
smiled entrancTngly. Under his gaze,
her eyes, melting with tenderness.
veiled. themselves behind their long
1ashes, but at no time seemed able to
turn away from him more than a mo-
ment. Though usually a better player
than her mother, she was SO overcome
with ecstasy that she chose her cards
at random.
AS Doctor Kirkland announced the
score, Clinton suddenly tore his gaze
away from Ellen, and rose from the
table, his face for the second time
flushed and conscience-stricken.
Pardon me. lit is not right" be
exclaimed. II must go"
"AwayT cried Ellen.
mo. only" He pointed upwards.
and hurried out into the hall, to rush
upstairs.
Instead of lntrudlng upon old TIL
lies domain, Amy and BENIN had gone
out through the pOrte-cochere. The
grape thatched pergOla was ghostly
dark. Amy darted ahead and out into
the moonlit garden.
II say" remarked BENIN when he
overlook her, "what made you run
away from meT
run away?" she replied. 'Is that
the thanks l get for leading you out
of the darknessr
~ might have been lost"
Poor ChawIes But just so you did
not lose your headp
"It is on, fast and level. The proof
Of it Is that have lost something
else-to you'll"
How bright the moon shInesi" she
bantered.
"MIss-Amy," he besought, you
know that for months there has been
something I've wanted to tell you"
"oh, look; there's a star up there"
she teased.
Look at me, and I'll see the bright
est of all the starsl" he declared.
How poeticall We shall now hear
Mr.. Chawles BENIN declaim his So
lovely ode to the silly night"
"Why do you keep Raging me1" he
complained. "You know I'm in earn
est; that /"
REALLY y7-really and truly2"
"Don't" he burst out passionately.
Cant you see? If were only fiirt-
Ing you'd not have such an advantage
But when for almost two years You
know l love you'll You know that
you're the only onel"
Again he sought to clasp her hand.
Again she eluded him. But her look
had sobered. She no longer regarded
him with teasing glance and banter
ing smile. -..s....-
II am sorry, Charlie" she said. 81
did not believe you could be so seii-
GUS"
mot serious?" he rejoined. "Just
because like to enjoy things-as you
dol"
But am only a girl. It's different
when a man."
''Is there any one else?" he inter.
rupted.
mo" she candidly answered. "There
is no young man like better than you
except, of course. Will"
He smiled with renewed hope. "Only
your brother2 Then l, of all the fel-
lows who Amy, you do love me You
must love mel"
Don't be silly, just because 1 said
liked you"
"If you like me you'Il soon learn
to love me-"
'I'm sure l don't know"
you'll try. Promise me you'll try
i She looked at him, her eyebrows
peaked with doubt. "Im so sorry
CHARLIE" she replied. "Really I dom
know what to say. Since VIII came
home Pve-rve felt rather different
ly."
BENIN frowned and rejoined in ar
almost clustering tone: '"Then he ha.
been knocking mel"
1t was the girls furn to flush. "Mr
BENIN. you forget yourself. You ar,
speaking of my brother"
"You are mistaken. It's he that for
gets himself. He forgets-"
"Need you remind me2 It's-it's baC
enough without your reminding me
Be so kind as to stand aside. 1 an
going In"
"Not until l have told you how h
forgets his best interests"
II asked you to stand aside"
"Oh. certainly; by all MEANS" saiC
BENIN. and he sprang out of the way
His tone and manner caused Amy 4
pause. She looked at him, betweeI