The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1921-01-27
Wl,el, the
Owl Hoots
~ r. RAY BAKER

Lucille, don't you think this affair
with young Hazard has gone far
en0ugh-in fact, too far?"
Lucile's rather pert face took on q
resentful, naughty expression.
mo, 1t hasn't!'' she snapped, and
then modified her tone, for she was
addressing her father, and Lucille had
not been brought up to snap at her
father. Don't you understand, father,
that / care for Billy Hazard more than
anybody else in the whole w0rld-ex-
cept your
The lines Of her fathers face-not
deep lines, but distinctly visible ones
gathered themselves into stern look.
~ have told you repeatedly" he
said, "that / want the affair to end. I
have no use for Billy or any Of his
family. repeat once more, ! want
this affair to end"
Lucille without replying, flounced
from the house. She was biting her
lip hard to keep harsh words in, and
tears welled in her attractive gray
eyes. She followed a path into the
woods at the back Of her home, and
when she was safe in the sanctuary
Of the foliage the tears burst forth.
"All right, all right" she sobbed.
'"The affair will end-but not the way
you want 1t to. Just wait--wait till
tell Billy, and that's going to be soon"
She continued on the path, wiping
away the tears with a handkerchief,
and presently came to a clearing,
where a bench stretched between two
trees. A young man, who at first
glance possessed very youthful face
but grew older as you looked at it,
was seated on the bench, In waiting
attitude.
"Billy!" cried Lucille, and he stood
up smiling. but the smile vanished
when he saw she had been crying.
whats the matterY' he asked solic-
itously, and passed an arm around her
waist and led her to the bench, where
once more the floodgates were broken
down and with her head on Billy's
shoulder she cried without restraint.
"It's father" she said, finally gain
ing composure. II Just had set-to
with him. He's forbidden me again to
keep up this affair with you, as he
calls It. What'll we do?"
Billy looked ferocious.
II just had the same experience with
mother" he said. "She told me l had
to stop 1t. She doesn't like your IA
Their; does she, LucileT'
isn't 1t hard" observed Lucille,
shat just when we have come to think
so much of each other our parents
should object? When we didn't really
think seriously about getting married
they used to encourage us to care.
Isn't that the way things go, thought
Parents are so unreasonable and hard
to manage. But what'll we do?"
Eyes, it's hard" he agreed, with an
air Of resignation, which, however,
changed quickly to one Of determine
tion. "What'll we do, did you say1
Til tell you what wen dol"
His eyes were blazing
"I1l tell you what wei do" and
gradually his voice sank to whisper,
while he looked around the glen as
though expecting to discern spies peep
ing from behind trees. 'Tll tell you
what well do. Wen elope, that's
what"
Her eyes grew big.
Listen" he went on. tits all ar
ranged for me to 60 to Cincinnati to-
morrow night. You know that. have
a good job In an insurance Office there.
What well do is leave tonight, both Of
us. Wen get Seth Hanley to drive us
to Teachout in his flivver, and there
we'll wake up some parson and get
married, and catch the train for Gin
cinnati. Wen bring the affair to an