The Holly chieftain., 1921-12-15

Anu tIiat ItOoleF DOy, RODIe Sdlu
sadly. Il think maybe your little niece,
| Florence. has something to do with it,
| too"
Something to DO with 1t? She
| usually has all to do with anything she
gets hold Of! But what's it got to do
with meg"
you'll seel" he prophesied accu-
rately.
She began to read. laughing mt some
of the items as she went along; then
she suddenly became rigid. holding the
small journal before her in trans
fixed hand
"Oh y she cried. "Oh, OH"
"Thats-that's what meant"
Noble explained.
Julia's eyes grew dangerous. '.rhe
little fiends!' She cried. oh, really,
this is long suffering family. but it's
| time these outrages We're stopped!''
| She jumped up. isn't it frightfui?'
she demanded of Noble.
Yes, it is he said, with dismal
fervor. Nobody knows that better
than do, Julia!"
II mean this!" she cried, extending
the OriOle toward him with fine
sweep of gesture. II mean this dread
full story about poor Mr.. Crum ~
But it's true. though" he said.
| That's what hurts me, Julia!"
| "Noble Dill!'
Julia ~
do you dare to say you believed
lit"
| He sprang up. at isn't true?"
Not one word of 1t! told you
Mr.. Crum is only twenty-six. He's
| not been out of college more than
three or four years, and it's the most
terrible slander to say he's ever been
married at ALI"
Noble dropped back into his chair of
misery: Il thought you meant 1t
wasn't true"
I've just told you there isn't one
word of tr-''
But you're-engnged-to him."
| Noble gulped. you're engaged to
him, Julia!'
She appeared not to hear him. 81
suppose it can be lived down." she
said. ITO think of Uncle Joseph put
ting such a thing into the hands of
those awful children y
But, Julia. you are eng"
"Noblew she said sharply.
'Well. You are eng"
i Julia drew herself up. Different
people mean different things by that
word" she said with severity, like an
annoyed instructress. "There are any
number of shades of meaning to
words; and IL used the word you
mention in writing home to the family,
may have used a certain shade and
they may have thought l intended an
other"
But. Julia"
| mfr. Crum is charming young
man." she continued. with the same
primness. II liked him very much.
liked him very much indeed. liked
him very, very much. liked him
| very"
II understand" he interrupted.
| Don't say it any more, Julia"
mo; you don't understand. At first
l liked him very much--in fact / still
do, of course-Tm sure he's one of the
best and most attractive young men in
the world. think he's man any girl
ought to be happy with. If he were
only to be considered by himself. /
don't deny that liked him very much
indeed, and don't deny that for sew
eral days after he-after he proposed
to me-I don't deny thought some
thing serious might possibly come of
1t. But at that time, Noble, hadn't
hadn't really thought of what 1t meant
to give up living here at home, with all
the family and everything-and friends
friends like you. Noble. hadn't
thought what 1t would mean to me to
| give all this up. And besides, there
was something very important. At the
time wrote that letter mentioning
poor Mr.. Crum to the family, Noble, l
hndn't-I hadn't" She paused, in
some distress. II hadn't"
You hadn't what?" he cried.
II hadn't met his mother!"
Noble leaped to his feet. Julia |!
You aren't--you aren't engaged?"
81 am not" she answered decislvely.
IF ever was in the slightest, GER
tainly am not now"
Poor Noble was translgured. He
struggled; making half-formed ges-
lures, speaking half-made words.
"Julia--Julia.--" He choked: Julia,
promise me something7 Julia-prom-
Use to promise me something"
II WILL" she said quickly. "What do
you want me to do?"
Give me your word" he said, still
radiantly struggling. "Give me your
word-your word and sacred promise,
Julia--you'll never be engaged to any
body ut ALL"
At six minutes after four o'clock of
the second afternoon following Julia's
return. Noble Dill closed his own gate
behind him as he set forth upon the
four-minute walk that would bring him
| 10 Iulia's. He wore n bit of indoor