, 1922-02-04

the orioie toward him with a nne
sweep OF gesture Il mean this dread
fui story about poor Mr.. Crumr
But It's true. though he u,d.
That whaoAurn me. JulIsI-
-Nobie Dmr
"JuiIaF"
itrs
BE spranE up Tt isn't trueT-
NOT M word Of It'll I told you
Mr.. Crum Is only t~wenty-six. He's
not been out Of college more than
three or four years and It's the most
terrible SANDER 10 say he's ever been
married at ALL" 80
Noble dropped back into his chair Of
mssrE Il thought Eou meant 1t
wasn't true"
I've Just told you there Isn't one
word OF tr-"
| But you're-engeEed-to him.
Noble guiped. You're engaged 70
him, Jul.ai"
She appeared not to hear him. 81
suppose II can be lived down she
said. T think of Uncle Joseph nut.
ting such a thing into the hands Of
those awful ehildrenr"
"But, Julia. you are eng
"Nohiei" abe said sharply.
We'll. you are eng"
Julia drew herself up. -Direr.nt
people mean different things By that
word" she said with severity, like an
annoyed instruciress. There are any
number of shades OF meaning 10
words; and II I used the word you
mention In writing home to the family.
may have used a certain shade and
they may have thought 1 Intended an
other"
But, Julia"
"Mr. cum is a charming young
man" she continued. with the sape
primness. Il liked him very much. 1
liked him very much indeed. l liked
him very. very much. 1 liked him
very"
g" understand" he interrupted.
-Dor't say 1t any more, Julia"
no; o don't understand. At first
I liked him very mucb-in Vet / still
do, of course-I'm sure he's one of the
best and most attractive young men In
the world. / think he's n man any girl
ought to be happy with, II he were
only TO be considered by himself. l
don't deny that I liked him very much
indeed. n 1 don't deny that for sew
ernl dnys after he-after he proposed
to mel don't deny I thought some
thing serious might possibly come Of
It. But at that time, Noble, l hadn't
hadn't really thought of what II mean
TO give up living here at home, with all
the family and everything-and friends
friends like you, Noble. 1 hadn't
thought what it would mean to me to
give nil this up. And besides, there
wns something very Important. AT the
time ! wrote that letter mentioning
poor Mr.. Crum to the family, Noble, ]
hadn't-I hadn't" She paused, In
some distress. II hadn't"
You hadn't what7" he cried
IT hadn't met Ills mother I"
Noble leaped TO his feet. Julia |
You nren't-you aren't %enghged?"
IL am not" she answered decislvely.
IF I eve was. in the slightest, l GER.
tninly am not now"
Poor Noble was transfgured. He
struggled; making hnlf-formed ges
lures, speaking hnlf-mnde words.
"Julia-Julia-" he choked: "Julia,
promise me something7 Julla-prom-
ise to promise me something"
81 will" she said quickly. What do
you want me TO do?"
"Give me your word" h said, still
~rndiantly struggling. Give mt your
word-your word and sacred promise,
Julla-you'H never be engaged to any
body at ALL"
At six minutes after four o'clock OF
the second afternoon following Julia's
return, Noblt Dill closed his own gate
behind him as he set forth upon the
four-mlnute walk that would bring him
to Julia's. He wore n bit Of indoor
geranium in the buttonhole Of his new
light overcoat.
Passing the foot OF an alley which
debouched upon the street, he was
aware OF a commotion, Of missiles
hurled and voices clashed.
Casting a glance that way. Noble
could see but mt person; q boy OF
thirteen or fourteen who looked
through a crack In a board fence,
stcadfastly keeping an eye to this aper-
ture, and as continuously calling
through II, holding his head to one
level for this purpose. but at the same
time dancing-and dancing tnuntingly,
TWAS conveyed-with the other parts
Of his body. his voice wns now sweet,
now piercing, and again far too
duIcet with the o~verkindness Of bur
lesque; and II, as It seemed. he
was unburdenlng his spleen, his spleen
was a powerful one. and gorged. He
appeared to be in a torment Of tor
mcnting; and his success was proved
by the pounding OF bricks, and rocks
of size. upon the other side Of the
fence. /
"oh, doIlIngf" he walled. his tone
p~oisonousiy amorous. "oh, dolling
Heneryi oo's dot de- mos booful eyes
in a dray bid nasty world. Heneryl
oh, has Idot booful eyes, doiling Pat