The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1922-03-02

! TOO.
Something 10 % with It? She
usually has all 10 do with anything She
gets hold of! But what's it got To do
with me?"
"YouHl seew he prophes!ed accu-
rately.
She began to read, laughing at some
! Of the items as she went along then
she suddenly became rigid, holding the
small journal before her in a trans
fixed hand.
"Oh :" she cried. ooh, OH"
"Thats-thats what meant"
Noble explained.
Julia'S eyes grew dangerous. "The
this is long-sufrering family, but it's
time these outrages were stopped"
She jumped up. isn't ii frightful?"
she demanded of Noble.
Yes, it is" he said, with a dismal
fervor. Nobody knows that better
than | do, Julia :"
II mean this. :" she cried. extending
sweep of gesture. IL mean this dread
ful story about poor Mr. Crum -
"But it's true, though" he said.
That's what hurts me, JuIia!"
Noble Dill!
"Iulia :"
"Do YOU dare to say you believed
liz"
He sprang up. 1T isn't trueT"
Not one word of it, | 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 SANDER to say he's ever been
married at all :"
Noble dropped back into his chair OF
misery. 81 thought sou meant it
wasn't true"
I've just told you there isn't one
word of tr-"
Blu; you're-engaged-to him"
Noble guped. You're engaged to
him. Julia !"
She appeared not To hear him. 81
suppose it can he lived down" she
said "'ro think of Uncle Joseph put
ting such a thing into the hands of
those awful children -
| But, Julia, You are eng"
Noble" she said sharply.
"Well, you are eng
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 If used the word you
mention in writing home to the family,
| | may have used IA certain shade and
they may have thought | intended an
other"
But, Julia"
Mr. Crum Is charming young
man." she continued, with the same
primness. Il liked him very much.
| liked him very much indeed. liked
him very, very much. | liked him
very"
II understand" he interrupted.
Don't say il any more, Julia"
NO; you don't understand. At first
| | liked him very much--in fact / still
do. of cOurSe-Tm sure hes 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 We're
only to be considered by himself
don't deny that liked him very much
| indeed. and ! don't deny that for sey-
eral days after he--after he proposed
70 mel don't deny | thought some
| thing serious might possibly come of
| il. But at that time, Noble. hadn't
hadn't really thought of what it meant
To give up living here at home, with an
the family and everything-and friends
friends like you. Noble. hadn't
| thought what ii would mean 10 me to
| give all this up. And besides, there
was something very important. AT the
| time | wrote that letter mentioning
poor Mr.. Crum 10 the family, Noble
hadn't hadn't" She paused, in
some distress. ~ hadn't"
You hadn't what?' he cried
81 hadn't met his mother"
Noble leaped To his feet. "Juia
! You aren't-you aren't engaged?"
II am not" she answered deciSively.
If ever was. i'm the slightest, | GER
tainIy am not now"
Poor Noble was tranSfgured. He
struggled; making half-fOrined ges-
lures. speaking half-made words.
"Julia-Julia-" lie choked: "Juiia,
promise me something's Julia-proln-
Use To promise me something
81 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 at ALA"
AT six minutes after four o'clock Of
the second afternoon following Julia's
return. Noble Din closed his own gate
behind him as lie set forth upon The
four-mInute walk that would bring him
to Julla's. He wore a bit Of indoor
| e,ora nj m, Il, tho hnttonhnIa of hfa man