The Republican journal., 1922-12-28
MAlDA'S PROPOSAL
BY II. LOUIS RAYBoLD.


fling before | settle down forever"
The man gazed smilngly down into
the girl 5 face. Was il impossible that
she should settle down! She was ten
\ years younger than himself and he
loved her for her very youth and live
liness and yearned for the time when
her gay spontaneity should be definite
ly in his keeping.
Lets see, Mazda, just what is this
last mad fling idea?" he asked ten
derby, slipping an arm about her slim
waist and drawing her close. you
want to 20 on to the boys commence
ment without your ring, keeping it ii
terribly dark secret that you belong
to me. Am | rightT'
Mazda nodded fluffy bobbed head.
Precisely Stan. Aud, of course, I'll
behave myself. Only, well, you can
| imagine how much fun anybody's
| fiancee w5uld have at the senior ball
and chapter dances without the man
she's engaged to. If only you could
GOMEZ"
wish l could, dear, but it's out Of
1 tile uutSllOus DtdH SHohC uCtioiNN NiS
"Now, how about those irresponsible
brothers of yours? Won't they let the
cat out of the bag?"
"Tll manage them," promised Mazda
easily. And you're a dear, Stan.
shall be thinking of you every single
moment"
Stanley, If he rather doubted that
statement, did not say so.
There had been a little session with
Bob and William on the way up from
the station regarding Stanley, whose
stanch admirers they were.
Now, Bill pleaded Mazda, don't
mention ring. No ones to know I'm
engaged, and STAINS perfectly willing"
"Aw, 90 on. Mazda, that isn't fair"
protested Bob.
Let the kid alone" insisted William,
and the matter was temporarily
dropped.
Alumni day, Baccalaurate, Glass
| day-the hours sped by on wings,
exciting, absorbing colorful. Mazda
danced from one frolic to another. A
dazzling galaxy of youth had cOnsti-
tuted themselves her escorts and she
radiated smiles and fox trots and tete-
a-tetes impartially.
OF them all, Mazda felt herself par
ticularly drawn to Bob's roommate,
Carter Henley.
"Carter's got one case on the kid"
Bob confided gloomily to his brother
as they struggled with collars and ties
and studs in the latter's room the
night of the Senior ball.
Not the only one" grinned William.
"Tll say sis is some little heart
breaker"
s"Cold-blooded little creature, like
all girls" grumbled Bob. 'I4isten to
me, Bill, and I'll tell you a mighty
good way to cure her. Carter would
be just the fellow to do 1t, too. Now,
just suppose"
William listened to the proposed
scheme in silence. Then, "Cut it out"
he said bluntly. Don't play with fire.
Besides"
But at that moment the wet, tousled
head Of Carter himself was poked in
at the door. Hey, fellows, got a J
towel?"
The Senior ball had gone its gay
way for several hours when Carter
first found himself alone with Mazda
on cool, dimly-lighted balcony.
81 say, Miss Tremaine," will you
marry me?"
Maida's heart really did lose beat.
Where were her thoughts of her f1ance
as she scanned Carter's handsome face?
Then she drew little half-sobbing
breath as one whom emotion overpow-
erS.
Why-why-Carter? This is sud-
den, but II guess sol"
Maida's glance was cast modestly
downward or she might have been
startled to see an expression Of con-
sternation, almost horror, creep over
the face of the man who had just pro-
posed. He swallowed, bit his lip, then
rose unsteadily. "This isis too won
derful. I'm at loss for words.
My-my good fortune"
At that moment two tall figures
blocked the balcony entrance. One was
bOD. lHut yOuf nAdAdu' 'NAA' A~AN
surprise"
Mazda turned quickly. "Stan! You
darling! How did you manage" She
drew him aside in seeming fOrgetful-
ness Of the others-even Of the man
she had just practically promised to
marry And there we can safely leave
them for a moment while Carter, with
q face like a thundercloud, dragged
Bob out of hearing and pitched into
him without mercy.
"A nice mess you've got me into,
telling me your sister was engaged
and daring me to propose to her!
Hang it, she's accepted me-"
But Bob threw back his head and
laughed. "Oh, boy!' he murmured.
"Pd have given something for sight
of you when she did it," Then he
sobered. Don't worry. 1t seems old
Bill thought it was shabby trick to
play on her and put her wise to our
little scheme, and sis, out of sheer
deviltry, played up. Thank the Lord,
Stan chucked business and came. I'd
rather chaperon Cooks tour OF
schoolgirls than one engaged girl with
out her ring!'
But Mazda, bubbling over, was re-
living the last few days with Stan.