Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-01-19
CHAPTER yn.-Condnued.

"Does it. I heard myself say
rather forlornly.
II think So" he said. still with mis-
friendly eyes on my face. You haven't
been thinking of some younger man,
little Julia, have you?"
II don't know any men," said I, but
1 felt my cheeks turning hotter. II
he had guessed those idiotically silly
thoughts I'd had about the Silver
Badger: But they were only thoughts
which don't count . I wriggled
one, hand out Of Mr.. Lewis's. to put
back the bit of hair that curls against
my cheek and to give me the excuse
for turning away my face for a mo-
ment.
He held up his finger at me, and
said, playfully but a~nxiously, Sure =?
Quite ure that some younger luckiel
dog hasn't been trying to make love
to my little young lady?"
"oh, perfectly sure" I told him.
Of it."
We'll, 1 will make up for that
said Mr.. Lewis, simply, in quite a boy
ish sort of voice. That being SO,
then, julia
How was 1 going to get out my
"No?'}I said all in a fulurry. "You
know I can't ever leave Grannie?"
The old, lady? Well see about
all that later. There's plenty Of time
to settle what We'll do, little grille
said Mr.. Lewis, quite tenderly press.
ing the hand he held against his rath.
err prickly mouStache. II wouldn'I
hurry you-oh,. I won't rush you In
anything, I promise you. You take
your own. time, little one And now
we are engaged-
"Engaged-oh. no.
ooh, yes" said MI. Lewis, very al
fectionately but firmly, and smiling al
me in a way that ! simply couldn'1
help seeing vas nice.-soothing even
please, isn't the little girl going t.
come and sit On my knee for a min
ute?"
This, again, was SO exactly like the
visitor making friends with the Shy
child of the house! Perhaps it wa.
this that made me feel as If I were
nine years old again! And when
was nine Mr.. Lewis often did take me
on his knee. It seemed scarcely differ.
ent now; scarcely different when HI
slipped his kindly, solid arm -rodnd
me and held it there then. rawtns
me nearer, kissed me two or three
times on the cheek.
Those kisses were quite gentle and
unfrightening, ven though they smell
a little of tobacco and shaving-soap
and were of course h only kisses r.
4 had from a grown-up man since ID
been a grown-up girl.
Was 1t because he was such an ole
friend that It didn'. seem anything
like what I've read about kissing
(Which always seems to be either hor'
rible, or too wonderfully Or is tina
not the, way to sun UP the kisses Of
man who wants to marry you?
I r. Ar1yHauy r fa1f Co1nehnuy fhNt fhnSf
weren't an important sort of kiss. Of
was this my Ignorance?
I didn't even feel inclined to pull
away. I only said perfectly calmly
because / felt quite calm and. ever
chummy with him, but I don't thinl
I want to marry you, Mr.. Lewis"
That said Mr.. Lewis. will com.
later on. I shall make myself 80 In,
d~ispensable that you won't be able tt
helm yourself"
He said It in q way that was 20 ab'
soiutely sure OF himself. but with sncf
q twinkle OF fun and friendltness II
his eyeethat I couldn't help laughing
a little
! And It: was Just as ! laughed sitting
there. apparently perfectly happy OF
his knee that Granite came into thu
room straight upon us.
/ sprang up in a frightful hurry fell
ME than I ever had Df Mr.. Lewis him.
sell.
Ny face burned and my knees were
all wobbly and my voice died AWAY
lin my throat SO that for minutes
tHAE -HE EEL HLH