The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-12-24

well, that's the first million that's changed
hands"
with plenty more to come"-and he slipped his
right hand off the wheel and slid It over Papriquas
left, and he squeezed; and she squeezed back Zip
goes couple of more Millions"
"The beauty of the extravaganza" said Papriqua
not steadily, "s that it doesn't cost anything It's
give and take take and give"
swell, isn't that the proper Christmas impulseP
Give till it hurts?" and he pressed her hand so
hard she almost screamed-with Joy.
"And take the spirit that the giver gives. don't
mind you breaking ny thumb any more than the
wardrobe mstress's daughter will mind the tummy.
ache she'll get from the candy. It's gift"
And here I am not getting hurt at all. Bend
back my thumb-bite it If you want tor kick
me I'll just love it."
mo. don't mean that gift has to give you
pain, though if it does. what's the difference?
it's gift worth getting It's worth suffering over
But it can be nice even IL it doesn't hurtcant it?"
Very Only it isn't quite fair"
"If you knew how lonesome am--rve been
and how few adventures get out of my adventur-
Gus life professional look-me-over you'd realize
that If you crushed every hone in my both hands
I'd still get eleven fingers the best of it.
I'm supposed to be sort OF standardized beauty
and live the gddy life of the Rialto and the road
have ever squeezed my hand? / don't mean the
way you squeezed tt-I squeezed it at aIl2
Don't answer-youd be surprised"
"As many as that?'
80 many that at this minute feel like high
school boob playing her first game of post-office.
I'm no saint and I'm no lily. But I've never played
with this hand-holding racket much. The kind OF
men meet don't want to hold hands"
wen, do. insist on it. don't care how long
you've been on the stage or how other men have
set you against the great simple Joys of this exls
tence. But If you're going to loiter around Ned
you're going to have your hands held good and
plenty, young woman. You're up against an old
fashioned sap from the city, who wants the whole
foutlne-sighs, bushes, whispers, love letters
everythlng-and if you want to do any postage
stamp flirtations I'm for 1t strong, If It's on my
letters only"
Say" said Paprqua. 'if you knew what think
OF you right now you'd jump out of this car"
mo wouldn't. l know, and it doesn't scare ms
a bit You think I'm a wholesome, square-shooting
guy who's getting wilder about you every minute,
and you like it. So do l. But I warn you. I'm
romantic. I can't say you're the first girl whose
hand I've ever held but I'm warning you now
you're the last"
Papriqua closed her eyes for a moment
What was it she had dreamed about, had cried
for had reached after into blank space? Love?
Love that didn't wait and didn't falter and didn't
hesitate straightfrom-the-shoulder love, spoken
right out loud confessed without formaties. with
out restrictions, without any process OF birth and
growth through graduated stages? Was that itq
Was this it?
Ned" she answered, with quaver do Won
realize Just what you're saying-just what you're
doing" '.'00.
Absolutely. I'm proposing to you, And you're
going to say yes, or I'll break the rest Of your bones
until you do don't mean cave-man foolishness
mean I'll love you into loving LIE You've only
been lonesome-l've been lonesome for you. I'VE
always felt since the first time | ever saw Won that
I'd meet you somehow. and when did II would
happen"
He drew up before house in the upper part OF
own, comfortable lookii home that W S a I!.tle
better than middle ,lass.
Ned" she whispered, with break in her throat
I've got Christmas present for you"
He bent down and got IT,