Palisadian., 1923-03-16

Of action was one of retreat. He did
not call on Paula that week as he had
intended to, and tried to be formal
and asked him to take Sunday supper
at her house. He really had to accept.
After all, If Paula really liked him
better 1t would not be fair to her 90
withdraw. Such was his reasoning
that Sunday when he went to have
supper at Paula's house, and he was
determined then and there to propose
to her and then abide by her decision.
OF course he would not mention Tom
Rogers, nor would he mention the life
long rivalry that had existed between
him and his old classmate.
1t was after supper when Paula and
Tom had gone into the back drawing
house where Paula lived, on the pre-
text of looking at some old prints.
that Tom found opportunity to pro-
pose. He had determined to do this
abruptly. If she really was Tom Rog-
ers' girl Dick didn't want to possess
the memory Of even the touch Of her
hand In his.
Paula" he began, closing the book
Of prints that she had offered for his
inspection, "you are the girl of my
dreams. l want to marry you. l
am telling you this now, though per-
haps l should not. If there is any
reason why you feel that 1t wouldn't
be quite on the square for me to press
my suit, wish you'd .eIl me-"
Paula looked confused. you haven't
said you-you loved me-" she faltered.
I'VE can't talk of marriage until we
talk of that-can we?"
Il don't want to talk of-of that
very stoically.
II don't know whether we ought to
talk of marriage now," said Paula.
''Why not| demanded Richard.
"Well, you. see, Tom-Mr. Rogers
needs me so much. I promised
Dick, you know love you more than
any one else in the world. Perhaps
? in year or so we could talk-talk
about marrying"
An outstretched hand, a wistful
smile seemed to invite caress, but
Dick was adamant.
ut is as 1 feared" he said. Then
he opened the book of prints and per-
functorily examined them. Fifteen
minutes later he rose and after having
babe Paula's family goodnight and
having pressed Paulas hand tenderfy
in his in the front hall he hurried
away.
Two weeks passed and Dick did not
go near Paula nor did he hear even
indirectly from her. He had made up
his mind not to stand in the way Of
Tom Rogers-even If this decision
caused Paula pain.
To solace himself he went frequent
ly to the graduates club. There one
day he CHANGED to see Tom Rogers.
He would have avoided him, but Tom
hailed him with a hilarious cor
diality that had never been character
istic Of the Tom Rogers Of college
days.
Congratulate me-" demanded Tom
Rogers, slapping Dick Brown on the
back. I'm the happiest man in the
world. I'm going to be married next
week. You'd like her. Dick. Shes
just the sort you and I always liked
little, dark and all there.
Dick WINGED. 81 do congratulate
you," he said. II happen to know
Miss Yates"
"There's another fine girl" cried
Tom. "She told me she had met
you--"
Another" demanded Richard. "But
it's Miss Yates you're going to marry"
Tom burst out laughing. Lord, no."
he cried. mo man of sense parries
his own stenographer. She knows
him too well. I'm marrying another
stenographer, though, Miss Maud
Davis, one of Paula's best friends.
It's too bad about Paula, though. Some
things happened that has broken her
all up. She's"
Richard did not stop for more. He
abruptly left Tom, rushed from the
club and hailed taxi at the door.
Fifteen minutes later he was with
Paula in the back drawing room Of
the Yates home.
"But you said you couldn't leave
Tom in the lurch-that he needed you
that you'd be the first one to know
when he really was engaged"
swell, I'm Maud's best friend and
Toms stenographer-who else would
know better? And l did promise Tom
I wouldn't give up business within
year-but-"
Richard had taken all there was Of
Paula Yates into his arms.
"Never you mind about that" he
said. "Ill take chance with Tom
Rogers"