The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1924-08-15

Louise Westway put back her pretty
head and laughed.
THAT'S a good one" she said. "Re-
minds me Of the one about the old lady
on the train. You know itY'
mo; let's have It," suggested her
caller.
"Well, there was an old lady going
to Boston, and all the way there she
Kept asking the conductor endless silly
questions. Finally she said, 'Cap'n,
when / get to Boston which end Of
the car shall l get off atY And the
conductor said, Either end, madam /
they both stop there"
VIII Mason slapped his thigh and
roared with laughter. His whole body
shook. A frown ofAdispleasure flashed
across Miss Westway's face and she
became suddenly silent. She simply
could not bear to see VIII Mason
laugh. He was well bred and Of good
family surely he knew 1t was COM
mon and annoying to go on as If he
were having an epileptic attack every
time he heard something funny. She
actually felt embarrassed for him. and
often wondered why the chair did not
give way beneath him. Every minute
she expected to see it happen, and
sometimes even wished that it would.
Perhaps 1t would teach him lesson.
Its all right to tell jokes he re-
marked moment later, breaking In on
her thoughts, but, Louise, you're evad-
ing me, and I'm not going to propose
to you again. If there's any more Of
It done you'll have to do It," He was
all seriousness now, and the girl felt
that his words were final.
"Oh, dear, VIII, can't tell you how
I feel about 1t. Sometimes think I'm
terribly in love with you, and some
times I think I'm not. It's such a big
step, and tonight / feel all cross and
irritable. Everything annoys me So"
She seemed on the verge Of tears.
"ArA you i'll, dearY' He was all
concern at once and put cool hand
on her forehead. on her nervous,
twitching fingers. Suddenly she felt
calmer; he was adorable when he was
I, like that, so tender and gentle and
yet so mascullnely self-possessed.
"Does your head ache?" he asked
after a moment. Maybe I'd better
go home and let you go to bed"
A Ell don't know what aches. /
think it's my heart" she stalnmered
out and hid her head In the cushions.
Now, don't cry, honey" He
stroked her hair. did l hurt you
when said wouldn't propose again?
I'll take it back If did, and Pill go
on asking you as often as I have to
until you can make up your mind
whether you want me or not. Won't
that DOR
She dried her eyes and looked at
him. How big and manly he was.
After all, what girl could resist him Z
Only his laughter stood between
them like an evil spirit trying to sep
arate them.
''Well, don't let's worry any more
about 1t tonight I'll be going, and
you run upstairs to bed. Goodnight,
dear" He held her hand a second,
then picked up his hat and left her.
The next day on her way down
town on the street car Louise sat
directly behind two men who were
talking SO loud that she could not
help hearing what they were saying.
'Tell you what, JIM" said theNolder
man, you'll have to find out one thing,
and that pretty early in the game
marriage is just series Of adjust
ments, and there are no two persons
on earth so perfect they aren't going
TO do things that get on each others
nerves once in while. You know,
when Edith and I were first married,
simply couldn't bear the way she ate.
She seemed to pick over her food, and
she'd take spoonful of ice cream and
put 1t in her mouth, and when the
spoon would come out, instead Of be-
ing empty only the top would be licked
OF. thought 1t would drive me mad,
and yet hated to say anything to her.
Things were really getting serious,
when l came home Unexpectedly one
day and heard her talking to her moth
er over the phone. I've overcome It,
mother she said. You know how
Harry used to drive me wild the way
he'd forget and interrupt people when
we had callers? He'd get so interested
In what they were saying he'd break
right in. Well, 1t got worse and worse,
until one day realized that If let 1t
get on my nerves any more we'd land
In the divorce court, so decided to
payeno more attention to It. and soon
forgot to notice whether he interrupt
ed or not. and I found out another
thing, all people do 1t sometimes when
they're interested and excited, so It
wasn't such dreadful fault After
that realized that If she could be as
big as that. l could, too, so instead of
my critical attitude became more toll
Grant, and now l really don't know
whether Edith still eats that way or
not. On my word I don'tl'
well, good luck, old boy, this Is
where get off,"
Tho snookor had r~o,,a hxx< ho Ma