Daily Kennebec journal., 1924-04-22

would have when he, Archie. got out
to British East, or wherever he was
finally advised or helped to 90 py
those influential friends OF Sir Kobe's.
why Is it." she asked. ''that the
best lover is always the worst love-
letter writer, and vice versa?
What do you know about that,
miss?" he demanded, but laughingly,
as they tramped on over those dGz-
rade.
For once neither Of them had any
wish either to kiss or quarrel.
"We do quarrel rather a lot. II you
come to think Of it." the boy said
at last, after pause. "Since we've
been engaged, I've just been thinking,
we have SO fought"
Ethel said, 1--WE always should"
''Am I such a quarrelsome person?
Or are you:"
Its not that. Archie. It's-my
always minding so."
Winding? Winding what, dear:"
"Those girls" said Ethel. looking
away toward the rocks. "Ail those
girls there were IN your life
Before me-"
Upon her clear and sunny mood
there seemed to come down a black
ness, suddenly as the sea showers
that blotted out the islands.
Good Lord!" Archie took UP un-
comfortably, "Why drag in-I don't
know what you mean-Girls--'
Yes. Girls you've known; ad-
mired. Like Lucy Joy. Girls you've
kissed. Girls you've loved. :"
1 know. / told you I've always
known that, Archie" She turned to
him face Of gathering trouble; on.
red lock blown out Of her russet
sports cap, waved across her throat
You aren't going to pretend to me
that there weren't any,"
II don't pretend anything to you,"
he said gently and sincerely. You
know how care for you. Good Heav-
ems, makes everything else-weii,
simply never have happened"
cit happened, though"
"Well, if Well, but ] say. Dari-
ing! Be reasonable. How many fell
lows of nearly twenty-six get mar
ried. to the first--the very
first girl that they've ever looked at?
And II they do, what? Precious little
catch for the girl, I should say"
Il know. I've heard that theory,
from Ethel. In voice that hardened
friend of mine said about somo en-
eagement, An absolutely untouched
heart, has he? And she, the very first
love? Poor child, she's in for a tepid
and q clumsy husband, fear me-
Now, you agree with that Archie!"
Such an accusing CLINT she turned
upon him.
ayes, 1 know you're thinking that
| it's true enough" she cried. "You
think 1 ought to be glad that you've
been broken in to-how to treat me.
I'll tell you always see through IT
all The way you know ones moods.
The way you don't repeat yourself.
The way you touch me. The way
you take hold of me. The-the
ways you kiss me! Making your very
voice sound as though it kissed me
when you don't! Dyou suppose l
never notice?"
"D'you want me to hope you don't
notice me?"
you're doing it now Trying to
get round me-" she retorted, stifren-
| ing her spine and glaring out to sea.
sAll part of it. The very way you
brush your hair! That gloss you get.
| like satin. That verbena-wasn you
, put on it-yes, the whole smell Of
nice hair wash and cigarettes and
about you; your being SO like man
| Ah CNCAS 0aAN ~ ~ ~
dainty"
"Ah, rot, dearest-'
"It's all learnt! To please women!
II know! Oh! D'you suppose I
wouldn't rather have had a clumsy
! lover?" cried this innocent. ungrate-
,, fully. "Women have taught you
| things. Another of them is"
! well? What?"
"The way you always put things
charmingly. Never any stupid anec-
dotes! Never making fun of-of
things girls mind. Never an ugly ex-
, preston. You always use the pretti-
est words for things"
! How on earth 'dyou mean?"
! "When you said my hair was like
: q nosegay Of marigolds in the wood
~
$50 it was"
"But you said 'nosegay' - not
! 'bupch'- -"
| but, darling. what ridiculous
| trifie-"
]