Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-12-23

Thou wouldst still be adored, as this
moment thou art,
Let thy loneliness fade as tt"
She broke off suddenly to inquire
would you adore me just as much, MIR.
Huff, If my loneliness all faded away2"
Just as much, probably" MIR. Huff an
swered dryly.
She sighed. She let her hand trickle a
silvered cascade.
Ben sat awaiting worse to come; and
he was not disappointed.
But then, of course" she said, II
guess you don't think much of my love-
illness. even now. Else you wouldn't have
said I'm cut out to be an old maid"
Ben lifted his head sharply. whats
that?"
She obligingly repeated.
How'd you get that?"
Annabel dipped her hand in the water.
and contemplated the new cascade, be-
fore she answered. "Oh, some one told
me-I've forgotten who"
"Toli you what?"
Annabel looked up at him. Her eyes
were carefree, laughing-sweet.
why, don't you know what you your
self ave said? That girls like me gener-
ally end by being old maids?"
Ben gave Bull creek a vicious jab with
oil Odls dllQ hlQlbJlCo IA lltlll5 aCOAN
the gossiping cats in little towns.
You shouldn't give them q morsel to
work on" advised Annabel with q tinge
of reproof, the very mildest. IF you'd
never said anything they'd never have
had anything to repeat, don't you see?"
Ben's jaw twitched without his achiev-
ing speech, and Annabel queried: You
did say it. didn't your"
Say what?"
THAT I'll probably end an old maid"
patiently.
His oar work again caused the boat to
careen, and she exclaimed: watch out
or you'll upset usl" Then: you needn't
be angry that / know, because, you see.
I'm not angry. You did say it?"
We'll, and what II I did9"
She nodded, q little sadly. 81 thought
you did. And I expect it's a true proph-
ecy. But somehow I don't like 1T
suppose no girl really wants to be an old
maid, does she?"
ton. and better II so, for her companion
only frightened his lips.
Annabel ventured: rs 1t because I'm
SO plain?"
This, too, might as we'll have been a
rhetorical question. Then she raised her
lashes. "Or is 1t Just hat I'm unat-
tractive to mems that what you
meant?"
You know what 1 meant"
II wish I did. For it sort OF appalls
me--Id do anything to save myself from
being an old maid. Couldn't you per-
haps advise me, Mr.. Huff? You're a aw-
yer, and SO brilliant in your profession,
they say"
I'm afraid neither my training nor
inclination covers such q CASE
That's Disappointing For q moment
she looked Respondent; then she leaned
forward. and said hopefully: Maybe
you'd marry me-"
"Wh-what?" suffered Ben. taken of
guard.
And then suddenly, before he quite
realized what she was up to, she had left
her seat and came creeping forward, AND
came to a pause on her knees, her face
uplifted p~leadingly.
wouldn't you please save me from
that dreadful fate?"
You're rocking the boat" he replied
CURLY. TITS advisable to sit in the seats
these old shells aren't too steady, any
how"
rs it," quayered Annabel. that you're
turning me DOWN."
If you've had fun enough at my ex'
pense I'll take you back now n give
some Of the others their turn"
He was furious. He would never for
give this climactic and peculiarly un'
condonable hippancy. And she, Of course
would never forgive in him that which
had provoked the fippancy. And their
they were. here have been other younl
couples like them; there will be again.
And perhaps this was SO.
She was nineteen, and he wasn't
great many years older.