Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1927-10-06
CHAPTER XII

ing a lady? It's not done. One Ell
Their goes on, or leaves off, and If cir
cumstances or places compel one to
leave off abruptly, then surely the
lady should understand.
Ned, who had kissed several on the
way to Mary, was completely at loss,
None Of them had taken it just like
this; grown red, then silent, and re-
fused to meet his eyes. He would not
have cared if they had, but he did
care now. He made one or two at
tempts at speech, but the shoulder
shrank from his, the hand refused to
be held, and the face remained
averted.
The high gods, who love lover,
saw his plight and gave Ned the only
words that could help him.
I'm not sorry. But I am sorry you
take it like this"
A voice from far away said: "It
was like-like servant girl out with
"a"
"Grocer's boy" finished Ned. II
suppose that's why you feel insulted."
The colored marble he had been sit
ting beside for the last few moments,
returned to life. Med Carter! You
know it wasn't that. Naturally re-
scented you" but the voice stopped
abruptly and the blue eyes had haze
of tears.
Ned gathered up the limp hand
again, very gently, and kept his eyes
fixed on the water Of the sluggish
canal. "What am I to do? How are
you to know that I am mad about
you, unless I tell you? And how can
you know whether you like kissing
me, unless try it?"
you're outrageous; know moth
ing about you, and to-oh-in a gon-
dola-in broad daylight"
Ned's laugh echoed across the ca
nal. ooh, Mary, I adore you. How
long will it take you to learn that by
heart? I'll say 1t all over again, to-
night, and in the darkest corner of
Venice"
"You will not get chance. You
will please land now, and take me
to my father"
eff do, will you think about meT'
"Oh, yes, I'll think about you," and
with that Ned had to be content.
"Mary. your fathers very fond of
me-"
"That's the one thing 1 know in
your favor"
eff you ask Claude Dabbs, he will
tell you all about me-"
II shall not ask my father"
This being exceedingly satisfactory
to Ned, he went on few steps in ST.
lence. glancing down at the adorable
hat this loveliest Of ladies wore. 1t
was faced with blue that matched her
eyes. He wished she would look up.
Elbow are you to know-if you do
not ask?"
She looked up, and down again
quickly. "Oh, I shall know"
IF you leave it to your heart" he
murmured close to her ear, IT shall
be satisfied"
"If my father were not standing
there watching u.s." said Mary in the
same conversational tone, II would
slap you, good and hard"
She left him and went forward ca
gerly to greet Claude. He came as
eagerly to meet his girl, and Ned
found himself very much out of the
picture. The girl, VINO had been hard
to him, was very sweet and daugh-
terly to Claude. 1t was Claude who
kindly held Ned within the charmed
circle, and Mary who made him feel
out of touch.
All the rest of that lovely after
noon Mary wandered about with the
two men who loved her. 1t was
agreed between Mary and Claude
Dabbs that II Polly kept to her room
that night, Mary should contrive to
dine with him. She could, without
actually telling a fb, she assured
Claude, allow her mother to suppose
that she was dining with the Farleys.
and Mrs. Farley was a dear and
would understand IL Mary told her at
the last minute that she was dining