The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-04-11
THE STORY
CHAPTER XII

SVVV ~ nv
YIOW can q man apologize for
/ j kissing a LADY, It's not done.
One either goes Oh. or leaves OF.
and II circumstances or places COM
pei one to leave of abruptly. then
surely the lady should understand
red, VINO mad kissed several on
the way IL Mary. WAS completely
ut u loss. None VI them had teken
1T just like this: grown red, then
silent. and refused 10 meet his eyes.
He would not have cared II they
had, but he did care now. He
made one or two attempts ut
speech. but the shoulder shrank
from his. the hand refused 10 be
held. and sthe face remained avert
ed.
The high gods. who love a lover.
saw his plight and gave Ned the
only words that could help him.
I'm not sorry. But l AIN sorry
you take 1t like this"
A voice from far away said: M
was like--like servant girl out
with a"
Grocery boy" finished Ned. II
suppose that's why you feel H.
suited"
The cOlored marble he had been
sitting beside for the last few mo
Inents returned TO life. "Ned Car
ter. You know 1t wasn't that. Nat
urally l resented you" but the
voice stopped abruptly and the
blue eyes had q haze Of tears.
Ned gathered up the limp hand
again. very gently, and kept his
eyes fixed on the water Of the slug
gish canal. "What am l To do?
How are you to know that I am
mad about you. unless l tell you?
And how can you know whether
you like kissing me unless l try
.lOu're outrageous: l know moth
ing about you. and tO--oh-in Z
gOndOla In broad daylight"
Ned's laugh echoed across the
canal. "Oh, Mary, adore you.
How long will 1t take you to learn
I ekAt by heart? I'll say 1t all over
asa' TO night. and In tie darkest
cornes -. Venice"
will please land nov, snA tsL. M
to my. father" go 49,
III l do, will you think abo~4
me?'
| "Oh, yes. I'll think about you,'
and with that Ned had to be con
tent.
of me-"
THAT'S the one thing I know in
your favor"
! IL you ask Claude Dabbs. be
will tell you all about me-
II shall not ask my father"
This being exceedingly satisfac.
i tory to Ned. he went on q few
steps in silence, glancing down al
! the adorable hat that this loveliest
OF ladies' wore. 1t was faced with
blue that matched her eyes. HI
wished she would look up.
How are you to know-if you
do not ask ?" h
She looked up. and down again
quickly. "Oh, l shall know"
III you leave 1t to your heart.
he murmured close to her ear, II
shall be satisfied"
III my father were not standing
there watching u.s." said Mary IL
the same conversational tone, VI
would slap you. good and hard"
She left him and went forward
eagerly to greet Claude. He came
as eagerly to meet his girl, and
Ned found himself very much GU,
Of the picture. The girl. who had
been hard to him. was very sweet
and daughterly to Claude, 1t wal
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 will
the two men who loved her. 1t wa,
agreed between Mary and CIaud.
Dabbs that II Polly kept her room
that night, Mary should contrive I.
dine with him. She could, with
out actually telling a III. she w
sured Claude, allow her mother Il
suppose that she was dining with
the Farleys, and Mrs. Farley WA.
dear and would understand Il
Mary told her at the last minut.
that she was dining with friends
She would telephone from her ho
tel and Claude would come ant
take her to hls. and bring her back
With this they had to be con
tent. They parted from Mary be
fore they reached the entrance Il
her hotel.
POlly's headache was better
but she decided not to get up. Whel
Mary came into her room. read.
to 90 to dinner. Polly was sittin,
up In bedA tray before her.
my word. Mary, you look sweet
Turn around and let me see if II
like you AZ well when you leay,
the room - when you come in.
"rhe FArleys ought to appreclat.
you. Mary. IL young Farley to b,
there tonight? II his mother knew
we were poor It might make dif
ference. you know
Il hope 1t does" Mary an
swered lightly. apparently en-
crossed with her Image In tn,
glass. Il could do with less O.
young Farley.
Then what IL It. her mother
thought. that makes her look Jus
that way? It must be 4 man!
I ANYONE interesting among tn,
new arrivalss"
II don't know" Mary answered
honestly. "I1l look them owe