The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1946-02-28

KLAND FOSTs WEST JEFFEf
ing in her heart that this mar
should be so concerned about her
"You see," he told her slowly
obviously feeling for words with
which to phrase thought so new
to him that the words were slow
to come, "I've always given loud
raucous laugh at the thought Of
feeling protective towards &
woman; in my book, women are
a darned sight smarter about
looking out for themselves thar
men; women are tougher ano
more resilient; and yet when
saw that item for the morning
edition, in which your grand,
mother announced your engage
ment, l suddenly knew that il
mustn't end in marriage!"
IF you've quite finished
Ann was keeping her voice frosty
/ by a real effort. > ''''' -
"Oh, but l haven't, I haven't
really begun!" he assured he1
warmly. "Frazier's affair with
the Barton lady is well known
about town.. there's been a lot Of
gossip; of course his announce
ment of his engagement to you
will throw bit of dust into peo-
pies eyes-it might even do 9
spot of white washing-and boy
can he use it! But you're toe
sweet and lovely, too fine CIR!
to be used that way! Sol don't
propose to permit it. I have plans
for you"
"You have plans for me?" she
gasped incredulous.
He looked down at her a:
though puzzled.
"Well, certainly I have plans
for you-who else would have
better ones?" he demanded, irri
tated at the question.
Ann drew a long, hard breath
and was able to say at last, coolly
almost insolently, as though witt
a hint of amusement, you woult
not by any chance be-proposlnl
to me, MIR. Driscoll?'
He stared at her sharply.
Proposing to you?" he repeat
ed dazedly.
''Well, it sounded a little like
build-up to something of tn
Sort" she admitted and now Their
was the smallest possible sugges
ton of breathless laughter in he
voice.
ooh good Lord, mol" he cried
shocked and appalled, at the yer.
thought, taken too completely b,
surprise even to mask his shocl
and the fact that the suggestion
was most unattractive one
What crazy idea! Just becaus
I'm trying to keep you from max
ing fool of yourself-that doesn'
mean I want you to make NOR
of one by marrying mel"
She couldn't control the expires
sion that swept over her face AM
Tracy said, contrite, dismayec
ooh, now, see here, Clayton
didn't mean that the way
sounded! Td-why, I'd be honor
ed and-and everything-if you''
marry me, of course-if it wer
possible. But the truth of tn
matter is-if l marry at al
which is highly unlikely, the wa.
I feel at the moment, it will hav
to be LISA
1t seemed to Ann that she stoot
there, very still, while the year
and years of shame and humilia
ton poured over her. She hat
been fluttering Of heart and lit
ing of voice, and to her owl
amazement she had been a littl
breathless with the thought tina
Tracy Driscoll was in love witt
her! She had betrayed hersel
to him-and to herself, becaus
she had not dreamed until thi
moment that she cared at all TO
Tracy.
'I'm-well, I'm sorry as tn
dickens" Tracy began unhap
PLY.
But Ann cut in holly, 'And wei
you should be! You-you'v
been insulting and-and-out
rageous and you should be asham
ed of yourself. It's certainly NJ
affair of yours who I marry"
'No. of course not" Tracy ad