Life — August 7, 1902 — page 9: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

“SRE turning the lie into truth.” Off came his hat, and he stood Ze uncovered.“ Miss Warrington,” said he, with a very white “will you marry me?” Said Ethel, in a faint little voice that I could hardly hear: If I couldn't believe irs, neither could he. “Do you mean it?” was all he could say. And then I saw anew Ethel. [thought I had nothing to learn about that sister of mine, after twenty years’ acquaintance with her and her high and mighty ways, but this was a girl I dic know. She looked up with cheeks as pink as peonies, and lifted her face to Curt’s as if she had been used to it all her life. I saw the old chap catch her up in his arms like a baby, and next minute I had rolled over, and wriggling away through the grass for dear life. Halfan hour later I sneaked into the house by the back door, for the mud and grass stains brought from my late retirement made me no fit spectacle for the crowd on the front veranda ; but ofcourse Aunt Helen caught me. My face must have borne (besides smears) the marks of M13 | Topacco | WAREHOUSE was THE SHIPLOAD OF MAIDS TO JAMESTOWN, “THOU ART LATE, JOHN, BUT PORTUNATELY ONE DANSEL STILL REMAINS.” made a party to your deceit.” “Upon my honor, I can’t see it $0,” said Curtis ; “ your position was false only while you submitted to that”—here he swallowed a word with a great gulp—"‘ to Jermyn’s insinuations. The bare fact is that I am going away because you do not Jove me ; and there is so little real differ- ence between your having told me so, and my having found it out for myself, that I thought I might stretch the facts so far.” After a pause he added: “It seemed the simplest way.” “It wasn't the truth,” persisted Ethel, obstinately ; she was leaning against a tree, and I thought she seemed to be in an ugly humor. Curtis was terribly dis- tressed. “You can't think how sorry I am that you feel so about it,” he said ; “Iam very, very sorry—more sorry than I can say.” To that she answered nothing at all, but kept her eyes on the ground. Pres- ently Curtis began to speak again ina low voice, and before I knew it I hada lump in my throat as big as my fist. It was no use to tell myself that I was a fool, and that it was only old Curtis talk- ing to my own sister, who wasn't half good enough for him (I hated Ethel cor- dially just then) ; still the lump stuck Curtis was saying that he would never forgive himself for having caused her a moment's pain, though he had only been trying in his clumsy way to show his love for her; that because he had known and loved her, he would be a better man all his life, and would try, out of pure grati- tude for what she had been to him, to play man’s part in the world; and a great deal more of the kind, in his low, steady voice, while I swore that if Ethel could listen to Jermyn after that, I would dis- own her. And at last he asked her to give him her hand in token of forgiveness. She gave him her hand, and he took it in both his ; I think he kissed it. “This is good-bye,” he said. ‘It is almost train-time, and I shall not see you again.” “ Must you go?" said Ethel, very low, with her eyes still on the ground. “Tt is best that I should go,” hean- swered gently. He kissed her hand again, and released it, but there was something wrong with Ethel yet; that was plain to see. “You are still thinking that I made you act a lie,” he said, in a discouraged tone, and though she shook her head silently to say that it wasn’t that, he got no comfort out of the denial. Then all at once he drew himself up and did a plucky thing—harder than walking up toa can- non's mouth, and as hopeless. “We can square that,” he said, “by mental upheaval, for she exclaimed : “Why, Ted, are you ill? “No, ma'am,” [ said, “I'm only. an Why is Bob putting up the trap She gave me one of those looks that you couldn't read with a dictionary. “Mr. Curtis could hardly catch the six- fifteen train now,” she saii “LT wouldn't have him unhiteh, if I were you,” said J, playing the inscrutable game myself; “there's another at seven- thirty.” “Why, Ted!” she gasped. I kissed her. “No, Curtis won't want to take it,” I said, “but Jermyn might.” And he did. Of course, anyone is liable to make mistakes sometimes (as I admitted to Aunt Helen that evening after dinner), but I must say that my observations are generally correct. Cora A, Hardy, ass, OINING OUT. Mr. Rabbit: No, THANKS. 1 NEVER EAT MEAT, AS IT MAKES ONE GROW Coansr. Mr. Linn: weit, WAVE EATEN A GOOD DEAL, AND IT NEVER DONE MF NO HARM. comicbooks.com