The storyteller.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7840, 5 June 1905, Page 4

The storyteller.

? *- HAVING IT OUiy-i * Vjid" Unit's-what she-said," Polh finished breathlessly, her brown e.es gjowing with earnestness and her : \.S cU,s;>ed over her knees. . 5 - Shut that lecturer the women au uil raving al|jut, isn't she. ?" ■«... usKiit Tom .'Will, you needn't sneer,", said' •i- Poly. " She is just lovely, and sho •woio the loveliest brown T dress (this i aiter.ioon. .HI the girls were perfectly ira«y over her. And tho way sha poiated out the dangers of constant v <luaneiling and fussing- was just terrible, Tom. She said that every slngfe hard word was . like a scar on j.; il-.s spirit, and made it as ugily aa a hC iiTtii fa'ce,; and it territied me to; - dittth. .. for. we do Jquarrel an awfui lot. So 1 haw: made.up my mind \ that we must never do it again. . Ji<; i kyur. end l'orbearr-that • was . what - lie said." lJireo. dajs ago," remarked Tom casually. "you said that life with* , f. ottt friction .was like an egg : with* , out i ii.vtr did," she declared, " bec.u.se 1 like eggs without salt. But, *0 juiim, never get: angry with eacl* other again, Tom." You mustn't,'' said Tom. " The --next • time X have ..an \it.U .von and; sonic new man comes • aloiy—or jjuiue old jone—like that 'J ik-s I'lnham iiast week, Tollv, you——" • r i explained to you perfectly pi.uuijj, loiu Grantham, just how it hiippcn-ir." said PoiUy iirmly. "You Knov. v**v> wtH that I didn'fev-under-i ..stand that you were coming-up that nigl.i. anc I proved it to you by Molly: And, anyhowr," what did Jack matter? All that happened years and \ears ag«. if he wanted to see) me again when he was in town just - for a day he had a perfect right tq come, and 1 had every right to let' him—so there." Tom looked pained. Tolly glanced' at him and then continued. ' v Anyway, I'd like to know who was responsible for that fuss over s \l»w|.ray. You know how I liali' iier and how she spreuds cverytliiiv.r. Your just calling, on lier that evening was .enough for her to start it all n\er town that our engagemen I was broken off. Why, I was . ilen\ ing it for months, and shejhate-' ltd l ! .i'patronises inc evenj'et." " i'idn t this high priestess at the lecture to-day say something to you girls a;A>ut l-einif sisters in spirit, or 1 s.ynething' lo that effect?" inquired i'oiw*. ' Stella Mowbxay's a nieft l'lillv, :mil yoti know it. even if \o« .clou t let yourself say it." - " Oh. nice ; " snilTod roily. " -\!ce," remarked Tom, iirmly. Polly • swung her foot and 'looked out 01 tie window, while Tom prodtiee.'l a eijjar and elaborately lighted !•'. " Jack'Sf nice, 'too," she said breif- !.'• • Sun. there you go," said Torn, with inaddt ning gentleness, " We'd belle:' ptdl up." ••■We will not," sa,id I'olly. "We v.ili have it riyht out here. What do <.u mean by ' there you go '? " Why," said Tom, judicially, " 11::.t you there, I .'-uppo»e. ■' _ " V.ell, said Polly, "you got jealoii;, iiraigiit away because 1 spoke to Jie'x, and that's what you *-meant, and I'll tell you that ,when he comes back from Egypt he's coming lo See lv.e .i jaii,. " All 1 can Siiy " Kjegan Tom, aagiavating deliberation. 1 don't care a bit what you say," ' broke in . My, "but. for ' go(Klne.ss" s ike hurry up and get it off your uiiii'd." "-I was aliiDnt to remark that we 'Vci. about lienhau, becituse i{ H-^quite possible that an a Hi-a (.-jr. may eat him up," said; Tom. ' . • ." „ B on't," sa'id Pollv, Wiidlyi Tl sKfth-i." ' ffl 't jiiinSi— it will," lemarßed Tom. " <"•'!' Uroathed J'ojly,. furiously, " 1 just w"jsit that I dared throw this old nn- right at yon—if it was anyt thinij but iiiy first solitaire, I would do——" pau.'orl. shocked and stilled,| _ 1 hen Tom cast away his cigar andj I'iMci''de ltu pro\e himself equal to llii' situation. ■' ! don't rare," said Polly. happ;K. half an hour, later. "I think l (|ti:iM'els are fun." " Ours are." said Tom. " Polly, how is that Itenhain fellow go- . in< to .stay away from home?" Poij.v .slightly. j !!re <' > ears," she murmnned. ■' iio I heard," remarked Tom.