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Show A Cure for Dignity By LAWRENCE ALFRED CLAY Hecause Harold Speed was twenty-four twenty-four years old, and because Miss Gertrude Ger-trude IUyburn was only nineteen; because he was rather prim and pre-clue, pre-clue, and she wbb a tort of tomboy; because be was in love with her and because of several other reasons, he bad come to speak of her as Little Miss Chit. She was saucy and lmpui!nt and Independent, and sbe was very demure de-mure and deceitful and Ingenious. If she loved him In return she wasn't going to let him know It until she got good and readr. She resented his primness and preclseness and the rebukes he offered. When her mother talked to her shout ber wicked ways she elevated ber chlttlsh chin and replied: "And who is Harold to boss me. He la only a btt older than I am, though he acts like an old deacon. I'm going to keep at him until be drops that awful dignity and acts as any other young man would." "He has asked you to marry him, ( presume?" queried the mother. "Yes, he has, and how did he do It? We were sitting In the summer bouse one evening, and I was chewing chew-ing gum. It was a beautiful night. The crickets were singing, and the night breeze was rustling the big willow. wil-low. It was Just the nicest night In the world to talk love, but did he talk It? No, mamma. After we hud at there like two stupids for a long balf hour, and Just as I was expecting expect-ing him to drop to bis knees and propose, he said: "'Do you think we ought to keep a cat when we are married?' "Why, m run in a, I was so mad that I slmoHt swallowed my gum! Did rou ever hear the like?" "Harold Is a very steady young man, and you are hoity-toity," replied re-plied the mother. "I'm not. It's Just only that I won't be a grandmother till I have to be. Oh, you wait. I ll bring that young uutitUMl Liu-rmrj frvM.) "I think I could walk out of Its path." "I wish a policeman would arrest you ! " "What for?" "I wish he'd arrest you and slam bang you all over the block, and that t-lie Judge would give you thirty days the next morning! Oh, that dignity! How I Just would like to see it sKm banged!" "Thank you." "And you needn't come here no more!" "Hut I shall." "And I never said I'd marry you when you asked if we ought to keep a cat. You go to father if you dare!" "Is he at borne this evening, please?" "And I'd elope with the butcher boy sooner than than " "Miss Chit. I haven't seen you playing marbles or drawing a toy cart about yet!" Three days later Miss Gertrude and her mother went to a manor house for a week's stay. It was winter, and the lake, a quarter of a mile away, was frozen over, and certain folks were fishing through the Ice with good lu(k. Mr. Speed was to come down for the laBt two days of their stay. There were four clear days In which to snowball, skate, ilsb and slide down hill. F.ven a snowman was built at the gate and a sign of "Dignity" would have been bung around his neck If Miss Chit could have bud ber way. The thought that Mr Speed was to come down and spoil the last two days set a certain little head thinking. A plan was laid. ;md the hoy who had baited her llbh-liooks was called In to convplre. lie grinned mid Miss Chit giggled. "What's afoot now?" asked the suspicious sus-picious mother. "Nothing, mamma dear. Harold will be here tomorrow. He will arrive at 11 o'clock, the same nB we did. I shall be over at the lake fishing. Tell him where I am. No, there's nothing doing, mamma. I'd Just like to see him catch a fish through the Ice." Harold arrived. As usual, be was punctual to the minute. He was shown the path to the lake and be walked over there. His last few steps were hastened by screams for help. Yes, he roal'y hastened, and the sight . that met bis eyes as he stood on the shore made him thrill. Miss Gertrude was afloat on a cake of Ice. She was holding out her hands to him In supplication. There was a boy standing around on one foot with his finger In his mouth and looking helpless. "A boat! A boat!" cried Harold as he seized the lad and shook him out of his coat. "There over there, but It's too late!" "Harold oh. Harold!" from the cake of Ice. "Yes yes. I'll save you! Help me, you young villain or I'll flrown you!" There was Ice and water In the boat, and only a board for a paddle, but It was launched and on Its way to the rescue when a strange thing happened. Little Miss Chit seized the end of the rope and began pulling herself and cake of Ice back to the main portion and presently stepped on the firm Ice. As she did so she sat down and clapped her hands and began to laugh. Harold slowly returned re-turned the boat and then walked out to where the chuckles and giggles and chirrups came from. For thirty seconds he kept his face mobile Then he grinned then smiled then broke down and laughed till the tears came. "1 Just bet them two folks are going to get married!" announced the boy as be sauntered up to tho bouse. "What makes you think so?" "Cause they are sitting down on do Ice a sbakln' bands and laughin' like two Idiots. Hark! You can hear him holler clear Ik re!" BI!!L.!.JI IFTtJ ' ' aT With Her Father's Hat and Cane. man off his pedestal If he continues to hang around here. If be thinks I'm going lo walk a chalkline for him he's very much mistaken." Harold was expected that very evening, eve-ning, and he arrived on tlme not a minute too soon nor a minute too late. The butler waved him Into the parlor, according to program, and according to further program he expected to find Miss Gertrude sitting bolt upright In her chair as she waited his appearance. Hut she wasn't In a rhnir at all. She was sitting on the floor like a girl of ten, and moreover sbe was making a rag doll. She looked for Mr. Speed to exclaim. II" might even turn and leave the house. He did nothing of the kind. He simply sim-ply said: "Sorry, Miss Chit that you haven't another little girl to play with. Fx-cuse Fx-cuse me, please, while I look at the latest magazine." "Oh, sure! Wish grandma was homo to talk with you!" And for a long hour she sat there and talked to her doll and sung to ) herself, but she couldn't even ruffle the conservative young man. He seemed quietly to enjoy the situation. On another occasion he began to talk politics as soon as he entered her presence, and after standing It for half an hour she yawned and asked If he had any objection to going go-ing out and buying a quart of peanuts pea-nuts to roast In the kitchen. She hoped ho would flush up and even swear, but be disappointed her. He remained cool and calm and answered an-swered that he hojied her frivolity would entirely disappear some day. Again, he entered the parlor to find her walking up and down with a cane, and her father's silk bat on her head. She continued to walk after aft-er his entrance, and It was only after he had seatrd , hlrr.self and began be-gan to read a letter taken from his pocket thst he threw hat and cane Into a corner and exclaimed "Harold Speed, am I nobody or nothing" "Why. yea you are little Miss Chit." he answered. "And you are Dignity on a mountain! moun-tain! Ssy, would you Jump li a street car was coming at you' |