| Show w NOT A LUNATIC by L M M WESTON he Is simply crazy edna declared sirs mrs burnett with conviction it la Is town talk and you auevery are very foolish not to br break enkoff olf your engagement immediately with a man who sleeps on a board oafs eats nothing but brealand bread brea dand and milk and health foods and retires retired every night before twelve what kind of a life can you expect wath such euch a husband 1 I dont know its as those are habits to 10 barm it a wife return eu iuna edna I una bravely although her blue eyes filled with tears but as you say ray they are rather queer for a stalwart young man to adopt queer sniffed mrs burnett disdainfully dain fully 1 I should say queer was a very mild word she rose as she spoke and flounced out of the room leaving her daughter plunged in painful reflections A moment later the port leres erpa at the other end of the room were softly withdrawn and a alne looking young man appeared edna looked up with a startled air jo she gasped how long have you been behind those curtains long enough to hear myself called a lunatic he replied his dark eyes sparkling with merriment your respected mother rubbed it in shel she but I 1 hope you wont take her advice and give me ray my walking ticket As he be spoke he bent over the girl and pressed a fervent kiss on her lips which was shyly yet unmistakably returned 1 I cant give you up jo 11 she murmured affectionately but I 1 do wish you would tell me why why you do queer things and you cant wait any longer he bo queried quelled Pat lence tence has ceased to be a virtue and you are about ready to break our engagement she looked up in his alq face and the love and tenderness that shone in hla his eyes conquered her she shook her head saying no jo I 1 love you yon with till nil my heart and I 1 have absolute faith in you only only I 1 want you to know how hard it la Is so you wont make me wait any longer than la Is absolutely necessary A triumphant smile lighted his face he took her in his arnis arms and kissing her rapturously said fondly my darling girl you are not going to walt wait another hour I 1 came around today to tell you but I 1 resist the temptation out if you could or would trust me longer now for the mystery A few months ago harold flint was spending the evening with my father you know the two are old friends and mr flint Is my godfather well my brother and sister and I 1 were in another room and we began to discuss the old gentleman and I 1 said that I 1 wished I 1 had half his bis money my bly slater sister said she if she would have to be old like him and not able to sleep or eat well or have any real good times I 1 differed with her and said that I 1 should bo be willing to sleep every night on a hard board eat nothing hut but read bread and milk and health foods abandon evening entertainments and go to bed earl early for half of mr flints income well to go on with my story the next day the old man sent for me to meet him at his office told me lie he had overheard our conversation the night before and was going to call my bluff bi so to speak he said that lie he was afraid that I 1 valued money too highly that it was nothing compared with youth and health arid and offered to give me half of his income fifty thousand dollars if I 1 would live the life of an aged dyspeptic for six months ile he told me though that as millionaires were always maligned I 1 was to keep our contract secret because the comments on my mode of life would bo be as disagreeable gree able to bear as any other part of the test I 1 wanted to make an exception in your favor dear but he said that rich men were always uncertain its as to whether the women they loved were nvere sincere or note not consequently he th thought ouight I 1 had better test your love tin and d faith at the same time I 1 demurred and we finally compromised I 1 agreed not to explain the situation to you tor for three months now dear what hat shall I 1 do personally I 1 quite agree with the old man now that youth and health are far better than wealth still fifty thousand dollars would give us such a splendid start 1 I should say so assented edna with a subdued chuckle that finally developed into a hearty laugh at first jo looked affronted then his frown gave place to a smile as he be repented repeated well dear what shall I 1 do am I 1 silly or br sane shall I 1 go on oa or throw over the job never I 1 cried E edna dna still laughing its a novel but honest way of earning money and three months will soon pass im not so sure of that 14 wd bled when one Is the lausii s jt of town but but ill stick it out if I 1 can basure be sure of a wedding feast at the endom end of that time he added tentatively 1 I guess you may be sure of that she returned with alth a rosy flush with plenty of indigestible things to eat eal he P persisted ers isted ill do a lot of the cooking myself to make ce certain of that she answered with a merry twinkle in her eyes brtos are arc supposed to excel in the art of making heavy biscuit and soggy pies 1 I shall never complain compla ld of an anything he be groaned after three months more of this hygienic living copyright 1916 by the mcclure newspaper syndicate |
