ut getting Sis married and out of the way. He
thought it was a good idea.

"You'll never have a chance as long as she's around," he observed,
smoking father's cigar at intervals. "They're afraid of you, and that's
flat. It's your Eyes. That's what got me, anyhow." He blue a smoke ring
and sat back with his legs crossed. "Funny, isn't it?" he said. "Here
we are, snug as weavils in a cotton thing-un-a-gig, and only a week ago
there was nothing between us but to brick walls. Hot in here, don't you
think?"

"Only a week!" I said. "Tom, I've somthing to tell you. That is the nice
part of being engaged--to tell things that one would otherwise bury in
one's own Bosom. I shall have no secrets from you from henceforward."

So I told him about the car and how we could drive together in it, and
no one would know it was mine, although I would tell the Familey later
on, when to late to return it. He said little, but looked at me and
kept on smoking, and was not as excited as I had expected, although
interested.

But in the midst of my Narative he rose quickly and observed:

"Bab, I'm poizoned!"

I then perceived that he was pale and hagard. I rose to my feet, and
thinking it might be the cigar, I asked him if he would care for a peice
of chocolate cake to take the taste away. But to my greif he refused
very snappishly and without a Farewell slamed out of the house, leaving
his hat and so forth in the hall.

A bitter night ensued. For I shall admit that terrable thoughts filled
my mind, although how perpetrated I knew not. Would those who loved me
stoop to such depths as to poizon my afianced? And if so, whom?

The very thought was sickning.

I told Jane the next morning, but she pretended to beleive that the
cigar had been to strong for him, and that I should remember that,
although very good-hearted, he was a mere child. But, if poizon, she
suggested Hannah.

That day, although unerved from anxiety, I took the Arab out alone,
having only Jane with me. Except that once I got into reverce instead
of low geer, and broke a lamp on a Gentleman behind, I had little or no
trouble, although having one or to narrow escapes owing to putting my
foot on the gas throttle instead of the brake.

It was when being backed off the pavment by to Policemen and a man from
a milk wagon, after one of the aforsaid mistakes, that I first saw he
who was to bring such wrechedness to me.

Jane had got out to see how much milk we had spilt--we h