FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180   181   >>  
h New York." Drew's heart suddenly turned to ice. He knew he ought to say something, but for the life of him he could not speak. He looked unseeingly at Parmalee, his face the color of ashes. "Her name is Edith," continued Parmalee, with the egotism of a lover. "Beautiful name, don't you think? We've been engaged for more than a year, but I didn't want to marry until I was stronger." The blood flowed into Drew's face once more. "Beautiful?" he cried. "I should say it was! And I bet she's as beautiful as her name. Parmalee, I congratulate you. With all my heart I congratulate you. You're a lucky dog. Shake hands." Parmalee's eyes twinkled. "Upon my word! you're a fellow of sudden and wonderful enthusiasms," he exclaimed. "But I can guess why. I'm not blind. Go in and win, old fellow." Ruth came back just then, gay and radiant. "Seems to me there's a lot of noise here for a sick man's room," she remarked, looking smilingly from one to the other. "I'll have to drive you out, Mr. Parmalee, if you get my patient too greatly excited," she went on, shaking her finger at him with mock severity. "I imagine I haven't done him any harm," laughed Parmalee slyly. "Harm!" cried Drew. "You've given me a new lease on life. I'll get well now in no time. I've just got to get well!" "I was telling him about Edith," explained Parmalee. "Edith!" exclaimed Ruth. "Isn't she just the dearest girl? So you've taken Allen into the secret too? Go and get her picture and let him see what a darling she is." Parmalee, nothing loth, rose and left the room. "You'll simply fall in love with her when you see her picture," prophesied Ruth, as she adjusted the pillow. "No, I won't," declared Drew with emphasis. "She's one of the dearest friends I have," Ruth continued, teasingly keeping her hand just out of Allen's reach. "Of course, I knew all about their engagement, and Mr. Parmalee's talked to me a lot about her during this voyage. The poor fellow was so lonely without her that I suppose he had to have some one to confide in." A great light broke upon Drew's mind. "So that's what you two used to talk about when I was so----" he hesitated, seeking for a word. "So what?" she asked demurely, with a glint of the old mischief in her eyes. "Oh, you know," he answered, hardly knowing how to proceed. He was doing his best to catch her eye but could not. He raised up and caught her by the fore
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180   181   >>  



Top keywords:

Parmalee

 

fellow

 

picture

 
congratulate
 

dearest

 
exclaimed
 

continued

 

Beautiful

 

adjusted

 
pillow

keeping

 

teasingly

 

emphasis

 

prophesied

 

friends

 

declared

 

simply

 
secret
 
telling
 
explained

turned

 

suddenly

 
darling
 

answered

 

knowing

 

mischief

 

seeking

 
demurely
 

proceed

 

caught


raised

 

hesitated

 

lonely

 

suppose

 

talked

 

voyage

 

confide

 
engagement
 

wonderful

 
enthusiasms

sudden

 

twinkled

 

egotism

 

flowed

 

stronger

 

beautiful

 

engaged

 

severity

 

imagine

 

finger