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WHITEWASH

a familiar pat, and they turned toward the restaurant. "It's like old times, isn't it? And I have so much to say that I'm positively choked."

He looked at her carefully, taking in every detail of her dress and person.

"You're looking extremely well, Tory. Do you know, I've often wondered why you haven't married."

She turned on him sharply. "I say, what has got into you all to-day? Mrs. Durham has been sermonizing from the same text, and now you begin. What put it into your head? Are you contemplating it yourself?"

With her usual logic she had hit the nail on the head, and Morton, who was bursting to tell, had a struggle to prevent his secret slipping from him. He sought the usual refuge of exaggerated humor.

"Alas! the only girl I ever loved has refused to tell me when she'll marry me. There are others, I know, and I have even been told that I'm a catch; but somehow—well, my affairs aren't interesting. "You tell me of yours. I had the table put here," he added, as he drew out her

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