Bandit Love

"Righto, old thing!" said Tony smilingly, and his eyes followed Myra as

she cantered away, the cynosure of many admiring glances.

Tony liked her to be admired. It seemed a compliment to his own good

taste and discrimination. He liked to think that other men envied him

his position as Myra's accepted lover. It pleased him to be pointed

out as the lucky man who had won the heart and hand of the beautiful

Miss Rostrevor, and he was not unconscious of the fact that he was

being pointed out as he strolled along the Row after watching Myra out

of sight.

"I remembered your instructions, darling," he announced, when he called

on his betrothed at her aunt's house in Mayfair a couple of hours

later. "Here we are! Chocs, your favourite brand of cigarettes, a few

roses, and--er--just a little thing here that caught my eyes in

Asprey's window, which I thought you might like."

The "little thing" he produced from his pocket was a platinum bracelet

set with diamonds, and Myra uttered an involuntary exclamation of

admiration as she opened the case containing it.

"How lovely! Sure, but you're an extravagant darlint, Tony! You

deserve a kiss for this."

She just brushed Tony's cheek with her lips, and evaded him when he

tried to enfold her in his arms.

"Myra, darling, I want to fix a date for our wedding," said Tony.

"Let's get married before the Season is over, or early in the Autumn,

and spend a long honeymoon in the East or in the South Seas. I want to

make you all mine as soon as possible, dear. Let's arrange to get

married next month."

Myra's smile faded, and she shook her red-gold head.

"Tony, darlint, I don't want to marry you just yet," she answered

gently. "I told you when we became engaged that you must give me time

to get accustomed to the idea of becoming your wife, time to try to

fall in love with you first."

"Why not reverse the usual procedure, marry me first and fall in love

with me after?" suggested Tony, and again Myra shook her head.

"I love taking risks, Tony, but that would be too great a risk," she

responded. "It would be ghastly for us both if I married you and found

myself incapable of loving you, and tragic if I fell in love with

somebody else later. Please be patient, Tony. I am really and truly

trying to fall in love with you."