“But, Nina, li’l’ girl, I do love you!” protested Jack. “Here’s Slim with tha’ champagne. Slim, fill all glasses. Everybody ready? All ri’—here’s Nina, only girl I love, only girl I ever goin’ love!”
Jack drained his glass. The others merely sipped theirs.
“But drinking a glass of wine doesn’t prove anything,” said Nina, with her pleasantly provoking drawl. “You say you’re free, and you say you love me—but you’re afraid really to prove it.”
“Not afraid!” Jack declared stoutly. “Prove it any way you say!”
She gazed at him in amused skepticism—yet a most alluring smile on her young face. “Oh, no, you wouldn’t, Jack. There’s only one way to prove your independence and your love. You know what that is—to drop everything else, and go away with me.”
“I’ll do it to-night!” he cried. “Say, listen, Nina,—know a li’l’ place up in Adirondacks—nice, quiet li’l’ place—”
“No, thanks,” she interrupted. “If you took me off into hiding, that wouldn’t prove anything. Besides, I want to be where there’s something doing, and where there’s people—you understand, classy people.”
“Tha’s all ri’! Make it Newport, Bar Harbor, any ole swell resort you like. I’m no quitter!”
“I believe you really are in earnest,” mused Nina, her large eyes upon him.
“Sure, I’m earnest! Make it Narragansett Pier—any ole place you like!”