Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-06-01

Tom was In dilemma.
He sat on the rocks overlooking the
sea, in the very spot to which he had
been attracted two hours before by the
sight of scarlet jacket, and thought
over his perplexities, and wondered how
it would turn out.
plague take the girl, he said, with
rather more emphasis than poIiteness.
as he ground a pebble into the earth
under his heel, I'D like to know how to
get the start of her.
That was just it How to get the start
of Janet Stafford was what puzzled him
more than anything he had attempted in
q long time. He had tried, in more WAYS
than one, to accomplish the feat, and
every attempt had been failure. He
was getting discouraged.
The way of it oil was this: Tom Win
tiers had met Janet Stafford year ago
and had straightway fallen in love with
her. Now Miss Stafford was something
OF fiirt, "a regular, born flirt'' was
Toms way of putting it, and she liked
to tantalize the men, and especially Tom.
it seemed to him. Time and again he
had opened his mouth to propose. sbut
she always seemed to know what was
coming, and by adroit tact would
turn the conversation upon
some other topic, and talk on and on.
until poor Tom would get disguised,
and conclude that he would wait for
some other opportunity to declare his
love. In no way could he determine
whether she cared for him or not. He
thought she did, however. and that
kept him following her round as faith
fully as her shadow. watching for an
opportunity to put his fate to the test.
and
ssWin or lose it al"
He had seen hcr sitting on the rocks
that afternoon, reading, and OF course
he joined her. He wouldn't have been
Tom Winters, if he hadn't.
Janet knew, before he had been Eve
minutes by her side, that she was verg-
ing toward proposal. She could tell
it by his face, and the awful silence
which seemed to settle down about him.
as he concentrated his courage for the
momentous crisis which he hoped was at
last at hand.
Suddenly she started up.
I'm getting absent minded, think. 7,
she laughed, II promised TO 90 boat
riding with Jack Devcre this afternoon.
and ! had forgotten all about it till this
minute. I'm sorry to leave you, Mr..
Winters, but promise is a promise you
know, and has to be kept;n and with
that she was gone, and poor Tom swal-
lowed the words that were sticking in
his mouth, and sighed dolcfully, while
he thought unutterable things about Jack
Devere; who was his special aversion.
because he was good deal more atten-
tive to Miss Stafford than Tom thought
he ought to be.
II wish Devere was ia China, =
growled Tom, getting up and brushing
the dust off his clothes, preparatory to
going back to the hotel.
What did you say, Mr.. Wintersg''
asked . voice at his side, and there was
Miss Stafford again. II left nv book
here somewhere, and came back after
il"
Don't 60 boat-riding to-day, plead
cd Tom, growing desperate under the
laughing glance she gave him. 81 I've
something particular to say to you.
II must 20, she answered, ssthough
I'd like 20 stay ever SO much. But I'll
have TO keep my promise.
But one doesn't keep all the prom
ises one makes, 2 said Tom. ssD0 STAY
here with me, please.
III had promised to 30 boat riding
with you, and didn't keep my word, I
wonder what you'd think Of mes''
asked Miss Stafford. Think how dis.
appointed Jack would be il shonldn't
come.
He'd get over il, answered Tom.
And Is said, I've something particu-
Lar to say
sIt viii keep till some other day. an
swered Hiss Stafford, biting her lsps Is
keep back the laugh that always came
when Toms face took on that lsluubrious
look. 1heEe ere more days coming,
yon know.
81 suppose 50. Tom had u admit
'bnt but you never give me chance
81 ay what want 1o. really believe
you know what want - sav. but
won't let - So & just s. tofnant
me
There comes Jack exclaimed Hiss
Stafford. whistle wsS heard down
tie path leadinp from fh heseh NJ kha
rllA 19ms aah kI4s N1M mar seIl