The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-06-04
OM'S EXPERIMENT..

III was IN dilemma.
sat on the rocks overlooking the
in the very spot to which he had
attracted two hours before by the
of scarlet jacket, and thought
bis perplcXities, and wondered how
|uld turn out.
lague take the girl" he said, with
r more emphasis than politeness,
ground pebble into the earth
his heel, "l'd like to know how to
be S art of her."
at was just it! How to get the start
net Stafford was what puzzled him
than anything he had attempted in
z time. He had tried, in more WAYS
one, to accomplish the feat, and
attempt had been failure. He
getting discouraged.
e way OF it all was this: Tom Win
bad met Janet Stafford year ago,
bad straightway fallen in love with
Now Miss Static; was something
tlirt, "a regular, born t1irt" was
way of putting it, and she liked
Ptalize the men, and especially Tom,
med to him. Time and again he
opened his mouth to propose, but
lways seemed to know what was
hg, and by adroit tact would
the conversation upon
other topic, and talk on and on,
poor Tom would get disguised,
conclude that he would wait for
other opportunity to declare his
In no way could he determine
her she cared for him or not. He
eht she did, however, and that
him following her round as faith
as her shadow, watching for an
funity to put his fate to the test,
"Win or lose it all"
had seen ncr sitting en- the locks
afternoon, reading, and of course
Pned her. He wouldn't have been
Winters, if he hadn't.
Ret knew, before he had been five
fes by her side, that she was verg-
Pward proposal. She could tell
his face, and the awful silence
b seemed 10 settle down about him,
concentrated his courage for the
entous crisis which he hoped was at
It hand.
ddenly she started up.
m getting absent-minded, think, :"
hughed, II promised to 90 boat
6 with Jack Devere this afternoon,
had forgotten all about it till this
te. I'm sorry to leave you, Mr..
ers, but promise is promise you
and has to be kept" and with
she was gone, and poor Tom swal-
the words that were sticking in
nouth, and sighed dolefulIy, while
ought unutterable things about Jack
re, who was his special aversion.
ase he was a good deal more atten-
70 Miss Stafford than Tom thought
Pght to be.
wish Deyere was in-China, "
led Tom, getting up and brushing
ust oil his clothes, preparatory to
back to the hotel.
hat did you say, Mr.. Winters?"
voice at his side, and there was
stafford again. 81 left my book
somewhere, and came back after
ont 60 boat-riding to-day" plead
ON, growing desperate under the
ing glance she gave him. Give
'ning particular to say to you"
must CO." she answered, "though
ke to stay ever SO much. But I'll
20 Keep my promise"
Ut one doesn't keep all the prom
que makes" said Tom. ''Do stay
with me, please"
had promised to go boat riding
you, and didn't keep my word, !
ser what you'd think of me?"
Miss Stafford. ''Think how dis
'n'ed Jack would be if shouldn't
ed get over it," answered Tom.
s as said, I've something particu-
vii! keep till some other day,n an
y MISS Stafford, biting her lips to
TACK % the laugh that always came
'ons n, s lace took on that lugubrious
mere are more days coming,
suppose So" Tom had to admit.
r uut you never give me a chance
kn "n't want to. l really believe
Aho" 1 what want to say, but
''' me say it, just to torment
nrS ie comes jack" exclaimed Mis-.
ath III as as a whistle was heard dowr
uS uSeao'ng from the beach to the
'0me other time you may tel