Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-05-21
TOMS EXPERIMENT.
Tom was in a dilemma.
BY EBEN f. RExFoRD.

ION WAS III Niltluulds
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 a scarlet jacket, and
thought over his perplexities, and
wondered how it would turn out.
"Confound the girl, he said, with
rather more emphasis than politeness,
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 puz-
lied him more than anything he had
attempted in long time. He had tri~
ed, IN more ways than one, to accom-
plish the feat, and every attempt had
been a failure. He was getting dis
couraged.
The way CT it all was this: Tom
Winters had met Janet Stafford a
year ago, and had straightway fallen
in love with her. Now Miss Stafford
was something of flirt, "a regular,
born flirt" was Toms way of putting
il, and she liked to tantalize the men,
and especially Tom, 1t seemed to him.
Time and again he had opened his
mouth to propose, but she always
seemed to know it was coming, and
by adroit tact would turn the CONVEX
sation upon some other topic, and
talk on and on, until poor Tom would
get disguised, and conclude that he
would wait for some other opportun-
ity to declare his love. In no way
could he determine whether she cared
for MIN or not. He thought she did,
however, and that kept him following
her round faithfully as her shadow,
watching for an opportunity 10 put
his fate to the test, and
'Win or lose it all
He had seen her sitting ON the rocks
that afternoon, reading, and of course
he Joined her. He wouldn't have been
Tom Winters if he didn't.
Janet knew, before he had been five
minutes by her side, that he was verg-
ing toward a 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 ne
hoped was at last at hand.
Suddenly she started up.
'rm getting absent-minded, L
think" she laughed, 81 promised to
go boatriding with Jack Devere this
afternoon, and ] had forgotten all
about 1t until this minute. I'm sorry
to leave you, Mr.. Winters, but a
promise is a promise you know, and
has 10 be kept" and with that she
was gone, and poor Tom swallowed
the words that were sticking IN his
mouth, and sighed dolefully, while
he thought unutterable things about
Jack Devere, who was his special
aversion, because he was a good deal
more attentive to Miss Stafford than
Tom thought he ought be.
81 wished Devere was in-Chlna,
growled Tom, getting up and brush
ing the dust og his clothes, prepare
tory to going back to the hotel.
"What did you say, Mr.. Winters2'
asked voice at his side, and there
was Miss Stafford again. - left my
book here somewhere, and l came
back after it.
Don't 90 boat riding to-day"
pleaded Tom, growing desperate under
the laughing glance she gave him. Il
I've something particular to say to
you"
Il must 90, she answered, Though
I'd like to stay ever so much. But
I'll have to keep my promise,
But one doesn't keep all the prom
Uses he makes, = said Tom. do stay
here with me, please.
If had promised TO 60 boat riding
with you, aud didn't keep my word, l
wonder what you'd think of me2'
asked Miss Stafford, Think how
disappointed Jack would be if l
shouldn't come
He'd get over it, . answered Tom.
"And as I said, I've something par
ticular I wanted to say
1T will keep till some other cay,
answered Miss Stafford, biting her
lips to keep back the laugh that al
ways came when Toms face took on
that lugubrious look. There are
more DAYS coming, you know"
81 suppose so. Tom had to admit.
but but you never give me a chance
TO saw what want 10. | really be-
Ieve YOU know what / want to say,
bat won't let me say IT. Just to tor
ment me. "
There comes Jack. exclaimed
Miss Stafford, as a whistle was heard
down the path leading from the beach
to the cliffs. Some other time you
may tell me the something particu
lar you were going to TO day-H you
get chance.
That was i'll If he got chance
cts a downright shame for her TO
treat me SO, said Tom, watching her
and Jack Devere, as they went down
the bay. Sometimes | think she
does it to bother me, and sometimes
l think she does it because she likes