The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1885-1888, 1885-05-09
TOMS EXPER IMENT.
ny EBEN y. REXroRp.
Tom was in q diIemma.

scarlet Jacket, and thought over his per
ploxities. and wondered how it would turn
out.
"Conround the girl" he said with rather
moro emphasis than politoncss, as he ground
n pebble into the earth under his heel
ard 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 nc had attempted in a
long time. He had tried in more ways than
one TO accomplish the feat, and every at
tempt had been failure lie was getting
discouraged.
The way of It all was this Tom Win
teis had met Janet Stafford year ago, and
had strnightway fallen In love with her
Now Miss Stafford was something of a iirt
"a regular, born nirt' was Toms way of
putting it, aud she liked to tantalize the
men, and especially Tom, it seemed to him.
Time and again he bad opened his mouth
to propose but 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, aud 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
faithfully as her shadow, watching for an
opportunity to put his fate to the test, and
"win or lose It ALL"
lie bad seen her sitting on the rocks that
afternoon, reading, and of course he joined
her He wouldn't have been Tom Winters,
ifhc hadn't.
Janet knew before he had been FIVE
minutes by her side that he was vorging
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.
"Im getting absont-minded, think
she laughed. 81 promised to 90 boat-riding
with Jack Devere this afternoon aud had
forgotten all about it till this minute. IN
sorry to leave you, Mr.. Winters, but n
promise is promise, you know, and has to
be kept :" and with that she was gone aud
poor Tom swallowed the words that were
sticking in his mouth and sighed dolefully,
while he thought unutterable things about
Jack Devcre, who was his special aversion
because he was asgood deal more attentive
to Miss Stafford than Tom thought he ought
to be-
II wish Devere was in-China," growled
Tom, getting up aud brushing the dust Off
his clothes, preparatory to going back TO
the hotel,
"Whst did you say, Mr.. Winters "
asked voice at his side, aud there was
Miss Stafford again. 81 left my book here
somewhere and came back after it,
Don't go boat riding today pleaded
Tom, growing desperate under the laughing
glance she gave him. 1--we something
particular to say TO YOU
III must go, she answered, though I'd
like to stay ever so much. But III have
| to keep my promise.
"But one doesn't keep all the promises
he makes" said Tom. DO stay here with
me, please"
III had promised TO 20 boat-riding
with you, and didn't keep my word,
wonder what you'd think OF me?' asked
| Miss Stafford think how disappointed
Jack would be if shouldn't come"
"He'd get over it," answered Tom.
"And as | said, I've something particular
/ wanted to say"
at will keep till some other day." an
swered Miss Stafford, biting her lips to keep
back tho laugh that always come when
| Toms face took on that lugubrious look.
"There are more days coming, you know
ii suppose So Tom had to admit But
| but you never give mo a chance to say
| what | want 20. | really believe you know
| what / want to say but won't let me say
| it, Just to torment me-
| There comes Jack" exclaimed Miss
| Stafford, as whistle was heard down the
| path leading from the beach to the ellis.
Some other time you may tell me the
something particular you were going to
to.day-if you got a chance
That was it If he got a chance
LISA downright shame for her to treat
me so,' said Tom, watching her and Jack
Deyero, as they went down the bay
Sometimes / think she does it to bother
me, and sometimes | think she does it be.
cause she likes mo aud wants to make me
| jealous, so that | will be sure to propose
| But il can't be that either, for she won't
let me propose. Hanged If | know what
| she does mean by il"
Poor perplcXed Tom sat down and took
newspaper out of his pocket, and tried ia
forget his trials in its accounts Of murders
and accidents and other cheerful matters OF
that sort Finding them dull, he tutned
to the story department There was lit
tie sketch there called Washed Ashore.
Tom read il. 1t was about man whc
loved a woman--as he loved Miss Stafford
and, singular coincidence, he couldn't FIND
out whether she loved him or not. One day
he was out rowing and lost his hat. Thu
waves washed il ashore The woman h
loved found IL. She thought he must bt
drowned, and TO the poor insnimate thing
she confessed the lovo she had borne for III
owner The supposed dead man happened
to be near at hand, and heard her tardy con
fession of love-and then and there all hi
troubles ended-Or began.
why couldn't try such an experiment
Oh janet" thought Tom. "If l could onl!
cOntrive to make her think | was drowned
] might find out whether she cares for mi
or not | don't see as I'm ever likely t.
End out in any other way. I'll try 1T.
He went down TO the beach aud engage
a boat. lie saw Devere coming us he wen
down the bay, and Miss Stafford wave
him passing greeting with her sunshadC
That's lucky" thought Tom. She
seen me going out on tho water. I'll leav
the boat somewhere, along the shore, an
it'll be found, aud III DO missing, and shell
DO sure to think fell in, and was drowned
or committed suicide, and when she think
that, she'll be likely to say or do somethn
that'll give herself away, and I'll hear {
it, after | turn up and then I'll know
what TO do
at looks signally in the west" Dever
far Winters"
Thank you" answered Tom; "but II
look out for myself, and he was soon on
of hearing of Miss StaGords merry laug
and Jack Deyere's Jokes at his expense.
A peak iutted out into the bay, and Ton
concluded that boat abandoned Their
would bs pretty sure to 1oat back 10 tn
hotel vixen the tide came in Accordngl.
he left the boat 10 tho mercy Of the waves
aud started back round -about.way to th
hotel, over the rocky cliffs.
The sky was overloaded by this tim
aud fba wind taUnp "a kl0v 10 add l.