The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-10-11
SELECTED STORY.
WOOing a College Girl.


i should like to understand the basis of
it,
CT confess" said Basil, "that the
logical basis of my advice is my private
wish that you should refrain from the |
discussion of realistic novels in public"
1t was early May, and the two were
walking together in the Elysian fields,
as the beautiful park of x, with |
its slopes, ravines, streams and wood |
lands, is called
To see Mildred, to exchange ideas
with her, to talk of books, to talk of mu-
sic and art, to discuss theories of life,
to tell her all that had been in his mind |
in the past, and almost all that he !
hoped for in the future, was by this |
time the chief necessity of Basil's eX
istence. What she felt in return was
his ever-recurring problem! She liked
him, of that he was certain. A dimple |
showed near her lips whenever he ap-
preached her, and her eyes rested on
him as if they had found what they had
been seeking. Her quick fancies, her
imaginative perceptions, her sense of
The comic, her imprisoned rapidly i'll
working towards some solution of every
question he presented to her, all seemed
TO be reserved for him above all others.
Often he was pervaded by soft in
toxication of belief that she waited for
him; that his coming was the signal for
the real interest to begin.
Oftener still, he was depressed by the
conviction that her sympathy for him
was purely matter of intellectual Curl
osity; that she was reading him as she
might read book, and that when she
reached the last leaf, she would throw
him aside. The girl seemed to him to
feel no vital need of any friend, or
helper.
To-day he had chance to encoun ter
her near the park gate, and asked If he
might join her walk. She had told him
frankly there could be no doubt about
her wish in the matter. Her mood was
sunny that afternoon.
She had remarked to him that she
had been asked to address the final
meeting of The Germ on the subject of
realistic novels
"You evidently consider that 1 have
not mastered the subject" she re-
marked, after bordering his words for
moment.
"To tell the truth, | have read al
most none of the distnctively realistic
novels. But l could set to work and
uCNOuT LutIu III d Wt6h.
"My advice is DON'T"
because it is against established
conventions for woman to confess
that she reads certain class of books?"
because of something that lies
deeper than mere conventions. But
no matter for that To be frank,
bate to see you run after as an amusing
spectacle; listened to, not because what
you say is particularly we'll worth hear
ing, although l know it is, but from the
piquancy of its being young, beauti-
full and charming girl who says it..
There now; are you angry with me?"
"You consider, like DR.. Johnson,
that a woman's preaching is like a
dogs dancing-the surprise is not that
he does it we'll, but that he does it
at al"
Basil stood still for moment, gazing
straight before him across the family
colored uplands.
{" Is that i,?' she asked, with a touch
of petulance.
q" cannot answer as if this were a
general case. 1t is not general for me
it is particular 1t is between you
and me. | have come TO love you with
all my heart, Miss Gray; and by the
very necessity of mans love, l am
narrow, exclusive, jealous, where you
are concerned"
"Oh!' she exclaimed, and at the
same time took three steps away from
him.
He had blurted out what he had meant
never to utter until the right moment
came, and by every sign this was the
wrong moment.
"Having said so much" he went on
=" must say more. ask you to be my
wife. T"
"Ohl" said Mildred again, a sense OF
outrage implied in her look and tone.
He took one stride and reached her
He laid his hand on her arm.
"Do you hate me?" he demanded.
"Hate you? Why should hate youi
Not the least in the world"
"Do you love me?'
"Not the least in the world"
"Then," said he, 81 will go away
If you will not love me, the world il
self is not wide enough for you and me
Their eyes met, and she was frankly
amazed at the signs of trouble in hi
face.
what nonsensel' she cried, with
scorn.
We were friends, we are friends
we can go on ana be better frlends.
never before had friend. OF course
woman friend was what / asked for
but it is the unexpected that happens.
Her voice began to yibrate with
thrill born of feeling. "You have don'
me good" she went on; " l had begun
TO expect great deal from you"
Mildred" he exclaimed, with fresl
impetuosity, am ready to spend m,
haa II hoe -,
service. Friends? You do not begii
to know what that term can mean
Only as your husband can be you
best friend"
She shrank from the word. "Noth
ing could induce me to marry" sh
cried.
eff you like me as friend" he per
sisted, with vehemence, why not as
lover a busband?D