The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-02-28
SELECTED STORY,
At Cross Purposes.
It was all Celia's fault.

If it hadn't been for her, it would
never have occurred to me to quarrel
with Jack; it would never have oc-
rurred to me that any quarrel was
necessary to prove the strength of
his love. l should have taken it for
granted and been happy still.
detest Celia.
We were so happy till she came to
stay with Jacks people and told me
was spelling him. OF course it was
no business of hers if l were, she adj
mitted that, but she was so fond of
me that she felt she must speak, be
ing older and more experienced than
l, and implore me to remember that
1t wasn't only my lover l was spoil
ing, but my future husband, and if l
let him have his own way in every
thing now l should never be able to
have mine by and by when we were
married She spoke so seriously
about it that couldn't help being a
little impressed, though of course l
didn't let her know that, and l
wouldn't have told her for the world
that l intended to act on her advice
the very first opportunity that offer
ed. For it was one thing to quarrel
privately with Jack, but quite an
other to tell Celia that l was going
to do it and take her into my conf
dence against him.
So Jack and l quarreled at the
Hornes' dance last night.
l hardly know what it was about in
the first instance, but it grew and
grew until it seemed to me there was
nothing we weren't quarreling about,
and Jack was terribly in earnest.
Though we had been engaged for
three weeks, Id no idea he had it in
him to be so angry, and of course I
lost my head and got angry, too
really angry-and said horrid things.
And-and-I told him our engage
ment was broken off, and there must
be an end of everything between us,
and-and-Jack took me at my word.
never thought of his doing that.
"As you please" he said, speaking
quite quietly all of sudden. We
were in the conservatory, and the
dance music in the drawing room
must have drowned the sound of our
voices half a dozen yards away "You
wish our engagement to end, MaudS
So be it. Your letters shall be re-
turned to you tomorrow, and 1 will
at once leave you free to resume your
Irritation with Frank Horne"
But, jack
His face was set and white. He
never even looked at me. The music
ceased. Celia and several other dan
GERS strolled into the conservatory,
and Jack left me.
Yes, he went away and danced with
other girls, and he never spoke one
word to me or came near me again
the whole evening.
Of course danced too What else
could l do under the circumstances
danced with Frank Horne, and /
firted with him little-not as Jack
f1irted with Molly and Kate and Ce-
Liza and half a dozen more, but just
enough to show him that l could
amuse myself very well without him,
and that wasn't taking our quarrel
to heart
was acting lie, and l did it very
creditably.
Yes, Jack and l have quarreled,
and it is all Celia's fault.
Our engagement is broken off. We
houn cold fhnt ~ iS or 10 hn
gagement any more-and now
Oh, how miserable l am!
1t is a dull November afternoon,
and mamma has gone out, SO I sit
alone in the firelit dining room and
think over all that happened last
night and wonder what Jacks next
move will be. Surely-surely, he can
not mean
He has not returned my letters yet
Surely that is hopeful sign.
/ am still wearing the ring he gave
me. l suppose if he returns my let
tiers shall have to-
Mono, can't part with it. He
could not be so cruel, SO unreasonable.
His letters, tOo-must l give them
up2 turn them over in my hand
such little bundle as there is, and so
very hard to read till one learns to
know the writing or to love the writ
er-which is it2-and remember the
pleasure with which first received
them, and the pride with which /
have often pored over them since
pore over them now, straining my
eyes to decipher the well known
characters in the Pickering freight.
Dear Jack, what a vile hand he
writes, and how very nicely he ex-
presses
Hank Some one is crossing the
hall. Surely Jane won't be so fool
ish as to show any one in here now.
In another moment Mr.. Drayton'
Is announced, and Jack himself
stands before me.
Jack" / started to my feet. and
all those treasured documents fall
rustling to the floor, but never think
of them. Who thinks of love letters