Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-09-07
EASY TO FORGET.


about the drawing room. II wonderw
shall say to her when she comes down?
Who in creation induced me to come here
of all places on-ah, Miss Doane!"
Erred Vanderslotl am so glad to see
you. 1t was positively magnanimous in
you to come and see us. You haven t
changed particle"
"You have" answered Frederick look
ing the lovely Miss Doane over critically.
Il know it" she laughed. My com
plexion's gone down, and my weights
gone up"
"Those were not the changes 1 referred
to. confess had not noticed them.
only thought you were more beau--but
you always hated my bland style of COM
pliments, SO I'll refrain. How is Mrs.
! Doane?"
Mamma is younger, more vivacious
and healthier than ever. She will be sor-
ry to have missed you, but she has gone to
hear somebody read for the benefit of somo-
thing, and then she's going straight to the
Linseys' to dine. You know, of course
that Florence Linsey is married."
Il may have heard, but l have forgot
ten. Who was the happy MANI"
Paxton Coe, ;" answered Miss Doane.
Paxton Coe!" exclaimed Vanderslot
staring at her.
THAT was what 1 said, Mr.. Wander
slot, " she replied, looking at him with an
air Of surprise at his astonishment.
"But-I-I-well, 1 thought Paxton
Coe was going to marry you" blurted out
the young man, with masculine tact.
Did you? What ON earth gave you
that impression? Let me ring for some
tea You seem discomposed.
"Me-don't-Id don't want any tea. But
| Margaret mean miss-no, 1 DON'T
mean Margaret-if she had really married
Paxton Coe, and 1 had heard it 1 would
have remembered. 1t isn't likely that I'd
forget that fellow was out of my way
1 mean out of yours. So there must be
some mistake. Isn't there5"
Not at all. Nora, bring the hot water,
! please. Do you like your tea strong or
weak, Mr.. Vanderslot. 1 have forgotten. 1"
Strong, if you please. And also like
it sweet, as you doubtless have forgotten
too"
II confess that had, ;" replied Marga-
ret, smiling amiably as she busted herself
about the tea table. ",But one forgets
many things in three years"
Il have forgotten nothing" maintained
the young man.
Il assure you that you have" said she.
"NO, l haven't, Margaret" he answer
| ed earnestly. Il went away to forget, and
have only learned to remember. Coin
away to forget is great mistake. Tho
was no new thing in Colorado to /
your place in my thoughts, so l only
| membered moro and more If had f
here and simply done new things l 81
have forgotten perhaps. Thank you,
Jumps"
1T is good tea, isn't it" remarked Miss
Doane complacently, slipping a little
perhaps you remember that l always
made good tear"
II remember you always did all things
as no other woman could" he answered.
with moro emphasis than the occasion
seemed to demand. She smiled little
Then he went on:
do you know what came here this
afternoon for, MargaretY
ITO boast of your marvellous memory
1 should judge" she laughed, and to
prove your bOastings vain"
what do you mean? What have for
gottonY he demanded. She only laughed
ana he ruSnCu on:
"Ihave not forgotten that loved you and
that you treated me abominably. Haven't
forgotten that you led me on--youl par
don the expression, for you did, you know
and then dropped me with great sud
denness. l don know why, I'm sure. But
l have always believed that fellow that
Paxton Coe, who, you say, is married, had
something to do with it. He simply
haunted you. And you encouraged him.
There's no denying it. Now, didn't you
Margaret"
"Never," answered Margaret, with her
laughing eyes screened by her downcast
lids and her mouth demure.
Look here, Margaret" announced the
young man hotly, Il came back because
l haven't forgotten and couldn't forget
and / wanted to tell you SO. And here you
are making game of mo before I've been
| here half an hour. oh, you needn't look
at the clock It's fast any way. VIII you
| give me chance this time, or has Paxton
| Coe left a successor"
Il really can't say, she answered. II
know Mr.. Paxton Coe so slightly that al
most any one might be his successor in
my friendship"
80 slightlyr' Numbered Mr.. Vanderslot
IL tones adapted more to the plains than
! to polite society. See here, Margaret,
Paxton Coe managed to tangle US before
and now
"And now it isn't Paxton Coe that's
'tangling us, but Frederick Vanderslot, ="
said Margaret. Come, Fred, III tell you
all things 1 remember if you'll only &C
knowledge that you've forgotten few
things"
II have forgotten nothing"
ooh, yes, you have"
"What have 1 forgotten?"
You have forgotten the name Of your
hated rival"
WHAT"
1T was, as you may recall now that l
may jog your memory bit, Mr.. Parker
| Coe, Paxton's cousin, and not Paxton
| himself who was the innocent object of
your hatred three years ago."
acknowledgement, SO it was, mere
ly acknowledged the unhappy wretch.
unless indeed" pursued Margaret,
you arc mixing mo up with some other
woman to whom Paxton Coe was devot-
cd. Are you sure you re notg"
"Margaretl"
by the way, you mustn't call Inc Mar
garet in such a pathetic way any more
| Perhaps tho formal Miss Doane you began
with would be best, after all"
What do you mean?" inquired the
| young man unhappily.
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