Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-12-27

hesitates, then walks up to her. She holds
out her hand.
She-Of all pcoplol Who would have
expected to sec you hereY
He-Or you?
She-Oh, 1 have taken to playing with
palette and brush. One must do some
thing, you know.
He-Must one2 And you're ambitious,
I see. Islands looking Mt her. She paints
on mechanically. Suddonly-) My God,
how good it is to SEQ you again!
She (bends her head over her palette and
speaks quicllly)-You have no right to
talk like that. All that was over year
ago You know what you said then.
He--NO. What did l say?
She-You said you hoped you wouldn't
ever see me again.
He-What a fool 1 must have been
What did we quarrel about?
She (drmly)-Mr. Gerard, have no in
tention of permitting this tono from an
ordinary acquaintance. You will be good
enough to remember that you are nothing
more to me.
He-Then you dent care for me at all
now?
She (emphatically)-Not the least bit in
the world.
He turns very red and says after mo-
ment's silence: II beg your pardon.
had no right to speak as l did, especially
as-may l bore you with my private inter-
ests and hopesg-I am engaged to be mar
ried"
She hushes, looks hard at him, smiles
and says: 81 congratulate you. Do tell
me all about her Is she fair or dark"
Ho-Fair or dark? Oh, rather fair,
should say; not exactly dark-between,
you know.
She-And her eyes?
He (briskly)-Oh, her eyes? Her eyes
arc lovely.
She-Gray?
He-Yes, gray-the most delightful tint.
She's charming girl.
She OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES her name?
He-Her name? Oh, her name isis
Smith.
She-And her Christian name?
He-Why, it's like the catechism! Her
Christian name is Mary. But don't let
us talk any more about her. 1 haven't
seen you for such long time, and
She-And it's a sacred subject, isn't it2
He-Ycs, that's what l mean. You al
ways understand everything. "a long
pause) Beastly weather, isn't it?
She-Yes, it seems rather detestable
when you are in London, but we found it
pleasant enough last year down in Hamp-
shire.
He-Yes. Do you remember how we
used to go skating and what jolly even
ings we had, and how we used to dance in
the hall? What a splendid floor that was /
And do you remember Christmas eve?
She-Perfcctly. l have an excellent
memory.
He (bitterly)-Haveyo you? Then perhaps
you remember the. 18th of February too?
We parted then, you recollect. We were
engaged exactly seven weeks.
She (hurriedly)-We had better not talk
about that. Besides, after all, you have
consolod yourself, haven't you?
He-Oh, Eleanor, don't! 1 was fool
1 threw away all the happiness in the
world for trille that seems only fit to
laugh at now. Oh, my darling, forgive
mo and take me back
She-But what about tho Smith girl;
He (startled)-The what?
She-The girl you are engaged to-Miss
Mary Smith?
Ho-Oh, all, yes. 1 had forgotten that.
| will get her to throw me over She
doesn't really care for me. She's no real
obstacle Oh, my sweetheart how could
ever let you go-and all about that stu
pid young Trimmer
She (coldly)-My memory is better than
yours. 1t was about the Spipdler girl
He-Oh, never mind what it was about.
Forgive me and take me back. 1t was all
my fault
She (slowly and with dignity)-Take
you back while you are engaged to another
woman? Make you break your plighted
faith? Tempt you to be dishonorable and
then marry man 1 could only despise?
No, Mr.. Gerard, you must keep your en-
gagement this time.
He-I won't. I'll break it tomorrow,
whether you will have me or not
She--I shall always feel to you as sis
ter. shall always think of you as dear
brother. But, besides Mary Smith, there's
another great reason which makes it i'm
possible for me to regard you in any other
light. l, too, have consoled myself and
my wedding day is fixed for the 18th of
February.
He-Oh, Eleanor, the very day we
parted
She (oheerfully)-That' why. 1 didn't
want it always to be a black letter day.
1t will be silver letter day for me now,
won't it?
He (angrily)-Well, goodby, then.
She-Goodby.
He (takCs few steps and then turns)-
Before go, Miss Vincent, 1 should like
to tell you one thing. My memory is
better than yours, after all. 1 only told
you L was engaged because 1 wanted to
make you jealous-idiot that was! You
are the only woman in the world. There
is no engagement. There is no Mary
Smith. (She looks up at him and laughs.)
have never loved any one but you. 1
am not engaged.
She-No, of course knew that. No
more am 1. Iact better than you, though,
don't 1?
He (bewildered) -Then the 18th of Feb
ruary-
She Gmpatiently)-There is no 18th of
February, unless
He-Oh, Eleanor, will you, after all?
She-Jack, don't be ABSURD! That red
girl has come back, and she is looking
at US.