The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-10-31
ENGAGED.

Students day at the National gallery.
Eleanor Vincent laboriously copying The
Challenge" Jack Gerard enters, sees her
and bows doubtfully. She smiles. He
hesitates, then walks up to her. She holds
out her hand.
She-Of all peoplel Who would have
expected to see you hereS
He-Or you?
She-Oh, have taken to playing with
palette and brush. One must do some
thing, you know.
He-Must one? And you're ambitious,
1 see. Islands looking at her. She paints
on mechanically. SuddenIy-) Ny God,
how good it is to see you againl
She (bands her head over her palette and
speaks quickly)-You have no right to
talk like that. All that was over year
ago. You know what you said then.
He-No. What did 1 say?
She-You said you hoped you wouldn't
| ever see me again.
He-What fool must hava beeni
| What did we quarrel about?
/ She (frmly)-Mr. Gerard, have no in
| tention of permitting this tone from an
ordinary acquaintance. You will be good
! enough to remember that you are nothing
more to me.
He-Then you don't care for me at all
now?
| She (emphatically)-N the least bit in
| the world
He turns very red and says after mo-
ment's silence: 81 beg your. pardon. I
had no right to speak as I did, especially
as-may bore you with my private inter
ests and hopes?-I am engaged to be mar
ried.''
She fushes, looks hard at him, smiles
| and says: 81 congratulate you. Do tell
| me all n Is 10 fair or dark pr
He-Fair or darkp Oh, rather fair, L
should say; not exactly dark-between,
| you know.
| She-And her eyes?
He (briskly)-Oh, her eyes? Her eyes
are lovely.
| She-Gray?
He-Yes, gray-the most delightful tint.
| She's charming girl.
She Suddenly )-Wbat's her nameP
Heller name? Oh, her name isis
| Smith
She-And her Christian nameP
He-Why, it's like the catechismi Her
Christian name is Mary. But don't let
us talk any more about her. I haven't
seen you for such long time, and
| She-And it's sacred subject, isn't it?
He-Yes, that's what l mean. You al
ways understand everything. "a long
pause.) Beastly weather, ISM 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 wasl
And do you remember Christmas eve?
She-Perfectly. I have an excellent
| memory.
He bitterly -Have you? Then perhaps
you remember the 11th Of February too?
We parted then, you recolleot. We were
engaged exactly seven weeks.
| She (hurriedly)-We had better not talk
about that. Besides, after all, you have
consoled yourself, haven't you?
| He-Oh, Eleanor, don'tl I was fool.
I threw away all the happiness in the
world for a tride that seems only tit to
laugh at now. Oh, my darling, forgive
me and take me backl
She-But what about the Smith girl?
! BE (startled)-The what?
She-The girl you are engaged to-AIiss
Mary Smith?
He-Oh, ali, yes. 1 had forgotten that.
1 will get her to throw me over. She
doesn't really care for me. She's 10 real
obstacle. Oh, my sweetheart, how could
1 ever let you go-and all about that stu
pid young Trimmerl
She (coldly)-My memory is better than
yours. 1t was about the Spindler girl.
He-Oh, never mind what II 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 a man l could only despise?
No, Mr.. Gerard, you must keep your en-
| gageIncnt 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 a sis
ter. I shall always think Of you as dear
brother. But, besides Mary Smith, there
another great reason which makes it i'm
possible Tor me to regard you in any other
light. I, too, have consoled myself and
my wedding day is fixed for the 18th Of
February.
He-Oh, Eleanor, the very day we
parted!
She (cheerfully)- THAT S why I didn't
want it always to be black letter day
1t will be silver letter day for me now,
won't it?
He (angrily) goodby, then.
She-Goodby.
He (takes a few steps and then turns)-
Before 1 go, Miss Vincent, 1 should like
to tell you enc thing. My memory is
better than yours, after all. 1 only told
! SOO L was 0hSetSCO DSosttASS HSAt1OSu W
make you jealous-idiot that wasl You
are the only woman in the world. There
is no engagement. There is no Mary
Smith. (She looks up at him and laughs
L have never loved any one but you. 1
am not engaged.
She-NO, of course. knew that. No
more am 1. act better than you, though
don't 1?
He (bewildered)-T the 18th of Feb
ruary-
She Gmpatiently)-T 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.
lCurtain. Sketch.