The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-08-21
SELECTED STORY.
Paralyzed.

make man see all women as the only
perfection of creation, and some one
woman as the aggregated perfection of
all women-my emotions, as / was
about to say when l interrupted N.Y.
self, are utterly paralyzed and have
been since the 14th day of last Septem-
Der at fifteen minutes after eleven
O'Clock, Eastern time.
AT that hour and for several hours
previously l was in the act of spending
my summer vacation at delightfully."-
quiet and retired resort on the Atlantic
coast, where also, among number of
other fortunates, were Miss Ruth AL
len, Miss Myrtle Morton-such sweet
name that, l used to thinkl-and Jack
Foster, the bane of my existence and
the paralyzer of my emotions.
Foster was dashing fellow, while |
was merely dashed fellow, and be-
cause of that possibly was less fortu-
nate in my heart affairs than he was.
In any event, never loved dear ga
zelle, as the poet has it, believe, but
some day, sooner or later, the nervy
Foster came that way and chose her
for his mate, the result of which in
variably was that lost her.
Several times during the summer 1
had, for these depredations of his, been
tempted to drown him, for l was fue
sailor and he wasn't, though he often
went out with me, because, as he said,
he felt safe in my hands, and he had
large insurance policy in addition.
Then he would laugh at his time-tried
and fire-tested insurance joke, and all
the girls would laugh also.
BAIL The idiots, to laugh at an old
chestnut like thatl A cocoanut was
equally funny and much larger.
However, as time moved on Jack
gave me chance, and, left to my own
devices, it was not great while before
| was paying undivided attention to
Miss Allen and Miss Morton. These
two were my choice, and one, felt
sure, would be chosen, but as yet had
not determined which one.
The time for decision came at last,
though, for my month was nearly up,
and on that sweet September morn l
had an engagement to 60 walking with
Miss Allen. l felt that morning that
she was the one woman of all women
for me, and l asked her to 60 with me,
80 that l might have an opportunity to
ask her far more important question.
| am sure that she knew my purpose,
for l had more than once almost told
her what was in my heart.
Miss Ruth" said, as we strolled
along the shore returning to the hotel,
"may ask you question:"
Certainly, Mr.. Bryting," she re-
piled as sweetly as girl could reply or
bird could sing.
Ii Is not an everyday question" l
said as slight preparation to her, "but
one of great importance to me-"
1t isn't conundrum, is it?n she
asked nervously. "For l hate conun-
drums"
" Yes, it is" answered. cat least
it is about something 1 don't want to
give up"
There wasn't anything funny in that,
but laughed at it and che joined in it,
giving me to that extent an addition to
my courage.
Well, you don't have to give it up"
she said. You surely can answer
your own conundrum'
Not this one, fear"
Goodness; it must be hard one.
Don't ask me. I'm sure can't answer
it,"
Eyes, you cam" l insisted "You
hhOWj uuu UCChlut SeTlOuS, YOU
know, Miss Ruth, that for some time
past l have been thinking of you great
deal, more indeed than / should have
done, for there was so much uncer-
tainty in it all 1 have been thinking
OF this very moment, and of you, and
OF what l should say to you and how l
should say it, to win the answer de-
sired above all things earthly"
ttWall hut bot =
drum?" Miss Allen asked.
"Simply this, Will you be my wife?"
L said, dropping on one knee in the
sand.
Goodness 1 can answer that
easily enough. No. 1 cannot marry
you"
The unhesitating way in which she
spoke made me almost hopeless, yet
persisted.
"But you could learn" pleaded
there in the sand-fool that 1 was to
think that a woman could learn to
marry man! Who ever heard of such
thing?
mo" she said, 81 could not learn
for-for-for"-
"Don't finish the sentence" said
bitterly as 1 rose from my devotional
attitude. Don't finish 1t, pray.
know you will say that you love an
other, and that utterly precludes your
taking lessons under my instructions.
OF course" went on, brutally enough,
I'm sure, 4" it would have been utterly
impossible for you to have prevented
me from making the fool of myself l
have, and l absolve you from any con-
nivance in the matter. May l ask as
an epilogue to this comedy that you will
tell me who the happy man is, that l
may congratulate him?"
Her eyes blazed, and her cheeks red.
dened, and how pretty she was as she
looked at me as an angry queen might
look upon an offending subject
"Mr. Bryting," she said scornfully
81 had hoped to spare you pain and
had thought to say good-by to you after
this pleasant holiday by the sea as
friends say good-by, with sorrow in