Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1896-04-06
A Test of the Common
Place.

LanSUOn naO been broken because VI
Greta Morrys, conjecture grew ano
thrived in all directions as to whether
or not Greta was betrothed to Mr.
Clinton. That he had asked her to
marry him, even before the break
with Miss Lanston, was certain, but
whether she had said yes or no, no
body was able to say.
Her manner to him was the same as
before brilliant coquetry that be-
longed to her alone-and nobody dar-
ed question her.
When early in the week it became
known that Francis Greyford was
Squirrel Island, apparently for no
better reason than that Miss Morrys
was there, those interested made sure
that at last they would be able to
solve this riddle.
Then, the day before Mr.. Greyford
came, Clinton went off to New York.
There was whisper that he went to
buy Greta the handsomest diamond
rarely to be believed, and the hotel re-
allied with dull throb of disappoint-
ment that now, perhaps, the riddle
could not be solved.
There were, of course, several girls
ready to tell Greyford about Clinton,
but he did not seem to mind much,
and only this morning he had been
heard to ask her to go rowing, in spite
of the stormy sea, because he liked
to be with her where nobody else
dared to go.
She had laughed at him caressingly
and looked out at the windswept
ocean thoughtfully before she an
swered: eyes, let us go; it will be an
experience that will forever after
prevent surface acquaintance between
us.''
He gave her a quick glance. ''Do
you want it prevented"
ayes. Surface acquaintance with
a man cannot be anything but COM
monplace, and l do not like a man
who is that"
'Will you tell me, Miss Greta, what
kind of man do you really like
best?n Greyford's handsome eyes
were very earnest. Greta pondered
moment; then, with a little laugh,
she brought her eyes back from the
stormy sea to the man at her side.
"I would rather not" she answered.
"Why?"
Because there is a possible chance
that you are that kind of man, and
that would be an embarrassing admis-
sion for me to make"
If she was really betrothed to Clin-
ton, Greyford thought, she would
hardly say a thing like that.
Greyford spent the half hour she
was getting ready anxiously watching
the water. He was afraid he had been
unwise in asking her to go out, but
when she came downstairs ready to
go she was such charming picture
he forgot his anxiety. A slim figure,
gowned in sage green, with broad col
lar and girdle of white, she held a
green hat, with white clovers on it, in
her hand and let the brisk breeze stir
her bright hair into a hundred little
ringlets around her face.
AS they strolled down the sandy
road to the beach Greta touched again
on the theme they had been discuss
ing.
'There are, after ALL" she said,
''few men who are not common
place."
t'No man is always commonplace, -
he replied, gravely. ''There are times
in the life of even the most ordinary
man when he is unusual. Those things
depend too much on environment to
generalize about them.''
She gave him a surprised glance,
which he did not notice, for they were
close to the beach now and his eyes
were on the sea.
"Would you think me very com
monplace if were to tell you that it
will be most unwise for us to row
round the island to-day?"
eyes, I should" she answered,
tersely.
He frowned impatiently.
1T should not have asked you to go.
Look at that sky and wind; it is going
to storm frightfully in about half an
hour"
81 shall like that" said Greta, reck-
lessly. "When said 1 would go
told you it was for the sake Of the ex :
perience."
ssYou will not like it when it turns
over the boat"
"Ah, can swim, quite well, too,
and think how exciting it will be out