Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1896-12-25


hesitates, then walks up To her. She holds
out II hand
She--Of all people! Who would have
expected 10 see you hereF
! He-Or you?
! She-Oh, have taken to playing witt
/ paIuttU and brush. one must do some.
! thing, you know
He-Must oncS And your ambitious,
I see. Islands looking Mt her She paints
on mechanically. SUDDENLY My God,
how good it is 10 see you again!
! She (bends her head over her palette and
speaks quickly)-You have no right to
I talk like that. All that was over year
ago. You know what you said then.
He--No. What did | sayf
She-Yru said you hoped you wouldn't
| ever see me again.
He-What a fool l must have been
! What did we quarrel aboutY
She (6rmly)-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 ali
oowY
She (emphatically)- the least bit in
the world.
He turns very red and says after a 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 hopos?-I am engaged to be mar
ried. "
She Pushes, looks hard at him, smiles
and says Il congratulate you. DO tell
me all about her. Is she fair or darz''
He-Fair or dark? Oh, rather fair,
should say; not exactly dark-between,
you know.
She-And her eyes9
He (briskly)-Oh, her eyes' Her eyes
are lovely.
She-GrayP
He-Yes, gray-the most delightful tint
! She "A charming girl
She (suddenly)-What's her name?
| Heller nameY Oh, her name is-is
! Smith.
She-And her Christian namef
Hc-Why it's like the catechisml Her
! Christian name is Mary. But don't let
Us talk any more about her. / haven't
seen YOU for such "a long time, and
She-And it's "A sacred subject, isn't itt
He-Ycs that's what l mean. You al
ways understand everything. CA long
pause) Beastly weather, isn't it,
She-Yes it seems rather dctestable
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 10 dance in
the hally What "a splendid floor that was
And do you remember Christmas eve?
She-Perfectly. l have an excellent
memory
He bittcrly)-Haveyo you? Then perhaps
! you remember the 18th Of February tool
! We parted then, you recollect We were
engaged exactly seven weeks.
She (hurredly)-W had better not talk
about that. Besides, after all, you have
consoled yourself haven't your
He-Oh, Eleanor, don't | was "a fool
/ threw away all the happiness in the
world for a trille that seems only fit 10
! laugh at now. Oh, my darling, forgive
me and take me back
She-But what about the Smith girl?
He (startled) -The WHAT
She-The girl you are engaged to-Miss
Mary SMITH
Hc-Oh, all, yes had forgotten that.
l 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 Trimmerl
She (coldly)-My mcmory is better than
yours 1t was about tho 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
faithY Tempt you to be dishonorable and
then marry man | could only dcspisef
No. Mr. Gerard, you must keep your en-
gagcment tins time.
Hc-I won't. III break it tomorrow,
whether you will have me or not
She shall always feel to you rs "a sis
ter / shall always think of you rs "a dear
brother But, besides Mary smith, there's
another great reason which makes it inn
possible FOR me To regard you in any other
light. |, too, have consolcd myself, and
my wedding day is fixed for the 18th of
| February.
He-Oh, Eleanor, the very day we
parted!
She (checrfully)- $ why. 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, should like
TO tell you one thing. My memory Is
better than yours, after all. l only told
you | was engaged because l wanted to
make you joalous--idiot that was You
are the only woman in the world. There
is no engagement. There is no Mary
Smith (Shc looks up at him and laughs.)
have never loved any one but YOU /
am not engaged.
She-No, of course. | knew that. No
more am l. Iact better than you, though,
doh II
lie (bcwil dered) --Then the 18th of Feb
rudry-
She (impaticntly)-Therc is no 18th Of
February, unless
He-Oh. Eleanor, will you, after all?
She-Jack. don't he absurd That red
girl has come back, and she is looking
st us.
Curtain. )-Skctoh.
Edible Toadstools.
s.u.,+ ,,,,.,,,. ,,,,,,,I, foil int, -. ,.ryoy