News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1896-01-16
A Test Of The Commonplace.

When Clinton's engagement to Miss
Lanston had been broken because OF
Greta Morrys, conjecture grew and
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-a brilliant coquetry that
belonged to her alone-and nobody
dared question her.
When early in the week it became
known that Francis GreyfOrd was
coming down from Bar Harbor to
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 a whisper that he went to
buy Greta the handsomest diamond
ring at Tiffany's, but those things
are rarely to be believed, and the no.
tel realized with a dull throb of disap-
pointnent that now, perhaps, the
riddle could 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 60 rowing, in
spite of the stormy sea, because he
liked to be with ner where nobody
else dared go.
She had laughed at him caressingly
and looked out at the windswept
ocean thoughtfully before she an-
swered:-" Yes, let US go; it will be an
experience that will forever after pre-
vent surface acquaintance between
U.S."
He gave her quick glance. "Do
you want it prevented?'
eyes. Surface acquaintance with
man cannot be anything but COM
monplacp, and | do not like a man
who is that"
"Will you tell me, Miss Greta, what
kind OF a man you do like best"'
Greyford's handsome eyes were very
earnest. Greta pondpred a moment;
then, with a little laugh, she brought
her eyes back from the stormy sea to
the man at her side.
81 would rather not" she an
swered.
"Why?"
Because there is a possible chance
that you are that kind of man, and
that would be an embarrassing ad-
mission for me to make"
If she was really betrothed to Gin.
ton, Greytord thought, she would
hardly say a thing like that.
Greyford spent the half hour she
was getting ready anxiously watch.
ing 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 pic.
ture he forgot his anxiety. A slim
figure, gowned in sage green, with
broad collar and girdle of white, she
held a green hat, with white clovers
Old it, in her hand and let the brisk
breeze stir her bright hair into d
hundred little ringlets around her face
AS they strolled down the sandy
road to the beach Greta touched
again on the theme they had beer
discussing.
"There are, after all" she said
" few men who are not common
place."
"No man is always commonplace,
he replied, gravely. There are times
in the life of even the most ordinar,
man when he is unusual. Thos
things depend too much on environ
ment to generalize about them"
She gave him a surprised glance
which he did not notice, for they wer
close to the beach now and his eye
were on the sea.
"Would you think me very com
monplace if | were to tell you that i
would be most unwise for us to ROY
round the island to-day?"
eyes, should" she answered
tersely.
He frowned impatiently.
81 should not have asked you Il
go. Look at that sky and wind; i
is going to storm frightlulIyin abou
half an hour"
81 shall like that" said Greta
recklessly. "When said would g,
I told you it was for the sake OF tn
experience"
"You will not like it when it turn
over the boat"
"Ah, can swim, quite well, too
and think how exciting it will be gu
in the midst of that angry water"
81 do not like the responsibility,
he observed.
She threw back her head and looked
at him through haEclosed lids
elbow does it feel to be afraid?'
He gave her a wrathful glance anC
moved away to the long, marrow
boat waiting on the beach. Without
word he helped her in, took up thu
oars, and with a long, steady stroke