Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-07-23
ENGAGED.

Students lay at the National galssFy
Eleanor ViAcent laboriously copying "Tbs
Challenge" Jack Gerard enters secs IN
and bows doubtfully. She smiles. He
hesitates, then walks up TO her She holds
out her hand.
She-Of oil peoplei Who would hSvs
expected TO sec you heref
He--Or you?
She-Oh, have taken to playing with
thing, you know.
He-Must onei And you're ambitious
see. Islands looking at her. She paints
on mechanically. Suddenly My God.
how good II is 10 see you again
She Chends her head over her palette and
speaks quicklyl-You have no right &c
talk like that. All that Was over year
ago You know what you said then
He-No. What did i sayf
She-Ycu said you hoped you wouLdnt
ever see me again.
He-What fool I must have been
What did we quarrel aboutf
She (firmly)-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
moro to me.
He-Then you dom care for ms 1t ali
oowf
She (emphatically)-Not the least bit in
the world
He turns very red and says after Ino-
ment's silence: II beg your pardon ]
had no right to speak as i did, especially
as-Inay ! bore you with my private inter
ests and bopesf-I am engaged 10 be nsaJ-
ried y
She ffusbes, looks hard at him, siuiIes
and says: ~ congratulate you. Do tell
me all about her. Is she fair or dark
He-Fair or dark Oh, rather fair, ]
should say; not exactly dark-bsswsen,
you know.
She-And her eyes9
sre lovely.
She-Grsyt
He-Yes, gray-tbe nostde1is hCsubASn.
She's "a charming girl.
She (suddenly)-Whst's her DaIDcs
Heller nansef Oh, Der name is-ss
Smith.
She-And her Christian Dan,sss
Hs-Why, is's like the catechism Hen
Christian name is Mary. But don't let
Us talk any more about her. ! haven't
seen you for such a long tina, and
She->And II : a sacred sub1eoa isn't ~
He-Yes, that's What l mean. Xof -
ways understand everything "a hong
pause.) Beastly weather, isn't II?
She-Y@s, IL seems rather de<essstAs
when you are in London, but we found II
pleasant enough Last year down In HaImp-
shire
He-Yes. Do yuu re1neIubes how Ve
used to 90 skating sDd what jolly oven.
ings we had, and how we used to dance in
the ball? What a splendid floor that was
And do you remember Christmas ever
She-Perfectly. l have an exoslLsni
memory.
He (bttterly your TAan perhape
you remember the 18th of Fel~uary too
We parted then, you reoolles- w pere
engaged exactly seven weeks.
She (hurriedly We had better noe taxi
about that Besides. AFTER al, poo hsve
,onsoled yusrself haven't your
He-Oh, Eleanor, don't! was q fool
I threw away all the happiness In the
world for a trile that seems only fit e.
laugh at now. oh, my darling. fOrGtr,
me and TAXI me back
She-But what about the Smith gfrtr
He (statled) -The what?
Sbe-The girl YOU arc engaged to-MlSs
Mary SMITH
He-Oh, ali, yes. had fnreut1eD thlx
l will get her 10 throw me Opr. Shs
doesn't really care for me- She's no faal
obstacle. Oh, my sweetheart how could
ever 10. you go-and all about tha& -
pid young Trimmer
She (coldly)-My memory h better ehax
yours. 1t was about the Spindler girl
,He-Oh, never mind what II vas About
E0ruiya mo and faEp-1u<.AlArk Lf,.<Aass AL
my fault.
She Slowly and with autyt-Taks
you back while you are engaged 70 another
woman Make you break your plighted
faithS Tempt you TO be dishonorahle and
then marry man l could only despise
No Mr. Gerard, you must keep your cd
gagenant this time.
He-I won't. Ill break n tumsrrUu
whether you will have me or not!
She-I shall always feed to you rs a sis
ter Il shall always think of you as a dear
brother But, besides Mary Smith, there's
another great reason which makes " i'm
possible for me 20 regard you In any Other
light. l, too, have consoled myself, and
my wedding day Is fixed for the 18th of
February.
He-Oh, Eleanor, the very day We
parted
She (cheerfullyl-Tbat's why. 1 didn't
want 1t always 20 be a black letter day
1t will be a silver letter day for me Dow
won't itY
He (angrily)-Well goodby, then.
She-Goodby.
He (takes few steps and then turnsl-
Before l go, Miss Vincent, should like
to tell you one thing. Ny memory Is
better than yours, after all 1 only TOLD