The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-12-08
together. Do get some tea," and off she

l. Hang it! Clarissa is mean. How
can 1 press my suit if she will not give
me an opportunity?
| quite saw how it was. l must not
give Clarissa any advantage, but must
carry the war into the enemy's country.
Next day | wrote her a long letter,
in which / dwelt on her unkindness in
keeping away from me. 1 laid on the
sentiment with tar brush, and paint
ed myself as a lonely and morbid man
who wanted a woman's sympathy.
How was l to make her love me, as ar
ranged, if she would not give me the
opportunity? l implored an interview.
AS l was awaiting an answer by
every post, did not go to see her, but
no answer came. After three days |
went round in the evening, but had not
the courage to knock; diplomatic rela
tions seemed to be on = delicate foot
ing, and after all, argued, it would be
rude to call before she answered my
note. However, l thought of another
plan as | saw the parlor maid returning
from the letter box. She was a good
sort, and could trust her.
"Alice!" l said-putting my hand
carelessly into my waistcoat pocket
"can trust you?" Receiving a quick
affirmative 1 continues: Tell Miss
Clarissa that you saw me wandering
about outside, looking very troubled.
Never mind why" and, slipping half
sovereign into her hand, l turned to 60,
when l saw the shadow of Jones' profile
on the blind. made strategic move
ment to the rear.
Next day l did receive a little note,
asking me to meet the writer in the
Park that afternoon at a certain seat.
Aha! would l not serve her out?
would not turn up! But thoughts of
Jones rose up, and so 1 agreed to my
self that second thoughts were best. |
met Clarissa, but her manner was most
eXasperating. She would never let me
get on to serious or sentimental topics
with her, and Jones name dared not
mention for fear of being accused of
being jealous-although l really was
not the least bit so. On the whole, our
meeting, which she soon cut short, was
TO me extremely unsatisfactory.
And in this manner we played for six
weeks or so. Our meetings were few
and short, for Clarissa always had an
after engagement, and if l called at the
house she was out, engaged or talked
mostly to other people. She had also
got another girl to share her studio.
She was always very offish with me, but
at length | began to think that this was
one of the female symptoms of affec-
tion-at least, had read so somewhere.
I Undoubtedly, therefore, must be max
irg an impression on her, but still the
outward feeling of being kept at arms
length was not satisfying to me.
Gradually, fight against it as 1 would,
| began to get tired of the game.
[ was sick of the whole thing. and
no longer thought about the impression
| could make on Clarissa. 1 therefore
stood it just for six weeks, and then
and only because I knew that Clarissa
would hold me to it'll determined to
make a fool of myself and propose as
per contract. 1t all seemed very ride
ulous, but still no harm would be DONE
as | was, of course, still fancy free, and
she-oh, well, even if she did care bit,
It was her fault for suggesting the ex-
pertinent. Without more ado / seized
my hat and rushed round to Clarissa's
house, but my ardor soon cooled as l
got nearer; 1 felt like going to the
dentist, and when | arrived at the house
| was half inclined to retrace my steps.
Remembering, however, that faint
heart never won fair lady, braced my
nerves with an effort and knocked.
What happened during the next few
moments, when l was face to face with
Clarissa, | shall never quite remember,
but l know that Clarissa laughed, and
that l put up my hand to feel if my tie
was at the back of my neck.
I began my tale in half-hearted
manner enough, Clarissa looking half
amused and half scared, but her ap-
parent Indifference made me mad and
goaded me on to say perhaps more than
| had intended. Besides, | now seemed
to be inspired in some mysterious way,
and l am sure no real lover could have
wound up with a more imprisoned ap-
peal.
At length l had finished. She had
dropped her eyes and turned away so
that could not see her face. thought
no more about vague experiments now,
but had a sense of delightful reality.
Madly l seized her hands-her silence
must imply consent drew her toward
me to kiss her-when she suddenly
jumped away and laughingly cried:
mo, George, you must not do that
You have gone quite far enough, and
now we will be friends again. You have
acted your part splendidly!"
Acted my part splendidly! I was
crushed. l saw she had been making
a fool of me.
"Oh, of course, | was only pretend
ing" l said, bitterly, and then, losing
my temper, "but think you have be-
haved disgracefully, Clarissa, in the
way you have fooled me and carried on
with that fellow Jones. I wish you
good afternoon" and walked quickly
toward the door.
"George!" Her voice startled me and
l looked around.
A few minutes afterward I said:
"Clarissa, shall we take Punch's ad-