The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-04-27

"That don't believe it," he an
swered.
81 do, most emphatically," she re-
turned.
III know you do now," he said. 81
expected you to say that at first, but it's
not final, you know" She looked at
him for a moment, almost helplessly.
and then she sat down in her chair,
with a little laugh.
Nothing is final with you" she said,
''but this is not the day of forced mar
riages, Mr.. Beverley. You are an an
achronism, or q Turk" He sat down
again opposite her.
81 said would make you love me,
and have done it," he began. "Isn't
it SOP" She looked at him without
speaking. He repeated his question,
and still she looked at him with defiant
eyes and firmly shut lips. He straight
ened himself up and took long breath.
~ have done it," he repeated, sal
though you don't confess it. Now
say that will make you marry me.
And 1 will. In six months. You can
be ready in six months, can't your"
"No," she said briefly.
"Oh yes, you cam" he answered.
81 am not going to marry you, Mr..
Beverley" she said. He leaned
towards her, resting his elbows on his
knees.
"What makes you say that2" he
asked. "For you are going to marry
me, you know. Your will is strong,
but mine is stronger. You said, you
know, that 1 couldn't make you love
me, and / said would. Who conquer
ed there2"
81 have never admitted that you have
made me love you. l don't admit it
now," she answered.
"Well, admit it just for the sake of
the argument" he urged. "It's so,
even if you haven't admitted it. And
why shouldn't you admit itP Isn't it
SOP" Again she looked at him without
answering. "Admit it'll" he said.
81 never shall admit it," she ans
wered at last He laughed.
"Well," he said, "that's a minor
point. Well let it pass for the pres
emit. The facts remain, that I have
made you love me, and that we shall be
married in six months"
elbow you reiterate things!" she said.
"Because am sure" he answered,
'and you seem to be little doubtful
yet. Why don't you give in now, in
stead of prolonging the agony? It's
simply question of time, and the
sooner you yield the more gracefully"
81 WONDER" she said slowly, "what
you really would think of me, if gave
in and married your"
"You will find out in six MONTHS" he
answered with smile.
She stood up suddenly, and he fol-
lowed her example. They stood facing
each other in tense silence for mo-
ment. One could almost hear the
sound as the wills clashed.
"Mr. Beverley" she said at last, 81
will not marry YOU"
"You will marry me in six MONTHS"
he answered.
"No" she said.
"Yesl" he insisted. The silence
was intense for few seconds, and then
she broke it.
mY 70 are very positive" she said.
81 intend to-" he answered, "and
now, goodbye"
"You are going?" she asked.
eyes," he said. 81 am going to
Wyoming on a business trip, to-mor-
row. I shall be gone some months,
but shall not forget my engagement
with you"
"What engagement have you with
me?" she asked.
"To marry you, six months from to-
night" he answered.
"Good-bye," she said, holding out
her hand. He took it.
"Before co." he began, twill you
not admit that have made you love
me?" Their eyes met above the clasp
ed hands. His were triumphant, COM
polling; hers were mocking and defiant,
and she said nothing.
"You are foeman worthy of my
STEEL" he said at last, lightly, though
his eyes were dark with passion. "Be-
fore realized that, used to grow an
cry, but the JOY of the contest is too
great now. One cannot lose ones
temper when one anticipates q glori-
GUS, hard-earned victory over noble
foe. Goodbye and remember the six
months"
He laid his other hand over hers for
moment, and then he went. Left
alone, she went over and studied her
face in the little oval mirror between
the windows.
"No!" she said aloud. "Nol l will
not marry himl"
Then the memory of his face rose
before her, and she laughed at herself
in the glass. But there were tears in
her eyes, for victory, won or lost, al
ways costs something.-Smith College
Monthly.