The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-04-27
SELECTED STORY.
when Greek Meets Greek.

They stood facing each other in the
middle of the room, a little way apart,
and each of them was angry. He
showed it by folding his arms and look
ing stern; she by holding her head back
and speaking slowly, with little smile.
"I don't think you can say have
given you any ground for believing
that" she said.
"You were too nice to me-" he ans
wered.
81 was no nicer to you than was to
half dozen other men," she said.
"Then you were abominably nice to
half dozen othersl" he returned.
"Well2" she asked with smile.
"They did not misunderstood me so
egregiously."
He looked at her for a moment in ST.
lence before he said slowly, "I'll make
you love me yeti"
She raised her eyebrows inquiringly.
"Really?" she said. She was grow
ing more angry. 81 know they do that
in fiction, but doubt if you will find it
easy in real life, Mr.. Beverley. Have
you ever tried it beforep"
He turned on his heel and stood look
ing up at print of the Sistine Madon-
ma in silence. She walked across the
room and sat down in tall, carved
chair, the long folds of her train lying
over the polished arm, and her foot, in
its shining black slipper, pressed firmly
into the cushion on the floor, and wait
ed. Presently he moved, as if her
eyes, fixed on his back, disturbed him.
eyes," he said, without turning
''yes, will, I'll make you love mel"
"Can l help you?" she asked. He
turned at this.
"Yes," he answered briefly. "By
allowing me to come and see you, as
otherwise shall be handicapped"
"Certainly," she said. "Come often.
am sure it will be quite interesting.
Do you want an indefinite timer"
"Say three MONTHS" he returned,
controlling by visible effort his grow
ing anger at her insolence.
"Aren't you Understanding your
own power of charming? she asked
mockingly. cit took only three weeks
to make you love me. l am afraid you
are over-modest, Mr.. Beverley"
He took step toward her. His face
was very white, and his blue eyes were
dark.
"Why are you so cruel2" he asked in
a whisper. s'Have deserved all this?
Is this the way to treat mans love
when he lays it at your feet?"
"When he throws it at your head,
you mean," she answered. 81 doubt
if I could ever have loved you, Mr.
Beverley, but your conduct this even
ing has effectually prevented any such
misfortune. l do not consider that you
have done me an honor. You have
converted it into an insult by your
manner. I do not love you and I
never will, and you are very much mis-
taken in your assertions that encour-
aged you. 1 think this is final, is it
not?"
"No," he said, standing before her.
She raised her eyebrows again, with the
same hooking smile. "NoI" he re-
piled. 81 am going to make you love
mel Three months from today shall
ask you again to be my wife,"
"And l shall say mo- again." she an
swered.
81 do not think So" he returned.
MAY | call on you tomorrow night,
Miss Hastings?"
eff you choose" she said. "I may
suppose that it will be trife more
COuNcuIlOuhl huu lcbb WohIluB tuhu
this evenings call?"
"Yes," he answered. "With your
help, we will ignore this, and 60 on as
before. But assure you, that at the
end OF three months, things will be
different"
81 have no doubt of that" she said.
"At least you will not accuse me of
leading you on. What would you call
it, Mr.. Beverley? An experience in CO.
ercion?"
81 shall call it nothing at present."
he answered grimly. slater / think 1
shall call it success"
"So?" she asked. "In either issue I
shall consider it failure. But don't
you think it should be written up?
Really you know, don't believe such
interesting situations occur in real life
very often. One might make capital
story of it,"
"Quite true" he returned. 81 intend
to reap the fruits of it in three months"