The Monmouth inquirer., 1898-03-24

who lived in.H gay town some distance
from Theoddka's home. She had seen
VERY little ofsJack since the soiree, but
as the train was starting, he swung
hfmself on, and in his hurried passage
through the car tossed a box into her
lap.
aGood-by," he called out, and she
watched him swing himself off of the
platform. For some unaccountaDle rea-
son her heart was behaving strangely.
She took UP the box from her lap ano
broke the string. A note lay on a Ded
of deep purple, fragrant violets, ana as
she saw just the one word, "Theodora,
in the familiar scrawly writing, ner
heart gave a joyous bound. She open
ed the note and read these words:
''The fool and his money soon parted.
She stared at the line. So Jack con-
sidered himself fool for spending a
few paltry cents on her. And this
after their conversation at the Hath
awaysl oh, it was unbearable for any
man to be so insulting, and Jack. OF all
menl
She took a little pencil from her
pocketbook and wrote underneath the
obnoxious message from Jack: IT
would be wiser to tack the violets onto
one of those ends which will not meet"
When Jack received the box address
ed in Theodoras handwriting, he eager
ly opened the package. Inside ne
found his poor violets, withered, and
then he read the penciled words: 1t
would be wise to tack the violets onto
one of those ends which will not meet.
"By Jove!" he exclaimed. That
borders on sarcasm. Wonder why she
didn't like them? I'll take run up
Sunday and find out"
Jack wassas good as his word, and
quite distracted Theodora's thoughts
from her prayers when his unexpected
self swung into the church on Sunday
morning. She treated him with dig
nifty which smacked of hauteur, but
poor Jack was entirely unconscious.
''By the way" he remarked, casually,
that evening, utterly unaware of, or at
least not noticing the frigldlty OF
Theodore; but of course know you
keep the violets? meant you should. :
Indeed, did you? 1 did the best |
could to restore a FOOLS money.
Il say, that's rather hard on me,
Theodore; butof course / know YOU
only meant it as a joke, same as / did.
But am sorry you did not keep them. !"
"a jokeI" she exclaimed; II think
your jokes are in rather poor taste
"Oh, never mind. That's all over
now. Say, I congratulated Hunt the
other day. and dt didn't seem to SET
we'll"
Theodore gasped. Glow dare you do
such a thing?" she exclaimed. How
dare you insult me in this way? l
have never been treated SO. First you
proposed to me, and-and--
Il didn't mean to insult you by that,
Theodore"
"Oh you know what I meant You
told me you did not want to marry me
because I would be an expense, then
you dared to meddle in Mr. Hunts
affairs"
Nov, Theodora-"
Then you send me a box of flowers
SO you can poster me with your exces-
sive brilliancy of thought; then, to cap
ALL you come up here to taunt me with
all this, and call it all a joke. I never
thought it of you. T.
why, Theodore, what is the matter?
Don't cry, for Heavens sake implor-
ed Jack, attempting consolation, and
exhibiting immense awkwardness.
"Oh, l say. Theodore" he said Il
didn't know you felt this way about it. :"
Il don't" sobbed Theodore.
But, my dear, you certainly do.
Upon my word. I did not know that
you were not engaged to Hunt. apol-
ogized to him, and it's all right. And
sent the flowers because | knew you
liked vlolets, and the note was only a
joke And l said that | did not want
to marry you because | was sure you
would refuse me at first. But | didn't
believe you would marry any one else
or was engaged so soon. Tell me, any
way, Theodore, why won't you marry
me?"
Because you don't want me to" she
said, sobbingly.
my dear Theodore, it seems to me
you are wonderfully Dense he said.
taking her in his arms. s.-Constantia
Nope, in Peterson's Magazine