Evening journal., 1899-12-13
HER EXPERIMENT


''Why, Margaret the whole idea Il
absurd and unlike you"
That's just the reason l wish TO do
it. l am tired of the old yearly pro-
gram. The symphony, hops, teas,
drives and calls in the winter, and then
away TO some fashionable resort in the
summer with another whirl Of gayety
for an entire season. I'm bored with il
all and have decided for just one sum-
mer to seclude myself in some quiet
country place, where no one knows me,
and can dress simply and be my nat
ural self, without one familiar face to
remind mo Of home"
"But mother and the girls will be so
disappointed. dear, and ~ you would
only go TO Nahant with them / could
spend every sunday there, and II you
carry out this wild scheme of yours l
may nQt be able TO see you more than
once, FOR do not expect a vacation
this year. as my senior partner sails
for Europe next week.
"But, Ned. l do not want TO see
even you. That would spoil the whole
plan. So you are not TO come where
4 am"
Edward Linton arose with a flushed
face and said quickly: do you mean,
Margaret, that you won't write TO me
and 1 am not to see you until
autnmnY
Yes, Ned, l want to leave love and
lover behind me to be free once more;
but, you dear old fellow, l shall return,
you know. Now, let's have a parting
song, for l leave tomorrow" and she
turned to the piano.
mo, l do not feel like singing.
hope you will enjoy your outing and
freedom to you hearts content. Good
night" and he was gone.
lie thinks III call him back, but l
won't, and III carry out my plan now,
anyway" and Margaret ran upstairs to
finish packing.
Five weeks later q party of young
people started from the Prospect
House-the only hotel of a small New
Hampshire village-tO climb the noun
tain for which the house was named.
The girls in their short walking skirts,
shirt waists and Alpine hats looked
cool and comfortable and chatted
meTrily with their escorts. One OF
their number, however, Jagged behind
a bit, and a girl noticing her, said: Il
can't understand Miss Joyce. She is
| bright and attractive and vet will not
accept attentions from any young men.
4 she told me yesterday that she came
here In preference TO Nahant, just to
be quiet III she was tired out or III
it would not seem odd but she says
I she is in perfect health" "Oh, just
wait Till my old classmate arrives 10.
morrow noon, and, unless he's greatly
changed In the past four years, she'll
be unable TO resist his attractions u
said her companion.
/ "Why, Mr.. Carson" said the first
speaker, Kate Norris. Haven't you
seen him in all that timeg"
'No; we graduated from Harvard
we have never correspOnded, as boti
have been very busy, but as soon as
l came here / wrote him to take q
weeks outing and join me, and h'
wrote me yesterday that he would ar
rive tomorrow"
"Oh. MIR. Carson" said Kate mis-
chievously, did you describe the at
fractions of the heuseY
"The young women? Oh. certainly
the heartless one in particular. / wOulS
like TO see her capuvated by Ned, jus
to pay her for the snubbing she hal
given the rest of Us fellows"
The next afternoon Miss Joyce stroll
ed into the wood at the foot of tn
mountain, and, seating herself on
stone by a little brook, began to read
But her mind would wander in spit
/, of her efforts TO become interested, AM
she closed the magazine and looked a
the babbling water instead. Suddenl.
she espied some brilliant cardinal flow
ers growing on the side Of the bank
and she bent 10 gather them. AS sh
did so a crimson pin on her coat caugh
3 on the edge of a rock, became unloos
; ened and fell into the stream.
"Oh, where is itT exclaimed Maj
garet, and seeing It beside a pebble, sh
eagerly reached for IL, regardless 0
e wet sleeves. Hearing footsteps, sh
turned, and before her stood Edwar
I Linton.
a "Were you contemplating suicide, o
2 trying to land trout with you
D handsY said he. smiling in his plea.
D ure at seeing her.
q "Don't say you are not glad to Sc
I me- Margaret for 1 can see a welcom
e in your eyes"
d Eyes, Ned, I'm very glad to see you.
e lie held her close to him, and as sh
o raised her lips 90 his she whispered
e "Ned, dearest, when l run away agai
t 1 do not want TO leave love and love
behind me- even for just one Sun
n mer.'