Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-04-06
PROUD DOROTHY.


though he was conscious of his ability to
hold his own among men he saw in him
self no quality to attract women. So
when the proud Miss Preston treated him
with even less consideration than she be-
slowed on her other admirers he accepted
it all as only what was due him and
went his way in silence.
Meanwhile Dorothy Preston chafed
and groaned in spirit under the sting Of
wounded pride. She refused to see what
was patent TO every one eiSe-that Fred
Culbertson loved her-and only knew
that she had. after a struggle, given her
heart TO a man who had never spoken an
afectiouate word to her.
Ii was after a ball one night that her
position first came so strongly home to
her mind. She had long tried to deny to
herself this passion Of her heart, but now
it rose strong. full blown love and
clamored to be heard. She clasped her
hands and with flushed face admitted to
herself that she loved Ned Culbertson.
SHANE. shame upon me-" she cried.
Il love him. and he has never given me a
word. and they call me proud too Her
lips curlcd. and she half laughed
well, will be proud. | will be too
proud to let 10 be known that l have
given my heart unsought to a man
who
She did not finish the sentence. but the
blood famed up into her cheeks and over
her forehead. the tears came into her
eyes. and she cliuched her hands sharply
together
From that time on il Ned Culbertson
had any faint CLEANS q hope they must
have been entirely extinguished, for Dor
othy Preston's manners toward him were
a revelation II frigid disdain. Did she
touch his hand in the dance. it was
shriukingly. rs il she abhorred the slight
contact. Did she speak TO him, il was
with such distant hauteur that his blood
froze. And 50 it continued until he was
in despair.
Alone in his Office one evening during
a busy week he was trying to finish some
complicated designs for the interior Of
church which was soon 10 be erected.
Could oHe have peeped at him as he sat
with bent head over his work. drawing
hard at a cigar. one would have said that
he was all absorbed in the labor before
him.
But any such thought would have been
efficiently routed when he suddenly
sprans 20 his feet and. dashing his pencil
into q corner. exclaimed:
Il can't do it. conf0uud IL, I can't,
With that girls face before my eyes con
stantly l am getting as incapable OF
thought or performance as an imbecile
And what does 1t all amount to? She
looks at me As II she would like to walk
over me- and when she speaks its like
pouring ice water over my head. l can't
a
dure this suspense | would tell her and
have her freeze me with a glance or show
me the door Maybe that would put me
on my feet anyhow and infuse a little
spirit into me. if it were only the spirit
Of resentment
In his lucid moments Mr.. Edward Gull
bertson was a quick thinking and prompt
acting man. and in ten minutes he had
determined on a plan OF action. \ note
/ left on the desk of his first assistant told
| that gentleman that his superior was sud
/ denly called away and might not be back
/ FOR 4 month and left the work Of the Of
[ fce in his hands.
He would see Miss Preston. tell his
story and then go away for a month TO
forget
When the plan was once settled upon.
I il was but short work TO hasten home.
pack a satchel and then dress for the
proposed call.
When he entered the Preston drawing
room. he thought that Dorothy had never
looked 50 lovely 10 him before in all his
| life
He could hardly follow the common
/ places that introduced the conversation
for looking at her. And then, more like
| the rude swain than the polished beau.
/ almost before the greetings were over he
| had plunged in medias res"
/ The girl listened TO him. speechless
| with surprise, as he poured out his story
| of love. She could not check him. nor
! did he give her time 10 say a word.
Miss Dorothy" he concluded after
/ telling his story, II cannot sufficiently
| thank you for listening TO me. l was a
! mailman to think that you would. but
! felt that must tell you how loved you.
| do not ask for your answer. for | am
/ too sure what il will be. l suppose I'm a
! fool. but'-and there was a tremor in his
| voice. can't help it. you know. And
now goodby. 1--we got 10 catch that
/ 1905 for-ah-I'm going away for little
] while for change Of scene and forgetful-
| ness, as the uoveliSts put it,
/ He smiled mirthlessly as mechanically
she gave him her hand and before she
| had recovered from the shock he had
gone. To a woman a sofa pillow is a
very sympathetic article. and a certain
lowered silk one in Miss Dorothy Pres
tons room that night received her tears,
laughter and coherent words OF joy. Then
the same sofa pillow was pushed back
into its place in a rather unfriendly man
ner. hardly consistent with the confidence
it had just received, as the proud Miss
| Preston rose to her feet. exclaiming:
He said the 1905. ! have time YETI
II was just three minutes past 10 when
a woman approached Ned Culbertson at
the Grand Central station. where he was
pacing back and forth impatiently await
ing his train She touched his shoulder.
Dorothy" ne cried
"Ned. don't 90. IL want you" and
then her voice broke. He led her quickly
away, for people were beginning TO OBJ
serve them. And once without the sta
tion he kissed her and then put of her
clinging hands 10 tear up his ticket-ex-
travagant fellow,
He went home with Dorothy in blissful
dreams. Then he sought his office, took
the note off the desk OF his first assistant
and tore that up too.-Exchange.
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Ethereal MIIdness.
Comes the spring with all its snoWbanks,
-