The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1900-10-25
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How a Girl Adroitly
Turned It Into Romance.

thoughtfully at the fireplace. "For the
past six months have been head over
heels in love with Vera Fray and, what
Is worse, not had the pluck to tell her
so. But she is such peculiar girl" he
argued in self defense. "If it was any
one else, I wouldn't hesitate a mo-
ment."
Mason was a man of about Is and as
full of passion and sentiment as man
well could be. But he had been brought
up in orthodox English style, with
many sharp lessons never to betray his
feelings. These lessons had been SO
hammered into him In his youth that
he found now that even against his
own wishes it was almost impossible
to show what his real opinion was Of
anything that affected his likes or dis
likes. When he was most happy, peo-
pie thought him sad, and vice versa.
1t was perhaps on account Of the Pc
culiar way he had of looking at things
that he invariably saw the funny side
first, sometimes on the most serious oc-
casions.
His passion for Vera at times made
him laugh, and when on the verge of
proposing to her the thought would
strike him how foolish he would look.
The truth of it was he knew too much
of the world, and the love affairs of his
friends had appeared ridiculous to him.
One of the chief attractions of Vera
in his opinion was her passive nature,
and it was that perhaps which made
him falter. The idea Of her being in
love seemed absurd to him.
The week following the self COM
INNINGS just recorded he knew that
which he had also been invited, and he
determined, If an occasion arose for a
serious talk, to have the matter set
tied. How he would manage it he did
not dare to decide. Chance, he thought,
would have to be his guide.
Mrs. Fairbanks drawing room was
packed on the night of the dinner, SO
much so that poor Mason's heart sank.
If Vera did come, his opportunity for q
tete-a-tete with her appeared small.
She was a popular person, and he
knew she would be dragged off to en-
terrain some of the "lions" of the even
ing.
The Fairburns' house luckily boosted
one of the finest gardens in Sussex, and
| If he could persuade his idol to go for a
stroll in that garden he meant to do so.
At dinner Vera sat directly opposite
him, and he inwardly blessed his host
ess for not crowding the table with
| flowers, ferns or ornaments, which
would have hidden her charming, clear
cut features from him. When looking
at her, a calm always came over him
that he could not explain. Even when
absent from her he generally pictured
her as a limpid spring from which
peace was always flowing. Nothing
on earth, he imagined, could ever ruff1e
her.
The dinner passed off perfectly. All
seemed thoroughly pleased with them
selves and the world in general.
It was an hour later, and he was sit
ting by Vera's side in the drawing
room. They were enjoying an animal
ed discussion on some topic Of public
interest, and no chance had 50 far pre-
scented itself. At last, in pure despera-
ton, Arthur blurted out during a slight
fall In the tide Of argument: This
room is terribly close. Shall we finish
our little controversy in the garden"
Vera was nothing loath.
1t was lovely night. The sky was
a mass of twinkling stars, and the
moon gave light that one could easily
read by. Such moment seemed spe'
cially ordained for lovemaking. Love
whispered in the trees and echoed in
the bushes. And yet these two still
continued to disagree, as If such 70
mantle evenings were intended for the
battledore and shuttlecock of social
commonplaces.
They had by now wandered to an ar
Dor, and without either Of them draw
ing attention to 1t they entered and sal
down in the two deck chairs it boosted
Vera tried to continue the subject al
issue, but Arthur remained silent. II
this wise the conversation stopped, and
each became absorbed for the first
time in the beauty and the stiffness Of
the night. Presently, with startling
abruptness, the silence was broker
upon. 4.
"Vera," said Arthur, turning TOWARD
her, would you care to marry meY
It was not by long way the frs
time she had received a similar re
quest, for she had been yainly courtei
by the richest and highest in the coun
try-so vainly, indeed, that people were
even beginning to hint Of the shell
when speaking of her-but whether i
was the suddenness of the request o.
the personality Of him who made /
for the minute her confusion was OBJ
lvious, though luckily for her the friend
ly moon did not light up this little ar
Dor. Calming herself Immediately ant
looking quickly up at her companion
Vera queried: "Why do you ask me
You don't think I'm In love with you
do your
/ mo, in fact I'm sure you are not"
"Then that settles the question with
out further trouble" said Vera, care
fully rearranging her shawl and estab
fishing herself in a more comfortable
position, as IL some knotty problem
had just, been solved.
mot at all, for you haven't answered
me-" III
"You have answered yourself, though
You would hardly marry a woman who
did not love you" 4e
That's one of the reasons I'm ask
ing you" replied this cool diplomatist
slowly lighting cigarette
"Then before answering" she said
appearing to be interested in this
strange species Of proposal 'let me
question you. Do You love meY
"No, don't"
''Then why on earth do you talk such
rubbish2 How can you wish to marry
meY
"Simply because neither Of us is in
love with the other, which shows that
we are both mentally and physically in
sound health"
you consider, then, that love ia q