Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-05-04


when they wanted Proctor at the adju-
tants office they sent for him to the
Strongs. And yet, though the week of
her visit was drawing TO a close, he was
no nearer to lovemaking than upon the
first day. She grew a trihe uneasy. II
was not that she wanted Proctor, but
that she wanted to know she could have
him. So she condescended, in the dilem-
ma, to speab to her host. "AIr. Proctor
is a desperate fiirt, don't you thinkY' she
asked. 1t was meant to be light, but it
was a shade anxious.
That would have been Strongs chance
to have put an end to joke that was
going too far. 1t had got away from
them, and the man to stop it refused to
arise. Strong funked. lie looked mean
and said that he had never known Proc
tor to Hirt He is swathed in red tape,
as a general thing has notions of duty
and the rest of it," Then he went off
and swore at Proctor in his own breast.
Which is human nature.
Proctor for his part swore at every
body else openly. I'm SO far in it now
that don't know how to get out" he
said. And they grinned and suggested
that he tell the truth and shame the
devil.
And feel more Of a COMPOUNDED ass
than do now"
the bachelors.
he said rude things about them. They
asked what he would like them to do.
shall we come in a body the next
time you are en- tete-a-tete and explain,
or shall we do it while you are absent
and can't defend yourself? Any way
you put it you will look good deal OF q
cad, you know" They chuckled
Proctor sulked. Mrs. Strong has got
to do it," he announced.
Mrs. Strong won't. She feels about
as small as you do. She goes around
with the look OF stage conspirator. You
might draw off gradually" they advised.
Il might make a qualified fat OF my.
self" said Proctor. I've done it as il
is" He departed to keep an engagement
TO walk around the island with Miss
Hadley.
When they started, he made the sol
emD resolve that before they got to the
quarantine station she should know all
but she swung into the post as blissfuly
ignorant as she had left it. He had
funked again.
And at this point fate came to his aid
They sat on the steps OF the Strongs
quarters resting, when an orderly brought
q telegram for him and a box for Miss
Hadley. The box contained violets. Proc
tor was pleased to think what those little
attentions were costing the other bach
elors, but he glanced at his own card ~
ing in the purple fragrance with loathing
Then he opened the telegram and put il
hastily in his pocket.
Miss Hadley asked what 1t was. H,
said that it was from some one he had {
meet at the train tomorrow.
(which train?" said Miss Hadley.
'The train from the east" said Proc
tor
She told him that she, too, was goinr
to the city on the early boat, for few
hours. I'VE may strike the same on,
coming back"
He thought it would probably be hi
uncomfortable luck.
And it came to pass as Miss Hadle.
had predicted. They struck the sam
boat. She came aboard hurriedly, JUS
as the gangplank was being drawn in
and she looked about for Proctor, calmly
possesTveiy, as though he must, o
course, be there. But he was not to b
seen. 30 she stood and talked to a grou
OF post people, as the boat swung on
into the bay and the foggy wind bley
stitily about them. She was not sensi
tive, yet she was dimly aware that the
were civil beyond their wont; even Their
seemed vague sympathy in their man
ner But she was busy and abstracted
watching for Proctor. He might be be
low deck or in the cabin.
At length he appeared from the othe
side of the deck, walking with-anothe
| girl. The girl glanced at her with a hal
smile. She was 80 pretty that Miss Had
ley's lips set, and she forgot what sh
had been saying.
Proctor and the girl strolled to tn
stern and stood there. Then Proctc
caught Miss Hadley's amazed eye, an
he raised his hat. But she beckoned.
was assurance, to say the very least, bt
he went TO her, leaving the other cir
The group would have been glad to me
away, but some way it couldn't.
Then Miss Hadley's admirable and pc
feet cool cheek reached its zenith. "Wh
is your pretty friend?" she asked. Brun
mel could not have been more superb.
There was q pause. Some one migI
: have helped Proctor out, but no one di
a A smoker came from the group and tur
Proctor came to his aid, the realizatic
that it was all everybody elses faul
d anyway-Miss Hadley's, in particula
;. He looked at her in stern reproac
d She's my wife, Miss Hadley."
a The very winds and the screw we
II hushed. In the silence Proctor's eyes b
d gan to shift. But Miss Hadley's ov
were on his face, and they never wave
t ed. Somewhere in their limpid dept
{. there was a twinkle. About the corne
s OF her mouth there was an unmistakab
n amused twitch. She raised a bunch
# violets to hide it. They were the on
d that had come the day before. He mo
r. ed uneasily and met the eyes peeril
II above the flowers again. This time tn
held him.
,s 81 wOnder"-Miss Hadley's voice car
Is slowly, with a distinctness that mu
a have penetrated even to the stern
: wonder whether it Is l or you-all, W
Il e.. Al 81