Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-06-30


Mason was a E7an Of about - and as
full of passion aud sentiment ss n nan
well could se But he had been brought
up in orthodox English style. with
many sharp lessons never 10 hetTay his
feelings These lessons had been so
hammered into him in his youth that
he found now that even against his
own wishes IL was almost impossible
to show what his real opinion vzs Of
anything that affected his likes or dis
likes. When he was most happy, peo-
PIE thought him sad. and vice versa
II was perhaps On account of the Pc
culisr way he had OF booking at things
that he Invariably saw the funny side
first. sometimes on the most serious oc-
casions
His passion fer Vera .t 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 il was he knew too much
OF the world. and the love affairs of his
friends had appeared ridiculous to hinan
One Of the chief attractions of yerS
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 CON-
nuniDgs just recorded he knew that
Vera. would be at = dinner party to
which he had also been invited. and he
determined il an occasion arose for a
serious talk, to have the matter set
tied How he would manage il he did
not dare 90 decide. Chance. he thought.
would have to be his guide.
Mrs Fairburn's drawing room was
/ packed on the night Of the dinner, so
much so that poor Nsson's heart sank
II Vera did come. his opportunity for q
teiea-tete with her appeared small
She WAS n popular person. and he
knew she would be dragged OF to en-
tertain some OF the Hons of the even
ing
The Fairburns' house luckily boasted
one Of the finest gardens in Sussex, and
IL he could persuade his idol to so for n
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 crowdins the table with
4
would have hidden her charming. clear
cut features from him When looking
ar her. n 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 ruflsc
her
The dinner passed of perfectly All
seemed thoroughly pleased with them
selves and the world in general
1t wss an hour later. and he was sit
ting by Ver=s's side in the drawing
room They were enjoying an animat-
ed discussion on some topic OF public
interest. and no chance had so far pre-
seried itself. At last. i'm pure despers-
ton, ArtAsr blurted out during 4 slight
fall in the tide OF argument: This
room is terribly close. Shall we finish
our little controversy in the garienf
Vera was nothing Ioash-
1t WAS a lovely night The sky was
mass OF fwinkling stars. and the
moon gave a light that one could easily
read by. such n moment seemed spe-
|
WHISPERED in the trees and echoed in
the bushes. And yet these two still
continues; to disagree. as il such ro-
mantle evenings were intended for the
battledore and shuttlecock OF social
eOmmonplaccs-
They had hy rOw wandered 10 an ar
hon, and without either OF them draw
ing attention to il they entered and sat
down in the two deck chairs 1t bcasted-
Vera tried 10 continue the subject at
Issue. but Arthur remained silent. In
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
abrup;ness. the silence was broken
! upon
Vera said Arthur. turning toward
her. would you care 10 marry mer
IL was not by long way the frst
time she had received similar re
: quest. for she had been vainiy cOcrtesl
by the richest and highest in the eOun-
try-so vainly. indeed. that people We're
even beginning to hint OF the shelf
, when speaking OF heF-eut whether IL
was the suddenness OF the request Or
r the personality of him who made I,
, for the minute her confusion was oh
> viouS. though luckily for her the friend
/ IL moon did nOt light mp this little ar
1 6cr. Calming herself immediately and
! looking quickly up AT her companion,
, Vera uueried: why do ysu ask mel
| You don't think I'm in love with you
]. do you;'
No. in fact I'm sure you are not"
Then that settles the question With
out further trouble" said Vera. care
fully reaFrangins her shawl and estab
fishing herself IN a more comfortable
position. as IL some knOtty problem
had Just been solved
Not At all. for you haven't answeres
: me-
-Iou have answered yourself. though
You would hardly marry woman uh'
did not love you"