The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-11-18
Our Daily Short Stories
THE SERENE THEMES.
BY F. H. LANCASTER.
tcopyrIght. 1901. by Authors syndicate3

He was looking at her, but not lis
tening. 1t was the first time in two
years that she had called him friend.
And she had done it in the old-time,
pleasant way. The tone carried him
! back to the comfortable times before
| they had quarreled over one of her
! reckless invasions against the laws OF
custom.
Il don't know" he said, vaguely,
when he realized that it was his turn
to say something. Tn not we'll up on
| Greek mythology"
But I am talking everyday sense.
/ say that there are more unwilling
victims dragged at the chariot wheels
or customs to-day than ever Roman
conquerors displayed on their tri-
umphs. There are millions OF people
grinding their lives out doing things
~ detest merely because it rs Gus
tomary. You know what mean?"
Il wish 10 the Lord that / did"
She looked at him with a touch OF
calm disdain, then let her eyes drift
lazily to the drenched landscape. For
an instant she found herself wishing
that it was not quite so pleasant to
have him there. The rain makes his
eyes so much bluer." she reflected.
But that was scarcely a cause for
avoiding their fearless glance.
IT am going TO organize an anti
Themes club" she announced. The
members are to pledge themselves TO
do whatever they feel like doing, ir-
respective of what is customary"
Il will sign the pledge as soon as 1t
is written" His voice shook little.
Nan turned to look at him.
You needn't laugh she began;
then she faced about suddenly and
quickened her pace.
TT is going to rain harder, I think"
he remarked, grimly.
mo" he returned. Il saw a CLEAN
in the marsh just now. The sun Will
be out in half an hour.
When are you going to write that
pledge?" he questioned, softly.
"Oh, l don't know"
because 1 am getting a little impa-
tent to sign it,"
DO you find the serene Themes
tyrant at last? Let me tell you, men
ge' off easy compared to what women
have to bow down to-
II don't know about that. l have
gone around for the last two years
half-dead to break one Of her laws. and
not daring to do IT."
Mans eyes measured the marsh.
II shouldn't imagine it would be
easy to respect a man who was for
ever clinging TO the skir's OF custom,
she remarked, impersonally.
shouldn't your" he echoed, absent
ly. His finger tips were beginning to
tingle. The rain came down afresh,
pattering briskly upon the back OF
their rubber coats and yelling the
marshes in translucent mists.
Neither should l." he added, after
a long pause. "The serene Themes has
stifed my life too long. BY this sign
renounce my allegiance" His warm,
wet lips caught hers and chung to
them.
In an instant Nan was facing him
through three feet of misty rain.
You crazy" she exclaimed.
Don't" he protested. II have only
done what l have been longing to do
day and night for the last two years.
have renounced-"
1--WE had better walk on" she cut
in, coolly. THE rain isn't exactly the
proper place for gossiping."
"Ah. but we do not care fig for
the proprieties. Wait, Nan, l take II
back, If you only knew how irresisti-
Bile you were with those rain drops on
your face. Besides, 1t really is your
turn to be little loving now. I have
been doing it all for the last two
years"
Does that mean that YOU propose
to rest from your labors?'
You little fraud, you know that it
doesn't. You know that as long as
live l shall go on loving you through
and through even to your rubber
coat"
"Oh. for PHYS sake don't fall In love
with my rubber coat. Recall the sad
fate of those galoshes that got kissed
into holes. 1t would trouble me to
awake some morning to the fact that
my rubber coat was a wreck"
Nan" he said, sternly. does all
this mean that you love me. or that
you do not?"
She turned to con lesson of candor
from the candid marshes, then she
leaned her head back against him tc
meet his eager eyes.
1T means that do she answered
honestly.