The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-11-15
!. THREE CALLS
In Which Former Lovers Meet
and Compare Notes.
) --s-s-s ,
Ely MABEL ROBINS.


{. s.o-s :.s- l.s~.-: ..o-s.. .,-s. y...-s.s :.
why haze you never married?" he
asked
She G&sped her hands at the back of
het charming head with little yawn.
Il hat. been unfortunate" she said.
IN the men who wanted to marry me l
lid not care for, and all the men cared
fac did not want to marry me. What are
you going to do now you are home
aiainE'
1 haven't decided about my future
except in one respect. l hope to marry"
She turned to him in surprise. Are
you engaged. them" she asked.
lie shook his head - want to know if
you will be my wife,
y little color crept into her cheeks. Il
wish YOU wouldn't she said You
should remember that you were always
one Of the men did not want to marry"
THAT was in the old days quietly.
'Why should there he any difference
now? One could not change ones opin-
ion during an hours call
''No.' he said at was not so much
any change in me that | thought would
make you give me different answer from
that of ten years ago as the change in
yourself and your circumstances"
My circumstances are unatered" she
said wonderingly, "and as to myself
You are Il good deal older than you
We're ten years ago"
She flushed
Then if you tn nix l have aged so
much" she cried sarcastically, why do
you want to marry me-"
Il never said | wanted to marry you.
coolly. But occasionally ones sympa-
thicS become aroused and carry one away
with one in spite of oneself"
Her dark eyes flashed fire.
'Sympathies?" she cried "Why should
| arouse your sympathics:"
81 don't know exactly, but somehow
always feel sorry for girls like you, who
have to give way to younger genera
ton"
Her hands fell to her sides. The cnor-
nifty of his words seemed to stun her
"Gou are very kind she cried ironical-
ly, but will you please remember that
do not require your compassion. though
! can never properly express my gratitude
for your disintcrestcduess in asking me
to marry you to save me from such an
ond?"
Not at all" calmly.
II may be old ana passee," she said as
he rose, but have not sunk quite SO low
as to require your charity. There are ut
least four men who would marry me to-
morrow Tiff | conscntcd-men who real
Is want to marry me-
Il don't doubt it, he said gravely, "and
hope you will forgive me if | have said
anything which wounded You. Ones
sympathies are often misplaced. You
will let me come again, won't you?"
Il shall be charmed to see YOU" with
frigid forma!ity, and then she placed a
listess haad in his.
But When he had gone she went and
peelcd in the mirror.
"Do ! look so old?" she cried with Il
catch i'll ncr breath; but She looked for
wrinkles and gray hairs in vain.
when | refused him before" she said
retcctivey, che cried. Today-hc laugh
ed" and She sighed as she turned away.
1T is a long while since you came to
see me-" she said as she sat down in her
chair after receiving him.
Yes, long while. But l have had so
much to do that really haven't had
time"
"No?" She smiled, but her fingers were
beating an impatient tattoo on the arm of
her chair
Il saw you at Nottingham on Satur-
day" She went on. You were walking
about with one girl the whole afternoon
Who is she?"
"Oh, You must mean little Alilly Dan
vcrs. Did Won notice her? Did you ever
see such pretty sirI?'
Just up from the country. ! SUPPOSE"
Eyes. Any one could tell that at once
with the fresh color in her face"
at was not her face that made me
think so'-scathingly. at was her hat"
Tier hat?' he repeated blankly.
You called me old the other day, and
now have discovered that it is you who
have aged most. II is only old men who
discover charms just out of the nursery"
"Milly has left school some months
trying to defend himscf-but she only
tapped her foot on the ground with some
irritaLility.
Don't you think we have talked
enough about Miss Danvers r She said.
Let us start a topic Of some interest"
"Then we will talk about you
promptly.
She smiled family. q don't think that
will be an absorbing subject. either" she
said Besides. it might tempt you to be
as uncompli1uentary rs you were last
time. and you would not be so amusing
twice
Did | amuse you then?"
You always amused mc-cven in the
old days whcn'-with unnecessary en-
pha>is-'you and | were yoGng DO you
remember how You cried them"
And did that amuse you? | will cry
now il it will give You any pleasure"
NO don't believe you could cry
now if you chose. wonder
And what do you wonder?" as she
paused.
u wonder what You would have done
if had accepted You the other day."
perhaps shouldn't have asked You
to Marcy me if had not been quite GER
tain you would refuse"
Her eyes flashed darkly. ~ wish hal
said yes"
81 might have kept you to your word.
and what would you have done thenY
lie was watching her very closely, and
she wished her color were more under her
control.
She laughed as naturally as she could
81 would have married you out of re-
venge." she said.
"We,l"-in IA tone of re'ief-"all things
considered it is much better that you an
swercd rs you did"
Tnfuitcly So" she replied. with per-
haps too much emphasis. And she watch
81 IN, etnn,..na.I L. ,,.nll.nl n,,.n,.