Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1901-10-04

"Thc keeping of platonic compact"
said /, "would be novel theme, don't
you think?"
Would it be interesting enough?"
she asked, doubtfully.
"There! What stronger defense
could | have? | propose to leave out
the love-making, and you say that the
interest would be gone" She drumme d
upon the table with her fingers.
"Surely there is some other theme ?"
I knocked the ash deliberately off my
cigarette.
Upon my word" l confessed, "I'm
not sure that there is. But I'll think
over it."
Then her brothers came in and we
changed the subject until was going.
1t is part of the compact that she shall
see me out OF the door. / insisted
upon it.
"When shall communicate the re-
suit Of my deliberations? 2" / asked in
the hall. "To-morrow?"
"Tm going to Vereker's."
"And Wednesday, I'm due at a
smoker. Thursday"
"If you like"
"Thursday. then. Good night, Mary"
1t is in the compact that / am not to
call her Mary, but do. Sometimes she
objects, sometimes she doesn't. On
this occasion she only tossed her head
and half turned away from me. She
is aware that she looks well in profile.
i suddenly bent over her. and
"How dare you!" she cried hotly.
81 couldn't help it, Mary; you looked
so tempting" But she ran upstairs,
with her face scarlet.
81 shall not be in on Thursday" she
called, as she turned the corner, "or
any other day"
So went out, feeling triumphantly
foolish.
Next Thursday I called, and she
wasn't out; but she received me cool
ly. and kept the table between us.
"Look here, Mary" 1 began.
"Miss Montague, if you please!"
81 don't please. 1t is quite natural
to call a friend by her Chris tian name"
"Ye--es; but people might misunder-
stand, we agreed; and So"
"I'm not going to Rander to other
peoples stupidity" / said. indignant
ly; ''and don't consider that friend
ship should have to be weighed and
measured in exact words" had pre-
pared this remark beforehand.
'No-o; perhaps not" l knew it
would score. "Still, there are bounds
to friendship" She shut her little
mouth decisively.
'lf you mean last Tuesday"
81 don't want to talk about it," she
interrupted. 'Have you considered
about the stories?"
"Yes; l have reasoned out my posi-
tion most carefully-Mary." She
frowned, but passed the familiarity.
"And your conclusions?"
SIS in verse"
80! how nice!" Women always like
fellow to run to verse. ] suppose it
is because he is sure to give himself
away, LET me see it,"
"Oncondition that you read it aloud"
She looked objections. 81 want to
hear if l have got the swing"
So she dec,aimed softly. I think I
said that she had pretty voice.
TO MARY.
made me a tale of the tempest at sea,
Full of thunder and lightning above.
And the terrors that be when the storm
winds are free
But the end of the story was lovei
sang me a song of a raid In the glen.
With a lit of the pipers who played,
Strike again, strike again, and die fighting
like men,
And the struggle was over a maid!
planned me play of monarch of fame,
And his courtiers in silken attire,
And his statesmen, who came like moth
to the flame
For pair of bright eyes were the fire,
paeaned the praise of an hero so calm,
And so strong in the tumult TO stand
When l found me the charm hat had
strengthened his arm
1t was only the touch of a hand!
And ]? If my heart for a moment be strong,
If my tale for page ring sincere,
Or II merits belong to the play or the song
They are only your echoes, my dear!
When she came to the last line her
voice was very soft, and just little
fearful. / put my hand on her shoul-
der, and we stood looking silently at
the paper for minute. Then drew
her gently to me-the way the stories
end!-Black and White.