The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-07-27
TOM ARNoLD's ADVICE.

But SybI. you are engaged.
Yes, I know it; but Arthur says for
me TO 60 just the same
rs Tom Arnold going?"
"Yes-that is, suppose So He said
he would when I told him Mrs. Dent had
asked US"
very well; If Fred is willing. and you
still want 70 go when 1 get home, per-
haps we viii co.
Margaret went 70 her work in town.
Her words had set her roommate think
ing. She could not see why an engaged
girl should not 90 20 a dance with three
| others. even If the man 10 whom she
was promised was not to be with her.
| he had told her to have a good time, and
! why shouldn't she? tt puckered her
pretty brow to think Of the conventional
ties Of life 81 she sat down TO some sew
ing.
This man Arnold sat opposite them at
their boarding house. Agreeable as q
1 table companion. they had found him
| more 50 in their room, where he had
! been invited TO call
The party was for the evening. Sybil
was wondering what she had better wear.
| Arnold had once told her that pale yell
! low gown was becoming to her. Why.
that was just the dress. She did look
well in it, and perhaps she would
wear
There was a knock. The color rose
/ in her face as she saw Tom Arnold stand
/ ing outside He saw the flush, too, and
a resolute expression settled in his eyes.
( 4 am glad 10 see you, Mr.. Arnold,
/ come in"
Il thought 7 would drop IN a minute.
| and see if you were going to the party"
"Oh, yes, of course. Mrs. Dent was
\ asking this morning if we were 10 be
/ with her. and 1 said I thought so. You
( had accepted, and Margaret and Fred
I had partially promised"
What about Mr.. Field? Isn't he TO
4 be with us?"
mo; Mr.. Field could not get away IN
time to come tonight" sybil began q
little nervously. He said for me to go
just the same without him"
Arnold had been standing; he now de-
hberately sat down in q desk chair and
looked at Sybil.
Mr.. Field is not going. and, er-I am
to go with you in his placer"
Yes, Of course. We ought not TO dis
appoint Mrs. Dent at this late date, so
We four viii keep the engagement. It
will be such nice party, and I want to
90 so much. DO love to dance"
There was short silence. Arnold was
twisting around on the swivel Of the
chair. He cleared his throat once or
twice. There was queer look on his
face. Sybil thought he was trying 10 say
I Ene
must break this horrible silence.
This is a funny world" she began.
Margaret and I have been arguing
point Of propriety. She thought an en-
gagged girl should go nowhere without
the man. I did not agree with her, and
brought UP this party, saying it was
foolish for me to lose a good time just
because Arthur. Mr.. Field, could not be
with me. OF course, I should like for
I'm RI h h,rf - h.
why, he can't. so there is an end to it.
When I am married and want to go any
where very much, he will want me to go
without him, so why shouldn't I now?
II m! It is all in people; as they IN
derstand each other. What you or Mr..
Field do concerns yourselves alone, but
you see others are going to talk. Peo-
pie are not always charitable, and IN
some cases are looking for chances to
pull a person to pieces. The thing to do
is to give them no chance to pull US to
pieces. No doubt you have some &C
quaintances that would be only too glad
to talk your actions over"
Indeed have; and won't give them
the chance to do it,
But. little woman, you are doing just
that thing now-that is, you are willing
to run the risk by going to this dance
with another man."
There was q surprised look in Sybil's
eyes. and Arnold FASTENED on:
Il ask your pardon. Miss Marston but
now that we h5Ye got into the subject
we might as Well finish It. I realize
that you do not know me very well and
that I am transgressinS the bounds Of
acquaintanceship in saying what am go
ing TO say; but If you will think IL over
you viii see that I am right. Believe
me, I am truly disinterested.
If 1 were engaged to woman, and
I think I should not be until I was pref
~ sure she cared more for me than for
any other man, 1t would hurt me II she
should have the desire to go to a darce,
Of all things with anybody other than
myself. II It came to such a proceeding
It would set me thinking that perhaps
she did not care for ne as ! did for her.
Forgive me. but if you cared more for
this Mr.. Field than you do for any other
how could you give a thought to any
thing that he has no share IMP
There was a panied expression IN Ar
nsld's face as ne saw q tear trembling
on the lash Of SYPHILIS eye. She did not
look up at him, as he waited for an an
swer. The man knew his weakness. he
must get away from this girl before she
cast those wet eyes fun on him. He arose
from his place, grasped her hand IN a
hasty, firm grasp, and hurried from the
room.
II have seen Mrs. Dent this afternoon.
Margaret and told her that We should
not go with her this evening"
You are a sensible little girl. Sybil."
said Margaret. kissing her. II thought
you would think better Of II with re-
Election"
7 do" said sybn, little sadly.-Boston
Post.