The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-04-11
AContradiCtion
In Terms.

dWdy. Wncn j came uItO tuG saiutii
the light and gladness of the summer
were oil every side. The roses, shaking
off a shower of diamond drops as I
passed, flied the air with fragrance.
and every lesser denizen Of bed and
border added it's share of sweetness. A
bla ckbird was warbling in a lime tree,
4. while a faint music came from the
brook which skirts the green lip of the
lawn.
But my heart failed to respond to the
glad greeting of the summer morning.
was at variance with myself and with
all the world. I had arranged for
breakfast at an early hour so that i
Night catch the first train to town, for
| wished to escape at once from sur
, findings which had become unbear-
.dble. After an almost sleepless night
I. had risen without looking at my
watch. Descending, l found that / had
forestalled even the servant of the
house, so I wandered into the garden
to- pass an hour, restlessly tramping
the smooth paths. With every step
hurled defiance at the quiet beauty or
the roses and cursed the blackbird for
it's soft. sweet singing.
At times I called myself a fool for
allowing an empty laugh to thus en-
bitter me. 1 urged upo myself the
necessity for putting aside such mani
fest folly. What, 1 argued, was the
uncertain love of a foolish girl COM
pared with the rewards which art and
learning hold out to their devotees?
And yeti argued with myself in vain
INV heart told me that my reasoning
was faulty.
Dolly and ! had been friends ever
since childhood. 1 had come to regard
her. half unconsciously, perhaps, but
really, as my special property. Long
ago / had settled it in my heart that
my life should be devoted to her hap
piness. for l loved her dearly with a
love that had stood the test of years.
And ! fancied-I foolishly nurtured the
thought-that Dolly was not averse
from me.
And now I had spoken to her-only
last night. / told her that at last 1
had an assured position, that l could
speak as IA man among men. l touched
lightly upon the fortune that I had so
lately inherited. Finally I told her that
her parents and my mother We're we'll
pleased with our friendship. And I
asked her then and there to say that
she would be my wife.
I paced the garden. more quickly,
and clinched my fists in anger, as the
memory of the interview bit it's way
into my mind. I cursed my folly for
placing myself in a position where
such "a rebuff was possible. for Dolly
had laughed in my face, had thrown
back her pretty head and, regarding
me through half-closed eyelids. had
laughed. Then she had said-l re-
called the words with unpleasant dis
t%inctness:
my dear Jack, you know how glad
I am to hear of your fortune and Sue
cess. But why. o why. am l to be
your wife? l do not see any logical
connection between what you have told
me and what you have asked me. And
I have not the faintest idea of promis-
ing II UGH thing"
Thus she had treated the whole affair
as n huge and entertaining joke. And
I-well, 1 had left her alone in the
summer house and had gone away feel
ing more angry than ever before in my
life.
Suddenly, as ] paced the garden, try
ing to comprehend what to me as yet
seemed impossible. I anne face to face
with the cause of all my disquieting
thoughts. She looked-I was bound to
Admit is-as fresh and sweet as the
morning itself. She had been gather
.ng roses and carried a basket filled
with the fragrant blooms. Without the
least sign of surprise or embarrassment
she advanced to meet me.
"Since when have you taken to early
rising, Jack?" she inquired with a gay
little laugh. 81 admire your choice of
an occasion for the experiment; the
morning is perfect, is it not"
Ignoring her question. l said:
II am off to town almost Immediate
ly--that is. as soon as l ave had some
hveakfast."
fancied that her face grew slightly
graver as she exclaimed:
$50 soon! Why I thought you We're
at least going to remain over my birth
day. We are such old friends. and be-
sides, you know, o promised
tried to assume as unconcerned a
manner as possible.
After what took place last night" I
said with dignity, II should hardly feel
justified in burdening you with my So
ciety for Il homer longer han Is abb
solutely necessary"
Dolly severed the stem of a La
France rose n added the huge pink
blossom to her basket. Then shesaid:
blossom to her basket. Then she said:
your presence Is no burden to me. Even
when-when we We're boy and girl to-
gether and you used to pull my hair, I
was always glad of your company.
You see, | was such Il lonely littlegirl.
And you We're always kind-for IL boy"
ignored the doubtful compliment.
My dear Dolly" l began briskly. and
then waited ia see the effect of my
words. Dolly began to finger the petals
of the big pink rose. She said nothing,
so | continued:
my lear Dolly, it must be apparent
to you that after what happened last
night our position is-ultered, once and
forever. 1t can never be the same
again."
Then what a pity you said what
YOU did, she cried; at was all your
fault, o know. oh, why did you do
it. jack"
Really, Dolly" I answered quite ir-
ritably, II confess l am at a loss to
understand how the blame can be
shifted TO my shoulders. l merely told
you certain things that-that l could
not help telling you. And you an
swered me with a laugh. I think the
blame is all on our side"
She thought for a moment and then
replied:
Yes, Jack, ! know quite well that ]
laughed. But it all seemed to me so
funny. ! could not believe that you
were In earnest.