Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-01-02

and the little droop at the corners of
her mouth which makes a fellow say
that sort of thing, you know.
NOW remember our compact" she
warned me. We were pledged to a
purely platonic friendship. I've had
that sort of thing in my tales, but it
always broke down.
THE keeping of platonic compact"
said l, would be a novel theme, don't
you think?"
Would it be interesting enough ?"
she asked, doubtfully.
''Therel What stronger defense
could have? 1 propose to leave out
the love-making, and you say that the
interest would be gone" She drummed
upon the table with her fingers.
Surely there is some other theme ?"
I knocked the ash deliberately off my
cigarette
Upon my word" confessed, "Tm
not sure that there is. But I'll think
over it,"
Then her brothers came in and we
changed the subject until l was going.
1t is part of the compact that she shall
see me out of the door. / insisted
upon it.
"Nhen shall communicate the re-
suit of my deliberations" l asked in
the hall Tomorrow"
"Im going to Vereker's."
"And Wednesday, I'm due at
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.
/ suddenly bent over her. and
"How dare you'll" 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, cor
any other day"
50 / went out, feeling triumphantly
foolish.
Next Thursday I called, and she
wasn't out; but she received me cool
u, and kept he table between us.
eLook here. Mary" / began.
"Miss Montague, If you pleased"
II don't please. 1t is quite natural
to call a friend by her Christian name"
'Ye-es; but people might misunder-
stand, we agreed; and So"
"Tm not going to pander to other
peoples stupidity" said, indignant
"; "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.
"If you mean last Tuesday"
II don't want to talk about It," she |
interrupted. "Haye you considered |
about the stories?"
"Yes; / have reasoned out my posi-
ton most carefully-Mary." She |
frowned, but passed the familiarity.
"And your conclusions?'
SIS in verse"
"Ol how nicel" Women always like |
a fellow to run to verse. suppose II
Is because he is sure to give himself
awayl Let me see It,"
"Oncondition that you read 1t aloud"
She looked objections. II want TO
hear II l have got the swing"
So she acclaimed softly. / think
said that she had a pretty voice.
TO MARY.
I made me a tale OF the tempest al 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 Lowell
1 sang me a song OF raid In the glen,
with a mt OF the plpers who played
Strike again. strike again, and die fighting
like men,
And the struggle was over a maid!
| planned me a play OF a monarch Of fame.
And his courtiers in silken attire,
And his statesmen, who came like moth
TO the flame
For a pair Of bright eyes were the fret
I paeaned the praise Of an hero so calm.
And so strong in the tumult TO stand,
When I found me the charm that had
strengthened his arm
Ii was only the touch Of hand
And I? II my heart for a moment be strong,
II my tale FOR page ring sincere,
or Il merits belong TO the play OF the song
They are only your echoes. my deari
When she came to the last line her
voice was very soft, and just a little
fearful. put my hand on her Shout
der, and we stood looking silently AZ
the paper for a minute. Then / drew
her gently 10 me-the way the stories
end.-Blaek and White.
Hundreds Of Plays onered.