Middletown transcript., 1902-10-06

&S frey said TO himself as wiz
II varying emotions he steppee
into the phaeton and seatet
IL y himself beside The smiling CIR
who was TO drive him to th'
station for the early morning train. Ant
he was simply echoihg her words Of tn
night before.
"All ready, Alice" be said lightly
So Alice ficked the pony with her wiiil
and they were on their way.
Itwas glorious summer morning ant
Geoffrey and Alice apparently enjoyed
the driye-eyen though the condition.
now were irrevocably changed. Ysster
day afternoon she had met him at th'
train and they had driven back togethel
an engaged pair. But since then thefl
engagement had been ended BY mutua
consent, and this morning found then
merely friendsl
Geoffrey Maitland and Alice Wrigh
had known each other all their lives, anc
had been engaged to one another-of
and on-for years.
Their first engagement, while he wal
still in college and she just out of school
was broken by Alice in fit OF childish
jealousy because he had gone on q picnic
and had had good time with the othel
girls, though she had been unexpectedly
kept at home. But after few weeks
interval and due show of penitence
on his part, she bad forgiven him and
taken him back into favor.
The next break occurred soon after
Geoffrey's graduation. His father had
set him up in business and he wanted
to be married at once. But Alice had
set her heart upon spending the summer
abroad, and when Godfrey unreasonably
declared she must marry him now or
never, Alice returned her ring.
But the summer did not prove as
pleasant as she had anticipated, and she
was honestly glad to see Geoffrey waiting
on the dock when the vessel reached
its New York pier. He had q big bunch
OF roses for her-and when she discov-
cred her engagement ring tied clumsily
Gmong the stems she laughed and blushed
and slipped it on again.
That had occurred three years before
the present time, and since then Godfrey
had had the grace to be patient, to say
the least,
Indeed, be could not well be other
wise than patient, for bis first business
venture had not been success and soon
he found himself in no position to marry.
Fortunately, the failure which had at
one time seemed inevitable had been
averted, and presently the tide of his
fortune turned.
But when Geofrey was once more IN
Q position to think OF marriage he had
made the startling discovery that during
all this time his tastes had been develop
ing in one direction and Alice's in quite
another, and that now they were no
longer as congenial as they had been.
He was q born athlete, lover Of all
outdoor sports, and just at present golf
engrossed most Of his leisure time. But
Alice cared nothing for sports Of any
kind, and she was so entirely wrapped
up in her Working Girls Vacation Clubs
and College Settlements and all sorts of
charitable schemes that Godfrey was
bored to death in hearing of them.
Who possibly could have fOreseen that
such pretty and attractive girl as Alice
would all Of sudden have taken such
q serious turn.
Godfrey had thought very often about
all this lately, and sometimes had won
dered if it would not be better for them
both to separate in time, rather than to
marry and go on growing apart and be
miserable for life. It had been the sub
ject uppermost in his mind when he had
arrived the afternoon before, and it had
been relief as well as surprise TO him
when Alice had frankly broached the
subject.
They talked it all over together then,
reasonably discussing their varying tastes
their chances for future unhappiness,
and in conclusion had calmly agreed that
it would be better-infnitely better-to
put an end to the engagement now, with
no feeling but one Of perfect friendliness
and goodwill on either side.
'tBut we must remember" Alice had
added with sudden anxious puckering
Of her brows, ''tbat this decision Is final.
Our engagements has been off and on
30 many times that even the possibility
Of another change would Be to Introduce
an element Of hnraor. to which SER
onsly object. We have carefully con-
sidered eyerything now apd have arrived
at this decision-fcr the last tiuie.n And
Godfrey had given his assent.
The only thing he had feIt really un-
comfortable about was that Alice had
insisted upon giving back her ring. He
wanted her to keep il 'sfor- friendships
sake" but she had positively refused
mo, Godfrey" she said, ''it is my
dearest wish that you should soon make
another and ahappier choice, and it will
be satisfaction to me to feel that your
wife-though she may not know of my
existencs win wear and prize this beau
tiful pure gem. Al for myself" she
added, "you know I am, not fond of
jewelry, and / should never wear it now
that its significance is@one."
"And you, too. win soon make another
and happier choice ! hops" he had
said to her Afterwards.
But Alice had smiIingly replied "This
is possible, though hardly probable.
intend to deYote myself entirely to trying
TO help and TO improve the condition Of
these poor, isnoraut working girls who
interest me so deeply. That is to be my
life work, and shall hardly find time or
inclination to think Of anything else.
And now ths moment foF their parting
had come. The train was at the station
and Ee0ffrey who had haan standing bv