Middletown transcript., 1902-04-12
The Temerity Of Theodore.
BY JOHN ToMKINs

"IIcllo!' said /.
i aJust minute, Jack, said Ted
Beulall's just getting the idea"
Il | stepped toward Beulah. She saw
Imy intention there are conventions
which, an engaged man ought to follow
and she gave little nod or shrug
Call it what you will, I saw that she
didn't wait me to kiss her, so refrained
Instead, l played out the last four hole
with Jack. using Beulah's clubs, at that.
! Nobody said anything about the tele-
grams When we were seated on the
piazza of the clubhouse (there was no.
body else about):
"Well, Ted" said I, ''an I to con-
gratulate you2''
| Ted looked at Beulall.
SIT all depends on You, Jack" he
replied. "Beulah says she win do what
ever you decide"
| Il have put my heart wholly in your
hands, Jack" said Beulah to me, with
a twinkle of her eyes.
'Beulah is year-let me sea- year
and a half older than you, Theodore;
have you considered thatf' replied
gravely. Itwill make great difference
when you are thirty-tive. 1 had, in fact,
been thinking of somebody else for you
Ted-Dorothy Wilton. She's charm
ing girl-iust nine years old-and, you
see, when you are twenty mine"
'Give it up, Jack" Theodore hotly
interrupted. "This is no joking matter.
l love Beulah."
Beulah's eyes met mine, and it was
hard not to smile.
Irreleyantly fished about in my in
side coat pocket, and after sometime
drew forth layender-tinted envelope.
II have letter for you, Ted," said
1; ''its from Boston. Perhaps you recog-
nize the writing-Helen gave it to me
for you last night. Be careful. don't
drop the forget-me-not.
Theodore took the letter, and flushed
guiltily.
.What?' cried Beulah, putting her
handkerchief over her eyes. Theodore,
you are deceiving me, you don't love
me-" and she shook with ill-suppressed
sobs.
Theodore looked at her helplessly;
then he turned toward me.
"Why couldn't you keep that letter
for another time, you confounded assF'
said he.
"You deceived me-" walled Beulah.
Teddy placed his hand lovingly upon
her head. "Dear, sweet Beulah," he
began.
She jumped from the chair. Beulah
is not a bad actress. "How dare you
dear mef' she exclaimed. / wondered
whether Teddy would notice that her
eyes were dry.
"Beulah," said lie, ''don't be jealous"
lat that, for the life of me, could not
help bursting into laughter). "Helen is
q mere child-only sixteen"
"Then," said Beulah, "let me see the
letter." and had it in her hand before
Ted knew what had happened.
"a mere childr' repeated Beulah.
Listen to this" And she read:
"My own Darling Ted: How l have
missed you, Ted dear, these last three
days, though 1 got your dear. sweet letter |
this morning. I've begged mamma to |
bring me to Lakewood, and think she |
will. I do hope to come to Lakewood. |
l send you thousand kisses to return
yours. am so jealous Of that girl Beu-
lah you wrote to me about, though you |
always said before you didn't like blue |
eyes. So. darling"
Beulah gave him a whitening glance. |
Here, take your letter." she exclaimed
mechanically; "and it is SO you
would break the hearts of two defense
less gyerls." And she fell back into her
chair.
Ted could stand it no longer. He
flung his golf bag over his shoulder and |
stalked off. Then-for there was no res.
son for further delay-I kissed Beulah.
"Don't you think that touch about
the defenseless girls was lovely?" Beulah
asked. "It will teach Teddy lesson"
ST didn't suppose Theodore could be
such an ass" laughed.
"He's dear boy" said Beulah; "and
60 much like you"
nv
Teddy came in late to dinner, and
though Beulah greeted him with her
very pleasantest smile and brayely hid /
her sorrow, and though / was in great
form aud kept the entire table laughing,
and though lBeulah's mamma sympa-
thetically asked him what she could Go
for his headache, yes, and even though
Aunt Maria slyly limited at anagrams,
Teddy remained silent and morose. /
suppose it was his conscience pricking
him. And well it might = the young
heart-breaker.
And if that was his condition at din
ner, how shall / describe him when fair
Helen of the letter came tripping towards
the breakfast table the next morningP
Poor Ted! I was really sorry for him.
v
1t was one of those lovely mild Octo
her evenings when one can still cit ont
doors. The breath Of the Indian summer
was fragrant and light breeze stirred
the pines. The stars shone brightly
overhead Beulah and / had been sit-
ting together for while. BY and by
We strolled out under the trees. A little
way off We could hear the faint, sweet
tinkle, tinkle, Of mandolin.
Its Ted said 1; ''let's be nasty
and take q peep"
1T would really be mean," said Beu-
lali; so we started in the direction of
tie mandolin. Suddenly the mandolin
stopped playing. We took a few more