Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1902-09-19
H END OF SUMNER
by FREDERICK NJ. SMITH.

Il am glad to see you back" said /.
81 have been home three days. said
Betiy, settling herself on the top step.
&c! am glad you had a good SUMNER"
sid /.
One doesn't usually have to send for
one friends to come and see one when one
gets back from a summer vacation"
sometimes one does said i, carefully
following IA crack in the floor with my stick,
and not looking at Betty.
"Forthe last month you have not written
me-" said Betty.
81 gathered that your time was well &C.
pied said l..
Betty laughed. "Then you heard?"
Its all over town." said l.
81 do not see how l could have done 9TH
erwise," said Betty. 81 was very much in
terested in him.
"Of course, you are the judge" said |.
"Just what did they say 2" said Betty.
"What didn't they say?"
eyes; but the gist of it,"
"That you had at last found a man who
had made you care-that you were IN love
with him."
as that all?" said Betty and she looked
at me quizzically.
You wrote yourself that you were seeing
a lot of him"
at seemed inevitable" said Betty, sol
EMMY.
81 supposed it would come some day."
said |, 80 | may as well make the best OF it.
Stil"-I looked up at Betty. She was all
in white, and out from under the ruflles of
her frock peeped the tip of her patent
leather shoe. She was leaning over, looking
down at me, her hands clasping her knees.
Nobody but Betty could sit that way and
look graceful.
~"Still-what?' said Betty, softly.
Nothing" said 1.
GLOW do you like my ring" she asked,
and she turned a finger toward me on which
glowed a diamond. | put out my hand to
take it, but she frightened her fingers against
her knee.
81 never cared much for white stones"
said |, apologetically.
NO." said Betty. I'm sorry you don't
like it,"
Il hope you viii be happy" said l, fin
ally.
Your good wishes lack enthusiasm" said
Betty. One would expect ones best
friend to be more cordial. | am ~disappoint-
ed in you"
got up. 81 did not mean to be a beast"
said |. Il really didn't. Ii | was a bit cut
up, of course, | had no right to show 1t.
Ii you have decided, why, | am glad l
held out my hand.
Don't be a goose" said Betty; sit down.
l will make you some tea"
She went into the house, and came out
with the lamp and the cups.
Then | looked at Betty across the table
until the water boiled. She had certainly
grown prettier during the summer.
"Why don't you ask questions?' said she,
as she filled my cup.
"When is it to be-" | asked.
1--WE hope in the spring" said Betty.
"Of course he is a paragon said |.
"a dear" said Betty. You will like him,
George; YOU must like him; and you will
have to help
Help said |.
"Yes," said Betty. Her people don't
her cup.
Whose people?" said l.
Julia Martins"
what mas she to do with it,"
Betty looked at the ceiling. "She is in
love with him"
"She is! Julia! But you said-I
thought"
Thinking is all very well as a vocation,
but not as a pa,time," said Betty. One is
apt to get tangled"
"But you said"
"No, | didn't; you took it for granted.
But the gossip"
Betty smiled thoughtfully. Her people
did not like him, so he went about with me
a good deal because he couldn't go with
her. | let him talk about her. Men ike to,
you know"
"You Were--managing!"
"No, | wasn't. He was a nice fellow, and
the only thing against him was that he
earned his living by trade instead OF a pro
f~ession; and | liked him So"
"Why didn't you tell me at the beginning,
instead Of making game OF me-"
1T was a lesson to you not to jump at
conclusions" said Betty.
l smiled. But the ring?"
AUNT Mary will be sorry you do not like
it."
Aunt Mary"
''She got it for me in Amsterdam this
summer"
Then there is nobody else?" said |.
Betty shook her head. And you will
help me in Julia 5 affair" she urged. Hes
coming out this fall, and | want to make
the Martins like him. You'll help?'
After having been treated so out
rageously? 2" said l. -.
"Of course, you should be compensated
said Betty.
"Of course" said |. m
How would you like to look at the ring,
said Betty. She held out her hand, and
took it in mine. Is have said before, she
has one of the finest hands in the world.
at is a brilliant stone" said |, smiling al
Betty. 81,
But you are not looking at it" sand
she.
Just for a second her fingers frightened on
mine, and then she pulled her hand away
Lets 90 and look at the sunset" she said
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