The Newark journal., 1903-03-06
HOW HE WON HER.
nY wILLlAM J. HAMPTON.

t
 l Madge Brent sat at the tea table in Mrs l Vans drawing-room. She was an extreme. i y pretty girl. and graceful that the men took tea, moi because they liked il, for their l tastes were more Nirile, but because she l poured it with such inefable charm that they forgot their prejudices in the iascina- 1 ton of watching her A dozen or more mad come and gone not one 6! whom would not have freely been 1 Ter slave for life for her financial charms were not less than those mental, moral and pal -ical perieelioH, which in the olden i tiny were womans chief attiactiyeuess. 1 But they did mol speak, fearing to lose so much.
 "Hnw dc you do Mis- Brent!'
 The voice was deep and mellow and mH ieal \ faint rInge of red rose to Madge i l}rents face. a> if some rising sun were i paintIng a pink presage of dawn upon d happy sky She locked up quickly, smiling I welcome to tine newcomer.
 e0He lump ot sugar she replied in greet i ing, and a little lemon. au see, Alr. Nor 1 on. l have not forgotten l He watched her quietly, intensely, as she i deftiy brewed the drink
 Delightful he sad. tasting it And what have you been doing since l saw you | his fingers
 Many things, but mostly discussing new question that has arisen among Us bralu worker, of society.
 1t must be very fatjeaHg. be laughed. Bui what is Jt. Brayz5
 Something most profound. to-wit: How long does friendship continue before acton begins 7
 But tar isn't the silly season. pro l tested Morton.
 @san society must do something she argued
 But why tlis29
 eoh, they have been dong 1t in London until every body who i> anybody has brain lag Could you expect less of us on this side*"
 MoIt5ns face took on an almost tragieal seriousness
 Let me sec. he said with judicial de liberation, how long does action
 No. no" she interrupted. that isn't right. How long does friendship eon- tinue: 7 !"
 "Thanks. .' he said T see. But what does it mean. What k actfoH2 ls it 10 make ties or break them. To go on, or stop? To hold fast or 10 let goz Tolove. to Nor ton broke off sharply. What does 1t mean: What is the correct dnsHerz3
 No one seems to know. she laughed That is why 1t is >o delightiullv discuss able Ne have debated t by the hour. have asked every man wao has been here this afternoon, and each one has taken the question home with him to deliberate upon and report to me at the Assembly tomor- row evening They said they needed time You will be there, of course, and possibly you would like lew moments of thought before giving an opinion$'
 She had never been quite so irresistible as she was when she looked at him, half quizzieal half serious, to receive his answer
 The question, l believe, Ire said slow '. as if feeling his Way, "is, How long does friendship continue before action begins:
 You have it rightthis tune. she laughed, You are promising pupil Mr. Morton.
 He ignored the compliment, and putting his empty cup on the table, he drew his char nearer to her.
 T shall not Wait until tomorrow to answer he said, T think have 1t now.
 Good, she cried, eiaPping her hands. "N hat is it:''
 e,How long have we known each other, Miss Brent" he askea. with such uueN pected divergence from the question at issue that she looked at nm in astonish- ment
 "Wby. l met you Ga-t at brother, we'd ding. she hesitated and Chat was tive l wears ago this month
 And how long have we been friend-?'
 From the beginning, l hope, she l .anghea uelvou>ly.
 T am sure. he sad. and We are safe, therefore. in saving taat friendship Las con l tnued TWO years
 N
 Mortou'~ meaning would have been ap- parent now. even to dn unwilling woman, and the warm color dashed it's pink mist across Miss Brent'- face
 VII you marry me. Madge, darling 1 he pleaded, his whole manner changing with tae loyeigbt in hi. eyee, and the heart note in the music ot his voice "l love You. and
 .Madge. dear" exclaimed Mrs Van, ap. bearing suddenly. "have the rum ready for 1 Gen. Ander-ous tea He has just arrived with two of his staff and, Madge dear, 1 have plenty of it. she added in stage whisper
 In her excitement she had not seen the 1 blushes, nor had sae noted tine mafner of i Norton A moment later the officers came l in. and Morton rose to go, Miss Brent put 1 her hand in his and looked into ms eyes. l They spoke to hm the unutterable. He smiled to her. and with bow to the others | about the table he wns gone.
 Al the Assembly a dozen eager guessers crowded about Miss Brent
 Really" she laughed. radiant, happy provoking. "I don't think the question can be answered definitely. l know of one man with whom acton began al the end of two years
 And the woman: they asked, curious, vet fearful
 "She, too. e she smiled, and left them to bear the burden of tie problem among themselves N Y Times.