Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-11-11
able" and she ratified on.

When she came back Mrs. Owen was
still talking, David pretending to lis
ten, and Mr.. Owen reading the even
ing paper. Then the three theatre
goers went out with more apologies,
and when their footsteps died away
David went out after them.
He tripped on something at the
threshold and fell down the front
steps tearing his clothes. When he
got up he laughed dismally at this
unnecessary excess of misfortune.
what successful evening" he
said under his breath as he walked
away.
He was light hearted when he en-
tered the house; irritated and cross
when he came out. 1t makes very lit
tie difference at the end of mile
run how you felt before you began.
AS soon as David had heard the
theatre mentioned at the Owens he
had thought:
"Then I'll go to see Violet Ander-
son."
Pleasant thoughts came back; the
struggling past, the successful pres
ent, the glorious future. Violet would
not receive him as Mary had done.
He rather thought he liked Violet
better than any girl he knew. Mary's
ideas were too much like a mans.
She had a splendid mind, but after all
it is nice to have women feminine.
And they ought to be fond Of music!
Mary could not tell one tune from an
other, whereas Violet-perhaps she
would sing tonight. When a man was
married it would be nice to have some
one to sing to him when he came
home from battling with the world
and beating it, David added, throwing
out his chest.
He did not want to come home and
argue and get cross and be told that
success was a bad thing. He smiled
at this last idea and also at a pleas
ant contrast which had suggested it.
self next.
Violet was sitting on the steps of
the front porch, near her father and
mother, when David made his appear
ance. He smiled as he saw the per-
feet taste and elegance of her simple
summer dress, and contrasted it with
some unfortunate inharmonious col
ors which he had seen not long ago.
After shaking hands all around, he
sat down next to Violet Mr.. and
Mrs. Anderson set out to make call,
leaving the young people alone.
The gentle south wind carried to
them the fragrance of the lilac in a
neighboring garden. In the next
street children were still playing,
though it was high time they were in
bed, and their voices were waited to
David and Violet softened by the dis
lance.
1t was one of those evenings when,
somehow, one finds difficulty in low
ing ones neighbor. David found none.
"How did you like staying at the
Callamores?" asked David. "Are
young married people agreeable at
homer"
IT didn't have an especially good
time," Violet replied, "but they did.
Do you know I rather envied them,
and wished I was married or engaged
or something"
If something" stood for Gin love-"
David began to feel as if he were
Something"
1t was pleasant to sit in silence, but
it was pleasanter to hear Violet's
voice on the night air. So he spoke
to ner again, merely that she might
answer him.
"The only trouble with being mar
ried or engaged is that you must be
married or engaged to some one"
"And you think I shall find difficulty
in bringing any one to the point?" she
inquired, smiling.
He could not help being embar.
raised. "No, I don't mean that. Only
I thought you might feel like being
in love and yet not know any one you
cared for in that way"
She half rose from the piazza step
and adjusted her dress so as to sit
more comfortably. 81 think I shall be
able to find one," she said.
Her reply set him thinking. But
you cannot think reasonably about a
beautiful girl of twenty when she is
sitting next you on a piazza step.
David was conscious of certain alb
surdity in the attempt.
won't you sing to me, Violet?' he
asked.
"The piano was close by the long
glass door opening on the piazza.
eff you're obedient," she said, ris-
ing. "Sit perfectly still, and don't
move a muscle except to say it was
pretty when I've finished"
He asked her to sing so as to give
himself a chance to think while she
was singing. If he wanted to think
favorably of her this was an excellent
plan.
Violet had an exquisite taste in all
things, and she sang a few soft bal