Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1904-08-03
ADECIDED
80 NO -
HHY should woman ever be ex-
FREDERICK GORDON

so thought Claude, as she sat one
morning at her writing table, with her
chair tilted back. and a frown of vexa-
ton on her pretty face. 1t was too
bad! For Jack had asked her the
night before to marry him, and had
made her promise to send an answer
the next day. Why had he not insist
ed on reply at the time? Then it
would have been settled by now, one
way or the other
'Of course, should have refused
him. she said to herself, "but it
would have been so much easier to say
than to write" All the same, she
could not help remembering how nice
Jack had been On the occasion, and
she felt that she might almost have
been tempted to say YES" when he
put his hands gently on her shoulders,
and looking closely into her eyes, had
asked the question. If he had only
drawn her to him and had dared to
kiss her-well, she did not know what
she might not have said Perhaps 1t
was just as we'll he didn't! She was
still free!
But this horrid letter had to be
written. Of course, it must be mo"
At the same time, how was she to put
it? Must she write formal letter and
give her reasons? That would be to
say the least, unpleasant, and besides
she would not like to hurt him; and
then she was not quite clear about the
reasons. Perhaps a postcard with the
single word NO on 1t would be best!
But servants are given to read post
name, or at least put her initials. That
would not do; it must be letter.
So Claude began:
"TMy Dear Jack],- Pm sure this is
the last letter shall ever write to you.
because I'm going to say MOI l see
that I've begun it all wrong, but this
is my last sheet of paper. So, please,
don't read the words in brackets
should have commenced Dear Captain
Vane'
'T suppose that, Just like a man, you
want reasons for my answer. You
used to say that women never had any
reasons for what they did, only ex
cuses. You added that this was one
of their chief attractions. Now, must
be most unattractive, for I've heaps of
reasons, and never an excuse. First
of all, 1 didn't like you fat first at
leastl-you mustn't read the words in
brackets. That was when you used to
show me no particular attention, and
everyone else was rushing to fetch and
carry for me. l didn't like that, but L m
not sure that actually hated you for
it. dare say my pride Tor conceitl
was hurt Recollect the words in
brackets are invisible!
''Then somehow or other / got to
feel that should like to do something
for you Wasn't it ridiculous? But
you would never accept any favors.
Even one night at ball. when you
asked me for dance and gave you my
programme (which / purposely felt
blankl-'ware the brackets-you only
wrote down your name for miserable
square Girls don't like that, and I've
not forgotten it. The same night you
took me to the carriage, though / can't
imagine why you did it. I had re-
| fused a lot of dances and had sat out
| several, thing which all pretty girls
enjoy. But suppose I cant be pretty,
as didn't enjoy it bit. had seen
that you, too. had not been dancing RI
wasn't the least angry, only little
sorryl. But you kept looking Tat mel
so unhappily that l felt inclined to
forgive you for not fSncing with the
other girls. 1t must have been such
l ~ ac< - caif -dania1 an6 aI,-. -
selfishness in men.
Afterwards when l was stepping
into the carriage / somehow or other
managed to let one of my gloves fall.
You saw it at once. and instead of at
tending properly to me. you picked II
up, and made such grave bow as you
handed it TO me saying: 4 think
you've dropped q glove lit wasn't even
your gloye'l. OF course my glove had
dropped. and any other man would
have waited till had driven away be-