Democratic messenger., 1904-04-09
IN A COMPROMISING
SITUATION
BY T. ". MckAIL
top, right. lau. by 7. {. Mcclure.

.sSs-............-...-..... ..... <...:.:..
Il am sure" said Mrs. Railton fix
ing me with he: eagle glance. before
which even bishops have been known
To quail am sure you will like TO
be- the first Ia congratulate Sylvia on
her engagement to Mr. Oswald FitZ-
gerald
But Mr. I'iiZ.crald'' | began.
lis suitable in every way" continued
Mrs. Railion. needless of my attempted
remark lie is just the man 10 make
Sylvia capital husband
"IIe has, | am aware. S:Jii.hm Il year."
said bitterly hut l,e is old enough TO
be her father"
My dear ,;erald." demonstrated Mrs.
RaiIion in her most bland tone. how
can you say such things. Mr.. FiiZger
ald i quite II young man still. and by
many people lie iS considered extremely
handsome. Fray don't put such notions
into SylNia's head
l held my peace and after studying
my coiintcnancr carefully for II few
moments Mrs. Railion continued: Il
have told You this because | have
thought although. of course. may he
mistakcn-that Your affection for Syl-
via has been becoming Il little more
than cousnly. should be sorry If
My dear aunt" broke in impetu
ously. what is the usc of your trying
10 blink facts: You know quite well
that | have been making desperate love
old"
"A mere boy and girl Irritation" said
Mrs. Railton.
Perhaps | said. trying TO speak
nonchalantly: but. ut any rate. ! do
not mean TO congratulate Sylvia on her
engagement to an old man with dyed
hair and false teeth. If IL had been n
young man. il would have been differ
ent don't believe she cares for him
any more than she cares for-the man
i'm the moon
My TRADE fiZZled out rather ineffec-
lively. but | was feeling genuinely saw
age. and the necessity of keeping up a
calm exterior before my aunt op-
pressed me. wanted To go ont and
hit somebody. So l made somewhat
hasty departure without waiting TO see
Sylvia. On the way back 10 my rooms
In the Metropolitan club brooded over
my wrongs There could he no doubt
that Sylvia had treated me very badly.
/ recalled numerous sentimental little
passages between us. Resides. | had
proposed to her regularly every week
for the last two years without any def
mite result. IL Is true. but still with no
decided negative.
| sat down In nv room dejectedly
and pondered over the ways of women
in general and of Sylvia in particular.
Then I went to drawer and took out
box wherein lay a miniature por-
trait of Sylvia. some letters from her.
n trinket Off a bangle. n handkerchief
and some few other uncOnsidered tri-
fles. The sight OF these strengthened
my sense of righteous Indignation. and
while IL WAS still upon me | seized a
pen and dashed Off a furious letter to
Sylvia. But a moment later | tore II
to pieces. After all. I thought. sarcasm
will he much more effective and at the
same time more dignificd. Acting upon
the second impulse. I constructed n
brief letter full OF irony cOngratulating
Sylvia upon her engagement and in
forming her OF the pleasure I felt in
receiving the announcement. This
dispatched at once by express messen-
ger and then settled down for quiet
afternoon.
Ii was Saturday. and there was an
air Of peace within AMI without that
soothed my wounded feelings. l lit n
cigarette and lounged in an easy chair
before the open window. The sound of
cab approaching rapidly aroused me-
Looking out OF my window. / saw that
II contained Sylvia. As she stepped out
of the cab at my door. looking more
bewitching even than usual. noticed
that she carried a letter in her hand.
Thus forewarned I answered her
hurried knock at the door with a mat
ter of fact Come in and evinced none
Of the surprise she evidently expected
me TO feel at her appearance.
You are perfectly horrid'- she be-
gan.
why" I asked innoccntly.
ITO write me a letter like this hold
ing out the offending document Il
was just going out shopping with moth
er when it arrived. but felt as il
must come and talk TO YOU first Poor
mother. She will wonder where on
earth have gone
$50 you did care what l thought"
"Oh. Jerry" she said quite earnestly,
and | fancied detected tear in ner
left eye. how could you write me so
cruelty: thought you would be heart
broken
lis IL not little indiscreet of you."
I went ON. realizing my advantage. ito
come here alone TO bachelors rooms
without a chaperon:"
She sprang 10 her feet. her eyes flash
ing and her cheeks flushing in man
npr that I ,otild moi helm eonfessiny