The Monticellonian., 1904-07-21
ADECIDED -" NO "-
 By
 FREDERICK GORDON
(H HY should woman ever be ex-
 w pected to say "Yes" or 'No?"

" pected to say res or NO
 So thought Claude, as she sat one morning at her writing-tabe, with her chair tilted back and a frown of vexa- | tion on her pretty face. It 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 a reply at the time? Then 1t would have been settled by now, one way or the other.
 "Of course, I should have refused him." she said to herself, but 1t 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 it was just as well he didn't. She was still free!
 But this horrid letter had to be written. Of course. 1t must be "Not' At the same time, how was she to put 1t? Must she write a 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 it would be best. But servants are given to read post cards. and she would have to sign her name, or at least put her initials. That would not do; it must be letter
 So Claude began:
 ''[My Dear Jack I'm sure this is the last letter shall ever write to you, because I'm going to say No' l see that I've begun 1t all wrong. but this Is my last sheet Of paper. So. please, don't read the words in brackets-I should have commenced Dear Captain Vane.'
 T suppose that just like a man, ycu want reasons for my answer. You used 10 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, l must be most unattractive. for I've heaps of reasons. and never an excuse. First of all. didn't like you lat first at eastl-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 didn't like that but I'm not sure that I actually hated you for it. dare sa.' my pride Tor coneeitl was hurt Recollect the words in brackets are invisiblei
 Then somehow or other I got to feel that should like to do something for you. Wasn't 1t ridiculous? But you would never accept any favors. Even one night at ball. when you asked me for a dance and gave you my programme (which I purposely felt blank l-'ware the brackets-you only wrote down your name for a miserab, e square Girls don't like that, and I've not forgotten it. The same night you took me to the carriage. though I can't imagine why you did it. had re- fused lot of dances and had sat out several. thing which all pretty girls enjoy. But suppose can't be pretty, as l didn't enjoy it a bit had seen that you. too, had not been dancing II wasn't the least angry, only a little sorry1. But you kept looking lat mel so unhappily, that 1 felt inclined to