The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1904-07-08
TIT FOR TAT.
BY MABEL E. BAUeH.

why won't | marry you? Oh. wen
for several reasons: but viii be char.
table and give but one-I do not love
you"
He looked the picture Of q disap-
pointed loyer-why was not he bored
with her as she was undoubtedly with
him? He sat uncomfortably on an IN
comfortable chair. and toyed nervously
with the spoon in the cup Of tea that
she had humanely given him.
She put up her hand 10 hide a yawn.
More sugar?" she asked with indif-
ferent sweetness. You look as If you
wanted something"
80 dol want you." he blurted
out, desperately.
This was so ridiculous that she
laughed aloud.
But you can't have me-" she said.
her mood waxing more and more flip
pant as her patience waned, while you
can have sugar. I advise you TO take
the sweet that is within your reach,
and not cry for the moon. Don't you
know the fate of the man in the fable
who cried for the moon?" she asked,
| innocently. THE moon laughed at
him" and she rose and laughed wick
| eddy at this fiction.
He rose. too. She did not expect
| he would have sense enough to accept
| her motion to adjourn. He gulped
down his tea and placed the cup upon
a table near, and pulled himself to-
gether new mantle dose had done
him good.
viii you allow me to finish the IA
ble?" he asked, politely. THE moon
has two faces, you know; and when the
man had leveled telescope at her and
seen all her imperfections, and blessed
his stars that he had cried in vain,
why, she-but you can guess what the
moon did,
And he picked up his hat and, bow
Ing profoundly, left the room.
BY an odd coincidence 1t was at an.
other tea that they met again after
many days.
She saw him approaching her
through the crowd above which he |
lowered, and their last meeting was
brought wildly to mind. and with II
bright blush to her cheek, for |
though on that occasion she completes
ly routed him, that parting shot of his
wounded her vanity. If nothing else;
and tonight as she looked upon his
handsome face, not seen for so long,
she felt a sharp pain In her heart that
made her fear that it, too, was wound.
ed. Her one thought was to escape
him, and as the crush was too great
for her to get out of his way, she
turned her back upon him unceremoni.
ously.
Evidently he had no reason to avoid
her. for Notwithstanding this impolite
action on her part the next moment
he was addressing her. and she turned
to him with guilty blush.
How do you do?" he said, with
just as if they were but :
slight acquaintance, with no bitter
social memories in the past to bind
them together with the link of suffer.
Ing. She wished he felt as keenly al
she did. Were you not cruel enough
to me at our last meeting" he contin. [
ned, pleasantly, that you must needs
cut me at this? Perhaps you think ]
am going to make fool of myself as
did them" and the way he laughed :
brought the tears into her eyes.
"Ah!" she sighed, so low that he
had to bend his head to hear her 1
du al
'ool then-not you'll"
"Who?" he asked, with ring of tri.
lmph in his voice.
"T!"
The tide of humanity had set to.
Yards the rooms where the refresh.
nents were served, and left them
tanding alone. Perhaps she fondly
ancied he would take her in his arms
t this confession, but she was sad.
Y disappointed. Instead he drew him.
elf Yp to his full height, with a smile
n his lips that struck terror to her
oul, and said, coolly: b
"Gallantry forbids that | should
gree with you, yet dare not contra. Jl
let you. so we will let it stand an -
pen question. Perhaps | shall an.
wer it when I return from America
4 sail tomorrow | hope you will
'ish me success have been so un.
lccessful in my matrimonial ventures
n this side of the water, | am going
, try my luck over there" p
II wish you all the success you de.
,rve,' she said, calmly
For moment each looked the other q,
eadily in the face. as If each were VI
ying to measure the others power of
'sistance, and then, without another W
ord, they turned away. +.
They met again at another social -
motion.
"How do you do?" she said. O.
Where is your wife?" @
my wife? She Is in the fnture III %