The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1904-10-07
HIS TRAINING
Icopyright I9ol 81 + {. Mcciure-i

peet to win Mans heart with five
pound boxes Of candy and expensive
flowers alone"
Il imagine / am a tribe er raw in
these things said Hicks. smiling at
the earnest face before them.
It was an attractive face full OF
pretty dimples and prone to dash upon
you some surprising expression you
had never dreamed could be 50 en-
traneing.
Il am a rather faint hearted court
Ter. I'll admit he added, with an
easy laugh.
''You are. that's true said Miss
Rodman
My dear Miss Rodman, said he,
Il am not Mans keeper What right
had to say whether she should go
or stay
"Aet as if you had the right any
way she advised.
Hicks laughed
"I'm fearful Of the consequences If
/ did" said be. You see, all those
years when / dwelt at the mines with
| only the society Of half breeds and
greasers have done their full work.
IN the society Of such women as your
sister I'm as bashful as schoolboyn
@Tn help you she said. If you
were like the other men here I'd never
offer my services. but you're 50 big
and good natured and so helpless
Thanks he said Il need help
badly, What do you intend to dog'
Educate you, she said, or educate
the fear OF women out Of you. l be-
lieye I'm the only girl here you're not
afraid OF.
May | ask for some hint as to your
methodist he said.
I'll serve as dummy and instructor
in one" she explained You must de-
vote two weeks 70 me- Begin as if you
had just met me. Take me driving
and to the dances and all that sort Of
thing Ia short, make love to me and
finally propose. I'LL watch you care
fully and give you points When
| you've taken your diploma in this
course strike out for Nan.
Hicks Strengthened himself on the
yeranda rail.
I'm awfully grateful to YOU he
said, with conviction Its no end
kind Of you TO take this interest aud
trouble When do we beginf'
No time like the present she
laughed, You may 60 down to the
stable. get the cob and take me for a
dive"
look here, said Hicks, ''PlI do my
very best, and I'll try to get my les
sons thoroughly. III bring some candy.
Not vet, she said That will come
in the advanced lessons.
She watched him walk briskly down
! the walk, and d bewildering smile
brought out all her dimples.
Il wouldn't have gone with vii
liams II I'D been Man., she said point
eddy as she went into the house to ar
ray herself for The drive.
X
The next two weeks were busy ones
for Hicks He was devotion itself to
the younger Miss Rodman He took
her to the casino dances and sent her
endless supplies of candy and flowers.
They drove together through the sur.
rounding country. They poked about
the river in punt and discovered all
sorts OF jolly retreats and quaint little
lovers hooks.
The elder Miss Rodman looked on
with condescending approval. She be-
gan to treat Hicks with sisterly frank
ness. Two weeks earlier this would
have made him extremely uneasy.
Now he did not care.
Hicks and his instructor were punt
Ing on the river one afternoon. The
girl looked up suddenly.
You're coming on all right" she
said encouragingly. I didn't know
you could say such nice things as You
have this afternoon
! Neither did r. he said. with d
2 frankness that set them both laugh
. ing.
= think, said she, you've goi
about all you can out Of this course
Therefore III give Won your diploma,
I and you'd better begin on Man,
Just n little longer, Hicks object
ed. II need more confidence yet
t He looked at the girl quizzically. and
] their eyes met only for moment, for
hers suddenly fell
IF you like, then" she said and
laughed rather artificially.
Two evenings later they sat in a
I quiet corner on the easino vefanda
/ Through the open windows came the
J dreamy notes OF waltz Hicks leaned
toward the girl and took one Of llel
! hands in his IN the moonlight he saw
I the telltale color creep into her cheeks
You haven't any idea what your IN.
struction has come to mean to me- he
I said but now that | have learned
!, what 1t means can't live without it
Z You must instruct me through life
t shan't say Will you marry me, but
you must marry me, Betty"
She started, then laughed softly
oh, yes. of course, the proposal.
she said lightly. 1--we no criticism Il
make. Its very well done Only yor
! must remember at the really critical
time that my sisters name il Nan, moi
Betty
!, This is the critical time said ht