Smyrna times., 1904-03-02
IN A COMPROMISING
SITUATION
By T. w. McKAlL
Copyright, 1903, by t. C. Mcclure.


Il am sure" said Mrs. Railton, fix
ing me with her eagle glance, before |
which even bishops have been known |
to quail-'I am sure you will like to
be the first to congratulate Sylvia on
her engagement to Mr.. Oswald Fitz-
gerald"
But Mr.. Fitzgerald began.
us suitable in every way" continued
Mrs. Railton, needless of my attempted
remark. HE is just the man to make
Sylvia a capital husband"
HE has, am aware, ES5O,OO0 year."
1 said bitterly but he is old enough to
be her father"
my dear Gerald" demonstrated Mrs.
Railton in her most bland tone, how
can you say such things! Mr.. Fitzger-
aid is quite a young man still, and by
many people he is considered extremely
handsome. Pray don't put such notions
into Sylvia's head"
held my peace, and after studying
my countenance carefully for a few
moments Mrs. Railton continued: II
have told you this because l have
thought-although, of course, l may be
mistaken-that your affection for Syl-
via has been becoming a little more
than cousinly. l should be sorry if'-
MY dear aunt" l broke in impetu-
ously, what is the use of your trying
to blink facts? You know quite we'll
that have been making desperate love
to Sylvia ever since she was ten years
old"
"A mere boy and girl Irritation" said
Mrs. Railton.
Perhaps" 1 said, trying to speak
nonchalantly; "but, at any rate, l do
not mean to congratulate Sylvia on her
engagement to an old man with dyed
hair and false teeth. If it had been a
young man, it would have been differ
ent. ] don't believe she cares for him
any more than she cares for-the man
in the moon"
My TRADE fizzled out rather ineffec-
lively, but l was feeling genuinely saw
age, and the necessity of keeping up a
calm exterior before my aunt op-
pressed me. 1 wanted to go out and
hit somebody. So l made a somewhat
hasty departure without waiting to see
Sylvia. On the way back to my rooms
in the Metropolitan club brooded over
my wrongs. There could be no doubt
that Sylvia had treated me very badly.
recalled numerous sentimental little
passages between us. Besides, l had
proposed to her regularly every week
for the last two years without any def
sv,;A - &c, -;
decided negative.
l sat down in my room dejectedly
and pondered over the ways of women
in general and of Sylvia in particular.
Then 1 went to a drawer and took out
a box wherein lay a miniature por-
trait of Sylvia, some letters from her,
a trinket off a bangle, a handkerchief
and some few other unconsidered tri-
fles. The sight of these strengthened
my sense of righteous indignation, and
while it was still upon me l seized a
pen and dashed off a furious letter to
Sylvia. But a moment later 1 tore it
to pieces. After all, thought, sarcasm
will be much more effective and at the
same time more digpifed. Acting upon
the second impulse, 1 constructed a
brief letter full of irony congratulating
Sylvia upon her engagement and in.
forming her of the pleasure 1 felt in
receiving the announcement This
dispatched at once by express messen
ger and then settled down for a quiet
afternoon.
1t was Saturday, and there was ar
air of peace within and without thai
soothed my wounded feelings. 1 lit g
cigarette and lOunged in an easy chail
before the open window. The sound Of
cab approaching rapidly aroused me
Looking out of my window, l saw tina
it contained Sylvia. AS she stepped on
of the cab at my door, looking NOR,
bewitching even than usual, noticed
that she carried letter in her hand.
Thus forewarned answered he
hurried knock at the door with a mat
ter of fact Come in and evinced non
of the surprise she evidently expecte'
me to feel at her appearance.
"You are perfectly horrid"- she be
gan.
"Why?" l asked innocently.
ITO write me letter like this" hold
ing out the offending document.
was just going out shopping with mott
er when it arrived, but L felt as if
must come and talk to you first. Poo
mother! She will wonder where o
earth have gone"
$50 you did care what thought"
"Oh, jerry" she said quite earnestl!
and 1 fancied 1 detected tear in be
left eye, chow could you write me
cruelty? 1 thought you would be hear
broken"
"Is it not little indiscreet Of you
l went on, realizing my advantage, Il
come here alone to bachelors room
without chaperon"
She sprang to her feet, her eyes hasl
ing and her cheeks flushing in a maj
ner that 1 could not help confessir
was eminently becoming to her.
''Do you think 1 care about stup
conventionalities, she said, when