Smyrna times., 1905-03-29
IN an Inclined
Plane
By JOANNA SINGLE
coDvricht, 1904, by t. c. Mcclure

- q dogged determination to get the
irl in spite OF herself. He had had
.or of the ups and downs of a court |
.bin such as only Helen Benton could |
r.re made so torturing, and yet sweet |
.,od hv the hope of ultimate success. |
Tbe worst of it was that he really be-
vorod that she loved him, though he
nod no proof beyond the fact that she
.ofused other men right and left, was
,rspiciously sweet to the other girls to
rbom he paid the least attention and
,roated him in a cavalier fashion that
,rdicated that she considered him her
property.
When he asked, as he did all too
oftep. 'Nell, do you love-at all?'' she
would answer sweetly, do act as if
I did,
He was obliged to admit that she did
uot. Then she continued to laugh at
his courting and to turn him down
whenever she so chose.
One pleasant August afternoon he
" sauntered TO her home and invited her
~ 20 golfng. She loved golfing. He
4 found her under the trees in a ham,
mock in a dress of foamy blue ruff1es,
with a cool blue cushion under her
dark little head.
TOO hot" she answered, "and I'm
I'M lazy. Besides, 1 want to finish my
book" She picked up her novel, leav-
hg him to infer that he could take him
self off. He did-as far as the gate
then he turned and walked back to her.
"HeIen," he said slowly, "do you in
tend ever to marry me or not?" She
looked at him with apparent coolness;
wmething fickered to her eyes, then
4 QTavered away.
81 intend not TO-" she replied.
"Do you love me? Does my love mean
nothing to yOu?"
Make your own differences, Henry
ECarroll. Tell me why l should marry
#a all. l am happy as 1 am. Why
should l want a-man? Unless" she
spoke meaningly, Il could find one who
could make me think 1 wanted him"
"Nell," he said sternly, "do you realize
what you are throwing away"
"A lover' she interrupted. ga chance
N 10 wear the title of Mrs.; to live in
lone place always; to say Yes, dear,
land No, dear;;' to audit the household
bills; to make and receive calls; to-
ITO be loved and protected always;
q to be made happy, for l can make you
happy. Now you are simply idle. Nell,
MdOnt you ever look ahead to the time
when your parents may leave you,
when yOu-even you-will be no longer
NyOung? Don't you see that you need
&me almost as much as l need you
Aren't you afraid of old age. of not be-
ing loved? Aren't you afraid of-any.
thing, girl?" She picked at her sleeve
then lifted serious dark eyes to his OWL
Nblue ones.
Il am afraid of one thing. r.
what is it, sweetheart She
sprang from the hammock and ran into
Mhe hall; then she thrust out her heaC
lnd called. I'm awfully afraid Of-tht
Niarkr' And he heard the sound of re
Feating laughter.
ThereupOn Henry Carroll betOok him
Nelf and his wrath to the links. wher'
be played very bad golf and flirted ex
Nelently with pretty Polly Cummins
Toward sunset, as he was waiting t.
put her into her dashing little trap, h
azarded a question:
Miss Polly, if you were a man ant
, Eanted a girl, and she kept you dan
ling, but wouldn't have you, wha
EOuld you do?" Polly's eyes danced
Fhe knew Nell Benton's ways.
Does she-care"
Il think so, but she won't own VI
he only torments me. What woul
lou do?"
You big, splendid, helpless thing!
ne laughed. why, make her hav
you! There's nothing women like lik
eing made to do things-by the rigt
pan. Get her where she can't hel
erself and make her promise to do a
~ wish" Still laughing. the gi
rove away.
|. carroll walked gloomily along the ri
road. turning over Polly's advic
ie looked up to see canoe comm
l. witty upstream. The girl handle
r. ne paddle with easy skill. As 81
anne closer he gasped with anger.
as Nell in her red waist-the one
sed. 1t was too hot to golf with hiI
.s ~ Just right for a laborious upstrea
Aaudle by herself. He resolved to NAL
er sorry before she got home.
heeping carefully out Of sight amor
ne trees and bushes, he followed t
, Ners course till Nell landed, drawn
y ue canoe up on shore Then she S
own on the grass with her book. Al
what seemed an age she arose al
e. led yainly to catch the lowest limb
le tree above her. Then she broug
II a half dozen old boards lying ne;
with more skill than Carroll thoug
Omen possessed In matters mecha
a. she built a rough sort Of incli
lane reaching halfway up the Il
unk. Then she tried to climb up, /
q feet slipped. After a momen
esitaton she took off her little oxfol
,u then her stockings, which she stl