The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1905-11-23
IN A COMPROMISING
SITUATION
By T. W. McKAIL
Copyright, 1908, by T. C. Mcclure.


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 Titz.
gerald"
But Mr.. Fitzgerald began.
rs 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, $4,000 year."
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 young man still, and by
many people he is considered extremely
handsome. Pray don't put such notions
into Sylvia's head"
l held my peace, and after studying
my countenance carefully for a few
moments Mrs. Railton continued: Il
have told you this because l have
thought-although, of course, l may be
mistaken-that your affection for SW-
via has been becoming a little more
than cousinly. should be sorry if"-
"My dear aunt" | broke in impetu-
ously, what Is the use of your trying
to blink facts? You know quite well
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" 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, 1t would have been differ
ent don't believe she cares for him
any more than she cares fu<--the man
in the MOON"
My TRADE fizzled out rather ineffec-
lively, but was feeling genuinely saw
age, and the necessity Of keeping up
calm exterior before my aunt op-
pressed me. | wanted to go out and
hit somebody. So made 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.
I recalled numerous sentimental little
passages between us. Besides, had
proposed to her regularly every week
for the last two years without any def
mite result, it is true, but still with no
decided negative.
l sat down in my room dejectedly
and pondered over the ways of women
in general and of Sylvia in particular.
Then went to a drawer and took out
a box wherein lay a miniature por-
trait of Sylvia, some letters from her,
trinket off bangle, 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 | seized a
pen and dashed off a furious letter to
Sylvia. But moment later l tore 1t
to pieces. After all, thought, sarcasm
will be much more effective and at the
same time more dignifed. Acting upon
the second impulse, l constructed
brief letter full Of irony congratulating
Sylvia upon her engagement and In
forming her Of the pleasure felt in
receiving the announcement This l
dispatched at once by express messen-
ger and then settled down for a quiet
afternoon.
1t was Saturday, and there was an
air Of peace within and without that
soothed my wounded feelings. lit
cigarette and lounged in an easy chair
before the open window. The sound of
cab approaching rapidly aroused me.
Looking out Of my window, saw that
it contained Sylvia. AS she stepped out
of the cab at my door, looking more
bewitching even than usual, noticed
that she carried letter in her hand.
Thus forewarned / answered her
hurried knock at the door with mat
ter of fact Come in and evinced none
of the surprise she evidently expected
me to feel at her appearance.
"You are perfectly hOrrid'- she be-
gan.
why" / asked innocently.
ITO write me letter like this" hold
ing out the offending document. II
was just going out shopping with moth
er when it arrived, but felt as If l
must come and talk to you first. Poor
mother! She will wonder where on
earth have gone"
$50 you did care what l thought"
"Oh, jerry" she said quite earnestly,
and fancied detected a tear In her
left eye, show could you write me SO
cruelty? thought you would be heart
broken"
"Is it not little indiscreet of you,"
went on, realizing my advantage, Ito
come here alone to bachelors rooms
without chaperonT'
She sprang to her feet, her eyes fash
ing and her cheeks flushing in a man.
ner that l could not help confessing
was eminently becoming to her.
conventionalities, she said, when It
Is a question of justice between you
and me? Do you imagine am going
20 remain at decorous distance from
yOu when my happiness is at stake?
Do you
But l interrupted her.
ut is not so much question Of what
I think or imagine as it is Of what Mr..
Fitzgerald"-
"How dare you mention him to me"
she famed out. at is the worst taste
CD your part. If I had refused you
and accepted him
'That is exactly what you have
dcne," interposed.
"Indeedr she bowed haughtily. "You
know more of my affairs than ! do my
self"
sylvia" l said, taking her hands IN
mine, 'your mother told me you were
a.. =, ,ss,aN