The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1906-01-26
AN UNUSUAL
THING 4
By VIRGINIA LEILA VENT
Copyright, 1905, by Ruby douglas

didn't want 10 marry hiy yet. Free
dom spelled "fun"-travel, admirers
oh, In short, everything nice and ex-
citing! She simply couldn't bear tho
thought Of settling down."
And Jack was so ardent, so boyishly
impetuous, that she must perforce keep
him at arms length OF all would be
over. Therefore her promise to give
him straight answer when he did
some unusual thing was merely sub
terfuge to gain time, which she had en-
ployed at the beginning of tie summer.
And now the summer and the last
rose of it had flown. 1t was October.
And Jack hadn't done anything I'M
usual yet--nothng but be his nice,
dear. wholesome self! The October
days were full of elixir, and the tread
of beauty was on the hills and the
fields of grass and fodder, ripened by
August suns and tanned by early Sep
temhcr frosts to mellow autumn
bronze.
With the passing of summer almost
all the boarders had left the pretty lit
tie Berkshire resort except Doris Dud-
ley and her invalid mother, who were
to remain there some weeks longer. 1t
was Jacks custom, since he had been
obliged to return to town. to run down
on Saturdays and spend Sunday with
them.
This particular Sunday morning Dor
is and be were crossing the sloping
meadows. blowing through The tanGle
CT withereG sclge and brown grass,
when Jac.i scLdcnly bro.-e out bitterly:
81 don't believe you care for ne at
all-or ever have
Really" SAID Doris in1iTeraltly.
She rested her white sunshade far back
over her shoulder and looked dreanily
across the meadows to the purple hills
beyond, but there were dimplcs in Eer
cheeks and multitude of little curls
blowing in her eyes.
why are you SO provoking. de2r?
You've MI but given your promise. and
yet you keep putting ne of and lead
ing me along as if l were q pet animal
with no Will OF it's own. Well. I'm a.
fool!' he repeated. fercely suppress
ing the e,pletive.
Goodness. no. Jac1w Grawlcd the
mischlcvous Doris. "Not SO bad as
thatr'
Jack cooled a bit end renewed bis
pleadings.
But co be reasonable. Doris. If You
don't intend to throw me over, tell me
when you'll give me positive answer,
and
when you do some unusual thing,
you know" intcrjectcl she swectly,
blowing the curls out Of her eyes.
Jack, who had been carrying his hat,
slapped it ON. his head with an cycla-
nation of disgust. He WAS certainly
vcxed and took very long at:.Ies.
Hello. Jack!' called Doris Galntily
after him as he far oltli;t;:r"e1 her.
That's not the way i'2l going. I'm
going down by the bridge. Want to
Gomez" 1t CHANGED that he Cid.
Now, the path to The bridge was
rather a pretty path. running tA:ouc,l
n small wood which III sU.@A.o: tine
was full of shade and woyd5ine ana
foxgloves and ferns. These had van
ished. but the glory of the wood. the
stream. remained.
Spanning the stream was the bridge.
1t was tiny and not particularly serv
iceable, with gingerbready trelliswork
at the side for the tickling OF unartis-
tic tastes.
Lets rest here" suggested Doris.
sitting down comfortably on the fimsy
side rail of the bridge. With one hand
she held bunch of rufly skirts, and
with her other she balanced herself on
the handle of her sunshade.
isn't the purply haze on those hills
beautiful" remarked she politically.
1t was only some belatcl cricket, for
gotten by July, that chirpel an appceci-
alive reply to this poetic observation
AS to Jack, he was silent for Il few mo-
ments; then with coarse, rlasc,,line di-
rectness he went straight to the spot:
"But what in thunder can Il chap like
me do. Doris, that wou,:S be ulusualT
I'm decent enough sort. reckon
good family. wholesome instincts ana
all that. with enough money to live on
and a reasonable amount of industry
sbut as for doing anything unusual
pshaw!' he bSole of irasc,biy.
Doris hummed an at from. Little
Johnnie Jones', and gathered her skirt
frills a bit closer. Apparently she
wasn't giving his recital tie closest at
tention.
Jack fiicked beetle from the railing
and changed his tactics.
isn't it enough for your purpose, lit
. tie girl. to be sure that l love yoa?' he
asked.
Doris shot a lightning glance Mt her
big lover from under her dark lashes.
"Still," she said mus!ng!y. II should
like you to do some pnusu.ft thing"
Jack passed one hand over his swnrthy
brow and, took a hurried review Of Ms
resources.
Possibly" observed lie oddly at
length. Il might write book" =.
Doris Giggled. Yes. and dedicatt 1T
to me- s.:g2ested she. :.
'In what forn-'To my Wife," ask
ed lack boldly.
Look" said she quickly. nodaing he.
head toward The opposite b1i* of. the
stream.
Jack looked. He saw n slight. ssnnous'
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