The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1906-09-20
MArIVG SURE.


ed it to me, as children say"
But they don't have little birds on
ships at sea-" responded the young
woman with Dens;ve air.
"Oh, don't they! Why, every wo-
man aboard-yourself' excepted, of
course-is little bird of gossip. If
you could only evoke the confidence of
Lady Louica or Mrs. Martin-though
I don't mean to imply that either dear
lady constituted the little bird in this
case; that might be breach Of faith
On my part-she would tell you things
about yourself which would literally
amaze you. Habitual globe trotters
of the gentler sex and distinctly un-
certain age are the most vicious Cos
sips between heaven and the axis OF
the earth
'You are cynical" she remarked,
leaning her pretty chin in the palm OF
her hand and gazing at the vast waste
Of .:ters stretching away from the
side CT the vessel.
Women always think a man is Gym
zeal if he happens to have diagnosed
correctly any outstanding characteris-
tic of her SEX he answered, depre-
catingly. Say l was indiscreet and
I'll admit it, for have given you the
Opportunity to evade my question"
Which was-?" she inquired, with
an exae gerated air of WEAKNESS.
(Which was that you are going out
to marry fellow you engaged your
self to SO many years ago that you've
forgotten what he's like"
That's not q question; that's an
assertion. And I'a ask you to reflect
before you apply reference to many
years relation to myself. How many
feet in the grave would you estimate
have?'
"Still prevaricating," he muttered
sadly. But seriously" he added, Il
should like to know If that is really
the reason you are going out alone?"
Yes she murmured, the corners of
her mouth dropping for moment.
And you have not seen him tor
many-for some little time? had
hoped that-that-thati is to say, +
we'll"
She waited for him to clear away
antiquities. There was singularly at
tentive droop to her eyelids, and
slight suggestion of determination IN
the pressure of her lips.
"You had hoped?" she said tenta-
lively.
Il checked my words" he replied
quickly. please recollect that l
checked my words! And it must be
obvious to you that l did so because
they would have been inexcusable In
the circumstances"
"How tantaliziDg you are, to be
sure!" she exclaimed. after half an
hours talking and pausing-chief1y
pausing-you arrive at the point OF
saying something complimentary, and
then, by way of a change from paus-
ing, / suppose, you check yourself.
Could you reach my book, do you
Think"
He shot a quick side glance at her,
and his eyes cleaned angrily as he
leaned forward and picked up the vol
Hre
May 1, then, tell you that l hoped
the rumor was not true?''
did your" she inquired, gentle
smile ripping her pretty cheeks.
But it u.s." she added softly, with a
clodest sigh
Perhaps the prospect is not alto
ether inviting to you?" he hazarded,
with insinuation.
oh" she murmured, brushing
something imaginary from her skirt
with nervous gesture, well, you see,
it is necessarily something like a
risky speculation after so long sepa-
ration, isn't it? l mean that time
works great changes in men, and the
friends of our youth are apt to de-
uI sYueIo pug seIoq oluI oleIeua5
maturer years; and since it is possible
that my fancee could have changed
altogether from what he was when he
taught me how to care for hinl-and 1t
is quite possible, of course it is!-well,
the marriage lottery becomes a lot
terry indeed. l may draw first prize,
and may draw something distinctly
more discouraging than blank"
"Then why put yourself into such
lottery" he asked, after stified
gasp for breath.
"Oh," she responded, in far-away
tone, "a promise is promise, isn't it?
And he is awfully fond of me, or his
recollection of me as he knew me.
and" he said, after biting his mus
tache viciously, "you are prepared to
fulfill your promise even at the risk
of spelling your whole life, and render
ing his unutterably wretched with the
knowledge that you have done SOP
eyes," she responded, with little
sigh of resignation. II suppose l shall
run the risk, hoping for the best, as
everybody does hope. You see, when
a woman has waited so long as l have
she-well, she becomes shop soiled, so
to speak; the gloss goes off her, and
she gets faded in parts. l am not as
young as 1 was five or even three
years ago, and there is not much de-
mand for unreasonable goods"
The man opened his mouth to draw
a great breath. There was a long
pause. Eventually she broke the
silence, brazen-facedly enough.
What are you thinking about?'
she inquired
"That-that girl who may charm
one man, and would not appeal to