Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1907-02-21
An Unsatisfactory FianCe.
BY FRANK Il. MELooN.

Copyright 1906, by Daily Story Pub. Coz
Twenty times in the past two days
had Hortense Heaton made up hef
mind to definite action; and 20 times,
of course, she had allowed her
thoughts TO vacillate backward to the
old doubt, the old indecision. 1T is
SO supremely ridiculous" she said TO
herself, softly. And the complaint
seems so absurd and so difficult to
form into words. | can't tell Robert
that he doesn't love me enough. His
alteration is too evident in his eyes
for me TO doubt it, but I'm not mar
BILE image and | don't want To be
adored as If | were an angel. | know
I'm not. | know I'm just ordinary
flesh and blood, but Robert doesn't
seem to think so. I've tried every
way / can think OF to convince MIN,
but it's no USE
Miss Hortense flung herself race
downward on the most tempting piece
of furniture in the room, burying her
pretty nose in the very middle OF a
pillow stuffed with fir balsam. She
did not attempt to keep back the tears
which forced themselves to her ador-
able blue eyes or to choke down the
sobs which convulsed a throat as
dainty and fair as any modefs.
What would Robert say If he could
see me now" she thought, a smile
like sunshine in the midst OF summer
rain flashing across her face. Just
because we're both college bred, ne
thinks he must act differently than
other people And he was so ready
to believe my jest about the danger
of microbes in kissing, that I've never
been kissed once since we became
engaged. He says hugging's dem
onstration of parliamentary aHecuoh
and laughs at holding hands as
something peculiar to the lower class
es. Well, I'd just like to have httit
rudimentary affection, and II some
body doesn't hold my hand prett!
soon, why, I'm just going slumming'
Having finished her cry, Miss Hor
tense felt decidedly better. ohe Sd
I'M and began to fling soft pillows
into new positions with athletic Vlsor
"The ideal" she exclaimed, Sharply
81 don't see what makes ROBERT 81
stiff and prim. He's a good dea
like an old maid since he got thos'
horrid degrees of A. M. ana m =
What good will they do him, anyway
He's got, the money to have goo'
time without them; and II he hadn U
now, he could share mine as soon a
we're married. ! guess dad VIII CIV
mo enough for both AS 1t is, cal
truthfully say I'd rather have peel
born without a silver spoon IN ih'
mouth. If all the silver spoon IS &c
ing to bring me is a man gone dai
against kissing and hugging and holo
ing hands. Being engaged TO ma
like that is what our Mamie "oui
i call the raw limit!
Her brain formed a mental plctur
! Of Robert Rouin, A. M, Pm. d. Ia
! and athletic of figure, clad In periec
fitting evening clothes, just as she ha
last seen him. Severity sat Cehtaul
like upon his Gibson-modeled race pu
II was the severity of thought.
"Why," continued the girl. lno'l
nantly. cant he cast 1t of for fe'
minutes when he is with me? n
loves me; don't doubt that. but
is like the terrible admiration OF Ecu
II is as if a god were making love
a mortal, half fearing to suliy MN
self by touching the inferior penn
I'm sure Robert hasn't that ieenn'
but that's exactly what it's Ike.
Miss Hortenss recalled the iae
that her unsatisfactory fance Ia
won RS ya-s..~ letter on. the foo