The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1907-01-24
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up her identity rashnesS and sensitive
ness were min. LED in equal proper
lions. Now, there are no two traits
that are worse lifted to go together,
and Miss Ford was constantly in trou-
BILE on account OF them. When enter
ing upon some Lash scheme she would
walk on the t poe OF pledsurable ex-
element When suffering the cOnse-
UuenceS, which were almost always
sure to come. she would be plunged
into a profundity of remorse and NOR
LITIGATION.
When Leslie Ford. her brother, came
home from cole e to sped the Christ
mas holidays he brought with him
Pierce Keen. a fellow member of the
senior class. Keen was one Of those
young men who look on life and it's
pro lens seriously and was taken up
with the choice of career, which
choice he must make in few months.
He was sober and dignifed. He had
very little small talk. He did nothing
except after deliberation. In short, he
was Numerically antipodal to Anita
Ford.
Miss Ford saw at once great deal
of amusement in Mr.. Keen. She
would mimic his deliberate way of
speaking, his slow, automatic walk,
his habit of clearing his throat before
expressing ain opinion and the thought
full manner in which he spoke. All
these things interested her intensely.
Indeed. Mr.. Keen's peculiarities were
so absorbing to her that she did not
realize that his sterling qualities were
gaining an influence over her.
A wood fire was always lighted in
the afternoon in the library, and Mr.
Keen used to spend good deal of
time there with the books. One after
noon Miss Ford entered to find him
reclining in an easy chair with a
slanting back, a book open on his lap.
asleep. She saw a chance to win
pair of gloves. Stepping lightly to the
chair, she stopped and barely touched
his forehead with her lips. Then, with
a glance to make sure she had not
awakened him, her little heart beating
a hundred strokes a minute. she stole
rapidly away.
When they met again, Anita, with an
effort, brought herself to look Mr..
Keen in the face, dreading lest she
should see some evidence that he had
been conscious of the kiss. But. no;
there was not the slightest sign of such
consciousness.
"You must have read every book in
the library, Mr.. Keen" she said naive
~, Judging by the time you spend
there
"Not this afternoon" he replied, with
his usual precision. 81 found the fire
so comfortable that fell asleep"
Miss Ford did not dare trust her
self to say more. Her eyes were dane
ing, and she feared she might let drop
some word to induce suspicion.
The holidays were soon ended, and
the two students went back to col
lege. After their departure Anita was
astonished to find an aching void in
her heart she had never felt before.
Indeed, she did not know what 1t was.
That it could be dawning love for
the serious, methodical Keen she did
not dream. Nevertheless his manner
isms were before her every minute.
.''Confound that fellow" she said to her.
self. "Must he be constantly thrusting
his primness before me-"
A week after the young men had re-
turned to college package came by
express addressed to Anita Ford. Tear
ing off the cover, there, wrapped in
tissue paper, was a pair Of gloves.
To say that Miss Anita Ford was
crushed is to put it mildly. The prim
Mr.. Keen had been aware of the kiss
she had given him. What must he
think of her? His estimate of her she
conjured up was something like the
view a lion would take Of a mouse
that had been presumptuous enough to
play with his claws. But If she was
plunged into a slough Of self condem-
nation at the receipt of the gloves she
was an hour later thrown into frenzy
Oh the arrival Of letter from the
sender saying that he felt emboldened
by having received so emphatic mark
Of her favor to offer her his heart and
hand
The paroxysm that followed the re-
ceipt of this announcement soon found
vent, like the first escape Of hot steam.
In tears. The next change was the in
closure of the letter and the gloves in
the box in which the latter had come
and the sending of them straight back
to Mr.. Keen The third condition was
a craving for revenge. The fourth,
which did not come for several days.
was gradual settling down to the
realization that condition of enmity
with the man she had kissed would
drive her mad.
AS the waters of whirlpool may be
seen lower down the stream flowing
TRANQUILITY. 50 did this frightful com
plication :'fter long period Of transit
ton resolve Itself into what it meant
In the fret place-love and eventually
marriage.
One day Mrs. Keen asked her hus-
band why lic lad ''insultcd" her with
the gloves ara the proposal. AS usual