Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1907-06-06
CUTTING THE HORNS
OF Tue DILEMMA
" sIAsLtY 3. HOUcK
ss-ss@sesssssssssess@sssss..
Copyright. laca. BY Daily Story Pub Co.

His name was John. despite the fact
hat he was called Jack, and he Wa
a junior in college, Her name was
Mariory, and she was senior, The
girls" had all agreed that he wasnt
handsome, that he was Inclined to be
saucy, but that he was nevertheless
'awfnlly nice and very much WORT
while" None OF the boys disputed The
Fact that she was the prettiest tAlng
N the campus.
Jack was sitting on the library steps
wondering how much longer Il woald
axe MaFiogy 10 get 10 the library
tops, where he was waiting for her
he having rounded the corner a hal.
block away az least Is minutes be.
fore. Her progress was slow, and the
crowd about her was Increasing II
size and delight He wanted 20 be-
With her alone. or he would have add.
Cd himself &c the gathering. He was
scheming a means 20 relieye himself
from a self.lmposed dilemma OF which
he was one horn and Marjory the
other.
She had started II three years be.
fore al a reception where they had
MET. He was a freshman and she
sophomore thea. and she had opened
the conversation by telling him. In tho
patronizing tone sophomores use TO
ward freshmen. that she had decided
to make use OF her sophomore prerog
alive and place him ION her string"
Re being very bold and saucy, for
freshman. had accepted the gage by
retortlpg that his one ambition was
10 fall head over heels In love with
some girl. and n she didn't mind he
would practice on her. Since then
neither had lost any opportunity Of as.
suriag the other OF his undying affec.
ton In many varied and amusing
ways
Now he wanted seriously TO tell her
OF his love for her. but he had told
her Of II so often in fun that he
couldn't quite see any way OF making
her take his declaration as being
made seriously In earnest and not
made seriously In fun.
"A penny for your thoughts, Jack,"
she said. brightly. when at last she
reached him.
Thinking about you. Marjory," he
replied.
you don't say. and what were you
thinking about me?"
Refuse TO be interviewed"
"Why. Jack" she said. in tone Of
mock injury. do you mean to tell me
after we have been in love all these
years. that you have secrets from
me?"
He assumed a tone OF dignifed an
thority. "Mariory. as you love me. ]
must insist that you don't let your
feminine curiosity get the better OF
you"
my curiosity? You stimulated II
on purpose. consequently you are re
sponsible for II. II you don't tell me
right away. I'll cut you dead"
1.-The trouble is that I'm afraid you'll
cut me dead If | tell YOU"
mo won't"
"All right Let's take walk down
the river and I'll think it over" he de.
cided, making sudden resolution.
They left the library and walked of
toward the river. When they reached
the well-beaten path they turned their
backs to the college buildings and
strolled leisurely along, following
closely the edge of the high, bluff-like
bank of the river. Neither spoke for
time.
AS they went along he began to
wonder what the outcome of it all
would be. the more he thought the
weaker his resolution became-there
was Marjory, the prettiest and most
perfect girl in the world, and, on the
other hand, here was he, just an
ordinary, average sort of fellow.
When he looked back and tried to
analyze her conduct toward him and
towards others, he could not see that
she had treated him any different than
any of the others. Indeed. when 1t all
came back to him, with a rush, he
wondered at his self-conceit in think
ing that Marjory, of all girls, would
find anything in him to love. Still.
he thought he wouldn't have had
things other than they had been those
last three years while they had been
playing their little farce, for he felt
that only circumstances could have
brought them together as they had
been. So he blessed the lucky day OF
the start though he covered before
doubtful finish
At last they passed below the last
city bridge, and were alone by the
river, away from all the noise and &C
tivity of the busy city.
Are you going to tell me now?' She
asked.
mo, not yet" he answered, sparring
| for time, "but if you will tell me what
you were thinking about while we
were coming here, maybe I'll begin
to lead up to it.
81 was wondering whether this
would be the last time | would ever
80, .,;. u,o1ly and vnu dnn't know how