Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1907-05-10
GeFLIRTATION
OF ANNE. {.
By RITA KELLEY.
Copyright, 1914, by G. n. Smcrtee.


ed the shoes. girdles to match the
frocks, with sufficient everything into
the travelling bags and Anne off to the
station for the 4:50 train. At the last
minute she snatched from her writing
desk a few pages torn from a maya
zine and stuffed them into her hand bag
as she hurried down to the cab. Janet
had sent her the story a fortnight ago.
and the success or failure of the week
end for her depended upon whether or
not she waded through it before she
reached Brentwood Janet had set
opinions about some things, among
them her love for conventional Anne
and an Overweening desire to provide
literature much diversified by COM
mentaries for her best beloved
Anne made the train. AS she hur-
ried down the platform and climbed
into the car feeling of wild good hui
NOR possessed her. The old cramping
occurrences that savored Of self con-
seriousness in her personality had been
lost in the excitement of the last hour.
She found herself within the car with
the exhilaratng desire to do something
rash
She didn't know what exactly Then
1t flashed over her. No more old ladies,
or women with children. or nice elder
ly men. She shuddered at thought of
the innumerablc times she had asked
to share their seats no This time she
was free from tradition. She would
pick winner WITH brave deter
minaton she gripHnA hcr bags and set
out down the ai~le in quest of him.
He was Mt the extreme end of the
car. Big and brown, and he looked the
part. The LITTLE query was said. the
alacrious moving of bags ended, and
Anne sank into the mans place by the
window, facing him, with tiny feel
Ing of exultation.
He was u winner sure enough, hand
some and with the most charming
manner imaginable. Anne dubbed him
Harvard man when he lifted his hat
They were all so delightfully."- gallant.
She was not in the least embarrassed
by his Intermittent gaze. which was
timed, as only a winner knows how, to
meet her vagrant glances. She knew
her hat was UNNECESSARILY becoming,
with the pink rose and soft plume
against her brownish hair; also that
her blue fox set was the latest cry in
furs and her gloves and boots correct.
1t occurred to her presently, however,
that she ought to convince the man
OF her complete disinterestedness in
choosing him for a travelling compan-
ion.
Accordingly she drew the portion of
magazine from her hand bag and set
tied herself comfortably. There were
six pages of 1t, and she knew that, pro-
vided she read leisurely, 1t would last
until she reached Brentwood Janet
had a third virtue She considered.
specializing subconsciously, with eyes
fixed on the flowing landscape, over a
long look which she had just inter-
rupted. were his eyes brown or gray
or green? oh. Janet's virtue. Well 1t
was providing literature for travelling
young ladies' who were in danger of
reverting without warning to embar-
RAISING original self consciousness.
Janet had scrubbed in her bold Chi
Biography wherever an interlineation
was possible fond, foolish things
which Anne soon forgot to read in her
absorption in the story. She loved n
horse, and this was hero handled
with the sympathetic touch of lover
OF horses. Tears sprang to her eyes.
to be succeeded by smile. a low
laugh or strained intentness and pain.
She finished the story as the train
whistled for Brentwood with an over
whelming desire to lean over and tell
the man facing her that 1t was the
greatest story ever written: that she
wanted to tell him about it; that she
knew he would understand.
Carried outside herself, she leaned
forward impulsively, her lips parted.
eyes glowing, about to speak Presto.
Her mind sprarg like a trap. and she
bent over her bags instead. embar-
rassedly preparing to fee. She gave
him the fieetest of glances as she rose,
and he looked steadily at her while a
suspicion of smile, appreciative and
friendly, came into his eyes. She had
the story with her; but, suddenly fol
lowing an impulse. she dropped 1t as
thing OF no value upon the seat
Janet Fair was in a state of woe.
The lion Of the house party had not
materialized. Frantic telephonlng and
wires disclosed the fact that he had
left town for Slox. next station be-
yond Brentwood. on the 4:50 train and
had been seen no more. The Fair
country place stood midway between
the two stations used impartlally by
the Fair guests, and coupe had met
both stations, one bringing Anne Hal
liwell from Brentwood, the last woman
guest.
HE Is yours, dear" said Janet draw