Willmar tribune., 1908-04-29
When March
Windc Blew.
BY Vir4inia Dlair.
copyrighted, 1908, by E. G. PARCELS,

Z Copyrighted, 1908, by e. G. PARCELS.
"Whew-ew-eww went the March
wind, shrieking around corners, roar
ing across the open spaces and whirl-
ing the dust and debris in the middle
Of the street into mad dance.
Down the block from opposite direc-
tions came a girl and man. The girl
was all in brown-trim walking skirt,
sable furs, tan shoes, smart toque
and a chiffon veil, the ends Of which
were whipped this way and that as she
made her way against the wind.
The man, with his back to the cut
ting blasts, walked rapidly, and just
as the girl was within a few steps of
him the mad March wind blew so hard
and so strong that she stopped and
turned her back to it.
And so sudden was her action that
the young man did not have time to
get out of the way.
The girl gave little shrek in the
moment of collision. He put out his
hand to steady her.
"Oh, you needn't mind" he told her.
''1t's only me-"
She was pink with bushes, but she
said haughtily, II do mind
"Of course" he agreed gloomily. I'D
like to wipe myself off the face Of the
earth If it would do you any good"
"You might at least avoid this block, -
she told him.
He looked about him.
II beg your pardon" he said. II
suppose it is the effect Of long habit
that makes me drift this way"
Habits may be broken"
'Not the habit of love-" he said, al
most fiercely. Then his voice took on
tender note. Catherine" he said,
"can't you change your mind and mar
ry me?"
II think" she said very clearly, "that
you are mad-as mad as the March
wind-as mad as a March hare"
"And why?" he asked. Because l
love YOU
Because you propose to me at such
strange times and Places" she cried.
''The last time was in department
store just before Christmas when !
was buying needles and pins.'
"And you made pincushion of my
heart" he reminded her, "and stuck II
full of sharp points"
mo woman can respect man." she
said, "who makes himself ridiculous"
He drew himself up sharply.
$50 that is it." he said slowly. "Well,
perhaps 1 deserve it. But you must re-
member that when first told you that
cared for you told you in your OWL
home and asked if I might speak tt
your father. You didn't say No. and
you wouldn't say Yes And when
asked you again at the bachelors CO
tillon you still let me hope, and the1
you wrote the next day that was no,
to visit you again. couldn't believe
that you meant it. I can't believe Il
now"
He laughed bitterly and went on
'But if have lost your respect it Is
hopeless. l shall never again ask you
to marry me. Catherine"
"Never?" she faltered.
"Never," he repeated, and for a mo
ment he stood looking down at her
then, with gesture Of despair, he went
on his way.
She stared after him and started tt
call, hesitated and went slowly up thu
steps Of the great house before which
they had stopped.
| 'Of course am glad to be rid ol
him." she said half hour later when
In pink dressing gown and slippers, sh.
talked with Aunt Kitty, who alway.
understood.
! Aunt Kitty was woman of thu
world. Brilliant and glowing, she hai
stopped in on her way to some after
noon function.
"Why are you glad?" Aunt Kitty de
manded. Hes fine fellow"
| GATHERINGS lips were trembling.
"Oh, Aunt Kitty" she said, Il though
he was, but have found him OUT
Goodness" asked Aunt Kitty, "wha
has he done?'
'There is another girl," Catherin.
said slowly.
"Humv' said Aunt Kitty. "How dit
you find it out?'
1T was the other day after the cotil
lon," Catherine explained. "He hat
told me how he cared for me, and +
I was really beginning to care, too, ant
I thought it would be nice to surprise
him. And knew he always lunchei
at Marfeld's-and-a I thought II
60 down and have lunch with him
and tell him
"Well, of all things" calculated Aun
Kitty, "in these days of chaperonsv'
$50 I went," Catherine proceeded
"and all the way downtown l though
how glad he would be, and how
would pour his coffee and let him orde1
the things he liked, and how in aftel
years we would go there and eat lunch
on the anniversary
"Of course" Aunt Kitty sympathiz
ed.