The Washington herald., 1908-06-29

II was FRIDAY afternoon AS uSuai,
Jack had telephoned Elinor asking her
to go automobiling with him. and not ar
| all as usual, she had said che wouldn't.
| Her refusal was unprecedented and al
! most as much Of a surprise 10 herself
as II was 70 Jack-but sober second
thought seemed 70 justify II.
1t was foolish-so argued Elinor TO
herself as she hung up the receiver-to
let Jack take so much for granted. to
let him think she was always ready. as a
matter OF course. 10 answer his beck and
call She would show him thing or
/ two. There were other men TO be con-
sidered. and she didn't intend TO marry
/ Jack any more than-wel. perhaps not
as much as she intended 10 marry some
/ one else SIN, It was such a lovely
afternoon and she did so love 10 go auto
mobiling,
| The telephone rang again.
Hello" answered Ellnor. languidly.
| "Oh. Mr.. Norris? Yes. Go automobiling
with you this afternoon? ! shall be de-
lighted. Three o'clock? All right. I'll
be ready. Good-by."
Elinor clapped her hands and gave
herself little squeeze Of congratulaton.
! Half an hour later. her little round
chin tilted saucIly above the big blue
| bow OF her gauzy vel, Elinor stood wait
/ ing on the porch--a picture OF pertness
and prettIness.
! At the ''honk. honk" OF an approach
/ ing automobile. she ran quickly down
/ the steps % greet Vernon Norris. But
TO her astonishment the car did not stop.
and looking after II curiously, she dis
! covered that II was not Vernon after all,
but Jack. and-Could she believe her
eyes7-he was not alone! There was a
! funny little tight feeling about Elinor s
heart that she didn't care 10 analyZe.
She turned her back on the vanishing
/ appar!tlcn Of Jack, and there on the top
of the hill. like a coming event that had
| cast its shadow before IL (alas, that IL
was such a corporeal shadowD she saw
/ Vernon's car looming into sight.
| Anyway, reflected El!nor, II Vernon
| auto wasn't such a beauty as Jacks. IL
/ was still an auto. and II Vernon WASH {,
perhaps, as handsome as Jack, he was
still a man. and when il came TO mat
| ter Of comparison, a man far more
solicitous Of her happiness. Jack had a
way Of spinning through the country
without, apparently the least conscious
ness Of her presence beside him. Yer
non, on the other hand. was always on
the alert 10 rescue the wayward end OF
her veil. 10 inquire for her comfort. and
10 ask what speed best pleased her pres
ent mood. With him she herself. not the
machine. was the center Of his thoughts
| AS a result OF these reflections. Elinor
greeted Vernon with an unusually win
some smile and extended her hand with
| charming EraCiOusness--a favor which
that young man. most naturally. fattered
himself was stimulated by his own ire
sistible powers Of attraction.
Eiinor followed up the cordiality OF heI
welcome with such a chatter of merry
talk as they went flying through tho
country and seemed so radiantly happy
that Vernon, bringing the machine 10 a
sudden showdown, simultaneously with
his inspiration. decided TO learn his fate
then and there.
It proved. most literally. a popping OF
the question. His declaration was not
finished when the machine stopped
short with a sound as Of spontaneous
combustion. The noise together with
Vernons unexpected proposal. took Ell
nor of her feet both mentally and physi-
cally. AS she sprang up Vernon caught
her 10 him.
It's all right. dear" he murmured
with extravagant tenderness. You're
not hurt: only frightened" and he lifted
her veil so that he might look into heI
face.
Elinor freed herself with effort.
mo" she said. sadly. Tn not hurt
and I'm not frightened" She felt sud
denly an indescribable shrinking from thC
man. He had been too quick to take ad
~ situation Had bppr
Jack, he
Vernon interrupted her train OF thought
by shouting to some men in the distance
for help. They did not hear him.
"Awfully sorry" he said finally, "bu
I'm afraid I'll have 10 go across the field,
for help. There's a farmhouse over there
I'm very much like Humpty Dumpty. yoJ
see. ] don't know how 10 put myself to
gether again" (Elinor saw. but somehow
was not amused) VIII you be timiC
here alone?'
Not at ALL" she answered firmly, ig
noring the sentimental look In his eyes.
Il won't be long" he assured her, a!
he jumped out of the car. stay jus
where you are and make yourself com
Portable. The car won't bulge"
After Vernon had disappeared from
sight, Elnor. not at all confident. in spit,
OF his assurance, as 20 what the incon
stant auto might do next. jumped GU
and perched herself on the post of a near
by fence.
She was a most bewitchng little visiol
as she sat there, her fawn-colored Goa
outlined against the green meadow back
ground, and her filmy veil, which she ha'
IoOsened, floating out airily IN the breez
as If on its way 10 join the clouds in III,
blue sky above It. But ElinOr was obliv
ious to the picturesqueness Of her plight
All she could think Of was It's stupidity
Why, oh why hadn't she gone with Jack
Oh. yes, she remembered-she was teach
ing him a lesson. showing him his prOpe
place, tempering his unwarranted and un
endurable air OF assumption. Hum. Let
see, this was August-it was just 81,
months since she had met him, and h
seemed to think so brief an acquaintanc
entitled him to the privileges of as man!