The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1909-06-19

re silence fell again. Presently
jerked my cigarette end into the
i fire.
Gwen" I said, getting up. Its
its been ripping year / never
| enjoyed a Derby, an Elton and Har-
row. a Goodwood, or a Cowes, SO
much before"
THE weathers been so lovely"
she prevaricated.
I treated the remark with con-
tempt. 'D'you know why?" asked
her.
NO." she said. "But I'm"
I'll tell you," l interrupted, sit
ting down on the sofa beside her.
Because was with you
Its very good of you to say so,
Mr.. Gray" she said politely. 81 hope
next year"
They'll all be different" 1 said
sourly. All different and spoiled"
why, does old Moore say it'll be
wet?" she asked, dogearing the piece
Of paper.
Its only New Years Eve, Gwen"
muttered. 1.-THE new resolutions
don't-don't start till tomorrow"
Lady Gwen shook her head. I'm
in earnest, Mr.. Gray"
And nothing l can say will alter
you?"
Nothing" she said with an air of
finality.
There was long pause before /
propounded a conumdrum.
Can a woman f1irt with her hus-
band?" asked. ..
''Of course not, "scoffed Lady Gwen
unguardedly.
II see. Gwen; I'll never go to the
Derby again."
"Why not?" she queried. staring
at me.
Nor Ascot, nor Henley; no, not
even the Academy" cried. you've
spoiled my life. Gwen"
81. Mr.. Cray"
Eyes, you," I said, savagely. Il
was looking forward to another hap
py year. Then to-day, at its very
close-the happiest year in all my
life
You're only twenty-eight," put in
Lady Gwen.
Il know" 1 cried, land 1 may live
to be ninety. Sixty-two more Derbys,
sixty-two more"
II can't make you an exception"
she said, laughing.
IF you've got heart you would"
/ said, angrily. mo woman's got the
right to have beastly whim-"
Mr.. Cray"
$50 it is-a beastly whim. Just
because you're tired of me"
You're very unkind," she NUT
tered. frowning, "and you aren't try
ing to help one bit
II am" protested, "but two
blacks will never make a white.
You're doing wrong, you're selfish"
Please" she begged.
''No, l won't STOP" cried, indig-
nantly. tits all your own fault.
You've brought it all upon yourself.
l haven't spark of sympathy for
you. If you keep your resolution
you'll be unkind to me. Unkind!
What word! You'll be simply driv-
ing me to the deuce"
You're not helping me-" she cried
again.
II am. I'm trying to think out
way. Give me the paper, Gwen. In
the dim ages I read for the bar;
might possibly be able to find some
way out of the impasse."
Gwen looked at me doubtfully.
Promise you won't laugh" she con-
ditioned, promise you - you won't
bring it up against me afterwards.
"Of course I WON'T" I assured her.
I'm simply your counsel in this mat
ter"
Slowly she surrendered the scrap
of paper. l unrolled it.
"'Good resolutions it is headed"
I read aloud. Number one, not to
firt any more with Bob Gwen!"
She blushed and dropped her eyes
to her lap.
II told you 1 couldn't get out of
it," she said in low voice.
For a moment I pondered. But,
Gwen!" cried suddenly, "you-you
said you couldn't fir: with hus-
band"
II know, but"
Don't you see, Bob would
would merge, as the lawyers say.
Your marriage to me would repeal
one"
Gwen looked at me, a smile on her
flushed cheeks and in her bright eyes.