The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1909-04-14
The GOOD RESOLUTION.
By A. G. Greenwood.
*$44:$$4$$**$444*44444444


Lady Gwen stretched out lazy
hand. I'm awfully busy" she
warned me.
"Never mind" l returned easily.
"Perhaps l can help you"
She laughed and shook her head.
''I'm afraid you couldn't, Mr..
Gray" she remarked, nibbling at the
top Of her pencil.
at used to be Bob-sometimes,"
I reminded her.
"very-very seldom!" she ex-
claimed Indignantly.
when l was good" pleaded.
'When l was foolish" laughed
Lady Gwen cruelty.
"Then Mr.. Gray be It," ] sighed.
"And l suppose l mayn't call you
Gwen?"
ooh, no." she said quickly.
She took up the slip of paper which
she had been scribbling on as l came
in and stared at it. "Of course you
mustn't" she added severely.
MAY know what crime I've COM
mitted?" l asked humbly.
lou haven't committed any," she
protested, and added qualifying
"that l know of" as an afterthought.
But I'm to be punished all the
same?" 1 queried dismally.
What nonsense we're talking"
cried Lady Gwen severely.
81 like it best" l acknowledged.
Life isn't all fooling," she told
me severely.
And it isn't-or it oughtn't to be
all sour" I retorted. II think you
might tell me-"
You haven't done anything" she
persisted. "It's-me."
"Your grammar emphasizes your
fault" I observed, "but I'm still in
the dark"
Il told you," she argued, "life's
serious problem"
"Well?" l calculated foolishly.
'Well?" she echoed. "Well?-I
want to remember it," she concluded
iamely.
Gwen, burst out, u
"Please," she reminded me.
81 believe l know" / said, sitting
bolt upright in my chair; you're
making good resolutions"
II am" she acknowledged de-
Aantly.
"Heavens!" I groaned.
And l mean to keep EN-" quoth
Lady Gwen with the air of Judge.
"Oh, you're obstinate enough for
anything" I retaliated.
I'm not" she cried Indignantly;
I'm only firm"
"And so that beastly scrap of
paper holds the rules of your life for
p year," I asked viciously.
For lifetime" she answered
without smile.
"Oh lord!" was my vulgar and des-
pairing outburst.
There was long pause. "You
really mean to keep them, Gwen?"
I asked at last.
81 do, Mr.. Gray" she answered.
II know I'm Mr.. Gray" l laughed,
"you needn't"
TITS no laughing matter" she re-
piled without the ghost of a smile.
"And-and if you we're at all decent
you'd help me-
"I'll do my best" l muttered
meekly.
Then don't call me Gwen"
Right"
lit cigarette and smoked it in
melancholy silence.
If I'm to help you l must see the
paper" l suggested moodily.
"Oh, no." she answered quickly.
Then how can I?'
~I'll tell you," she promised me,
"I-I-well, you see, Mr.. Gray"
'Never mind about Mr.. Gray, 60
pn," commanded.
live been rather-rather-"
She hesitated and blushed.
Il believe l know" interpolated,
ga fiirt."
YES" she said eagerly. mot
really one, you know, but"
You have been," agreed, waving
aside the end of her sentence.
''There's no doubt about that"
You're very unkind," she pro-
tested.
And the resolution was?"
mot to be-" she muttered, scrib-
bling on the paper.
II see."
The silence fell again. Presently
jerked my cigarette end into the
fire."
Gwen" ! said. getting up. "It's
its been ripping year. l never
enjoyed a Derby, an Elton and Har-
row, a Goodwood, or a Cowes, SO
much before"
THE weather's been SO lovely"
she prevaricated.
/ treated the remark with con-
tempt. "D'you know why?"-r asked
her.
"No." she said. But I'm-"