Middletown transcript., 1909-08-21

risky even IN WeA.llgnle0
street, in a web policed town, in.
America, and in the last decade
of the nineteenth century The
young man swore at her. under
his breath, before the echo Of the
laugh had ceased to sound, bdt
she didn't happen 10 catch the
words. II would have been
more fortunate for her, perhaps,
if she had.
Your answer is tinalg. he de-
manded at length.
Final, she said, us all my an
swers and decisions always have
been and always will be.
A wise man-and / presume
that includes a wise woman as
well-changes his MINDFUL
But a fool never? she said
sharply. Your unsaid N,rds
are not as complimentary as !
have usually found your spoken
ones to be. But-no matter. !
am quite content TO be called fool
when the test Of wisdom is mar.
risge with you.
You've been a cruel, shame
less flirt, he cried, angrily; you
have led me on and encouraged
me in every possible way. Aud
now-now-
I have done nothing of the
sort, Mr.. Delrosche, and you
know it. l have admired your
pictures, enjoyed your compli-
ments, appreciated your friend
ship, and
Ny friendship You never
had it; you never will Love
or-nothing-
! prefer nothing, then, inter.
rupted the young womar,.
though it's hard tofind that friend
ship is only a name-a myth-a
something the ancients loved
while the moderns have forgot
ten it. But you needn't shout
so, and wake every one along
street; man rejected should
Be a man siIenced; you are acting
like a madman.
Indeed? Perhaps | am one.
You've been enough TO drive a
mans sanity into the desert Of
exile. Do you know, what mad
men sometimes do?
know l am tired-tired of the
night, the walk, the memory #
the tiresome play We saw-and
tired Of you. Please take me
home. i
Tired? frightened, you mean,
and /
No, Mr.. Delrosche, am not
frightened. Ifear no man. Not
even your black looks can make
me fear you.
Indeed Will you prove it by
going in for dinner with me
Shall we drink to the memory Of
the days that are done.
Why-yes-if you wish it 50.
she said, hesitatingly, though |
had not guessed you would care
for that-not after your foolish
question and my necessary an.
swer. I've been to the play With
you, let me see, at, least half ,
dozen times; and I've never re-
fused your after tl.ealre dinner.
TIL not refuse it Tonight. Itntt
be my last supper With you,
you know "A
Yes, said the man, your last |
supper. {
Ten minutes later they were I
seated in the cozy restaurant ry
where they had so tften and SO i
happily eaten together Told 4
that the actors in one Of life's
saddest tragedies sat there, you 4
would never have selected them. a
You remember my udio is
Just across the street, said the y
nan, quietly, when The first U
course of the elaborate dinner b
le had ordered had been placed '
before them. Will you kindly p
excuse me for five minutes b
| will excuse you, she said, if d
,ou'll say that you don't mean 10 b
70 and blow your brains out. v
FOR. you see b
shall return, he said, positive.
=. Believe me, have no iH-- l.
ention Of killing myself e
He rose, passed around the RI
able to where Nora sat, and b
eaned down low over her. Il
a dozen are watching as, even 81
ow, he said, and their curiosity
GEMS growing. A word or two | d
rom me, spoken in a louder tone v
nan usual, would make You the ar
entire of an attention that prob Sc
BY wouldn't be pleasant-even N
you. So, if ! may still advise. ST
better, venture for oneto com. hi
and TIA Sa.-. ,e -