The Democratic advocate., 1909-09-03
DOING SOME THING
DESPERATE,
And After 1t Was Done Sylvia
Really Felt Contented.
BY JEANNE OLIVE LoIzEAux.

4ne moonlight ana ner beauty soil
ened the scorn of her glance wheu
she saw that 1t was Max who hiU
been sent back for her. She sat alone
in Jack Burroughs stalled machic
Back and his wife had walked in.
ing due at an important function.
"YouF' Sylvia's tone matched e.
intention of her glnnce.
Even I, Sylvia" he replied with
rueful grin. Fate Is sometimes q
cent. A fellow has to risk what wei
come is coming to him.~
sit was horrld of the BuYroughes
send you. but they had to get to tha
dinner suppose. My ankle still re
fuses to let me walk far, or I'd have
gone with them afoot."
Tall and fair, cap in hand, he waS
standing with an offered hand to help
her down and into his own little run
about. But she did not move. His
glance followed hers to the cleaning
object held fearfully in her lap. II
took both hand and pistol as she az
planned.
Jack would leave 1t when / insist
ed on their going and sending back the
first respectable person they met
Thanks! Are you ccming7" He
pocketed the weapon. But she only
removed her big hat and veil.
"You know why I'm afraid! You're
worse than a pistol. can't trust you
Her tone was quite serious "Next
time you ask me TO marry you | shall
do something desperate! l would al
most prefer staying here alone. Oh
Max, would you. for once, take M
straight homer And behave? Yuu
used to be nice when we were chit
dren"
II won't propose, In the car, | prolu.
Use. But / will not take you stralgr
home-it's too early-you and the mopu
are too divlnely fair. don't want tu
behave especially, but since | must
will. will vary the program by nsk
ing you not VIII you have me?' bu;
why Is 1t that you won't have me
Conner
Finally she reached him her hare
but without excuse he suddenly to,
her in his arms and lifted her TO g. d.
car, For few minutes they sr
along with the June breezes fresh
ing on their faces. At length he sp, q
frankly. quietly;
"Sylvia, let's Talk It over. | mr
have annoyed you-I may have mad
a fool of myself imploring you 10 l,.
mine times innumcrable, like n con
opera hero with the same old song. /
don't know how TO say It many way
1t all comes 10 the same thlng-ma,
riage or not. But love you"
1t pleased him TO be whimsical, nnf
Sylvia laughed II was a change fru,s
the dead serious. anyway. lie wae
never modest about his reRl wort
He continued
II am lovable, too, with an nfrcctirU
ate disposition what Is the matt.
Sylvia? Please tell me viii r,r
ask you again In the carl promise
and never again at MI once see ytn
do not love me You have never daJle
denied that, you know"
lie turned his face away that rI
might speak freely II she would N
that she had ever been embarra
WIN hAAAlt NV W NATitNh Nilf liifls 81 W
she spoke
"You bring this on yourself IdH.l
feel polite. You always make me- goo
irritable and unloyely. want ta g.
when I see you coming | came ,t
with the Burroughses TO be rid of yop
and to save them from each other
company. ! can't tell you Just why (
a Nnh ..F
contrary, and cannot say what yo'
want me to-"
Speeding a little more, he turned
her coolly.
You are never unloveIy. Sylv
Just how do Irritate youY'
They glided on through the -
dusk between the dark, sweet brea
ing woods and lighter meadow lanG
On and on they came, nearer the cir
whose myriad lights seemed to On
toward them from the dim hills.
And you make me think when
don't want to. it's like pushing sou.
thing away that you do not want
come too close. / simply don't seem
want to be married. ~ She stopb
short.
"Is that IT. OF course you have
decide that. What is It you do wan
In your life, Sylvia? To grow o
alone? Your aunt won't always llv,
HQ you want to earn your own livh.
Do you know OF anything that wuG
be a satisfactory substitute for ma
ried love? Do you want to study SOL
art a nFnfnaCtnn- r..
stance? Do you want to be an
maid and remember that you had
lover who, man and boy, would 4
anythlng-die for you, live for So
and with you and give you what hr
piness he could coax from the schcut
of things? Don't interest you? Nj
lose my money or must | take n
and almost die or save somebody
some romantic stunt to make mys,l
interesting? / want to know whe.,
am, what | can do. Are you tired
seeing me about? | might go away \
few years. Shall II" She laughed nj
his ridiculous. half practical, half sen
timental vein so characteristic of him.
Perhaps ! am Just too used to you.
Max. You used simply to say you
were going to marry me. The last
year you have teased me by asking me
till you make me cross. / don't know
just how ] do feel. l can't seem TO
get any perspective on you-or on mar
riage at all. You seem to stand be-
tween me and understanding. / am
not coward, but think of the respon.
sibility! See the Burroughes-always
on the ragged edge Of a quarrel, ua.
divorced simply because the only thing
they agree on is hating a scandal! IL