Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1909-04-22
Observation-Disclosures
THE GOOD RESOLUTION,
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
BY a. G.. Greenwood. ),


ing room.
Lady Gwen stretched out a lazy
hand. I'm awfully busy" she
warned me.
Never mind" I returned easily,
"Perhaps I can help you"
She laughed and shook her head. /
TIN afraid you couldn't, Mr..
Gray" she remarked, nibbling at the
top of her pencil.
ut used to be Bob-sometimes."
I reminded her.
"Very-very seldom!" she ex-
claimed Indignantly.
when I was good" I pleaded.
: when I was foolish" laughed
Lady Gwen cruelty.
Then Mr.. Gray be it," I sighed.
"And I suppose I mayn't call You
Gwen?"
"Oh, no." she said quickly.
She took up the slip of paper which
she had been scribbling on as / came
in and stared at it. "Of course you
mustn't" she added severely.
May I know what crime I've COM
mitted?" I asked humbly.
you haven't committed any," she
protested, and added a qualifying
'that I know of" as an afterthought.
But I'm to be punished all the
same?" I queried dismally.
WHAT nonsense we're talking"
cried Lady Gwen severely.
Il like it BEST" I acknowledged.
Life isn't all fooling," she told
me severely.
And it isn't-or it oughtn't to be
al sour" I retorted. Il think O
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."-
II told you," she argued. "life.s a
serious problem"
"Well?" I calculated foolishly.
"Well?" she echoed. "Well?-I
want to remember it," she concluded
lamely.
Gwen, I burst out, Il" -
please" she reminded me.
Il believe I KNOW" / said, sitting
bolt upright in my, chair; you're
making good resolutions"
Il am" she acknowledged de-
family.
"Heavens!" l groaned.
And I near to keep en-" quoth
Lady Gwen with the air of a judge.
On. you're obstinate enough for
a2ything," I retaliated.
I'm not" size cried Indignantly;
I'm only firm
"And so that beastly scrap of
paper holds the rules of your life for
a year?' I asked viciously.
For a lifetime," she answered
without a smile.
oh lord!" was my vulgar and des-
pairing %outburst.
There was a long pause. "You
really mean to keep them, Gwen?"
asked at last.
I do, Mr.. Gray" she answered.
l know I'm Mr.. Gray" I laughed,
You needn't"
It's no laughing matter" she re-
pied without the ghost Of a smile.
"And-and if you were at all decent
you'd help me-"
I'll do my best" I muttered
meekly.
Then don't call me Gwen"
Right"
l lit a cigarette and smoked it in
melancholy silence.
II I'm to help you I must see the
paper" I suggested moodily.
on, no." she answered quickly.
Then how can II"
III tell you," she promised me.
1-I-well, you see, Mr.. Gray"
Never mind about Mr.. Gray, go
on I commanded.
live been rather-rather-"
one hesitated and blushed.
believe I KNOW" I interpolated,
Yes" she said eagerly. mot
really one, you know, but"
You have been," I agreed, waving
aside the end Of her sentence.
1nefe's no doubt about that"
You're very unkind," she pro-
tested.
and the resolution was?"
not to be-" she muttered, scrib-
Jung on the paper.
I see."
Inc silence fell again. Presently
Jerked my cigarette end into the
hwen," 1 said, getting up. 'It's
tts been a ripping year. / never
fnJoyed a Derby, an Elton and Har.
Nv, a ~Goodwood. or a Cowes, sc
much before"
Inc weather's been so lovely
We prevaricated.
J treated the remark with con,
e1npt. "D'you know why?" I asked
her. ~
no. she said. but I'm"