The daily Alaskan., 1909-10-07
DOING SOMETHING
 DESPERATE.
And After It Was Done Sylvia
 Really Felt COntented.
Ry JEANNE oLNE LolzEAuM

Pressl
 The moonlight and her beauty soft ened the scorn Of her glance when she saw that it was Max who had been sent back for her. She sat alone in Jack Burroughs stalled machine. Jack and bis wife had walked in, be- ing due at an Important function.
 Your Sylvia's tone matched the intention of her glance.
 "Even l, Sylvia" be replied with a rueful grin. "Fate is sometimes de- cent. A fellow has to risk what well come is coming to him.
 Tt was hoUrid of the Burroughes to send you. but they had to get to that dinner, l 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 gleaming object held fearfully ln her lap. He tooF both hand and pistol as she ex- plGined.
 Jack would leave 1t when Insist ed on their going and sending back the first respectable person they net
 Thanks! Are you coming?' 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 noe to marry you shall do something desperate! l would al- most prefer staying here alone. Oh, Max. would you, for once, take me straight home? And behave? You used to be nice when we were chn- dren."
 -'T won't propose, in the car, prom | ise. But l will not take you straight home-its too early-you and the moon are too dlvinely fair. l don't want to behave especially, but since I must I will. will vary the program by ask ing you not 'Wil you have meP but Why is 1t that you won't have meY Come%
 Finally she reached him her hand, but without excuse be suddenly took her in bis arms and lifted her to his car. For a few minutes they sped 1 along with the June breezes freshen- ing on their faces. At length he spoke frankly, quietly:
 Sylvia, let's talk 1t over. I may have annoyed you-I may have mado a fool of myself imploring you to be miue times innumerable, like a comic opera hero with the same old song. don't know how to say it many ways. It all comes to the same thing-mar- riage or not. But love you"
 It pleased hlm to be whimsical, and Sylvia laughed. It was a change from the dead serious, anyway. He was never modest about his real worth. He continued:
 q am lovable, too, with an affection ate disposition. What is the matter, Sylvia? Please tell me. l will not ask you again-in the carl promised and never again at all once see you do not love me. You have never hatly denied that, you know"
 He turned his face away that she might speak freely if she would Not that she had ever been embarrassed with him; he wished she had. At last she spoke:
 You bring this on yourself. don't feel polite. You always make me so irritable and unlovely. I want to fly when I see you coming. came out with the Burroughses to be rid of you and to save them from each others company. I can't tell you just why 1t is, but the sight of you makes me contrary, and I cannot say what you want me to"
 Speeding little more, he turned to ] her coolly.
 "You are never unlovely Sylvia. Just how do I irritate you"
 They gllded on through the soft dusk between the dark, sweet breath ing woods and lighter meadow lands, On and on they came, nearer the city, whose myriad lights seemed to flash toward them from the dim hills.
 And you make me think when I don't want to. It's like pushing some thing away that you do not want to come too close. simply don't seem to want to be married. Io- She stopped short.
 "Is that 1t? Of course you have to decide that What is 1t you do want in your life, Sylvia? To grow old alone? Your aunt won't always live. Do you want to earn your own living? Do you know of anything that would be a satisfactory substitute for mar rled love? Do you want to study some art or Q professlon-medicine, for in- stance? Do you want to be an old maid and remember that you had a lover who, man and boy, would do anythlng-dle for you, live for you and with you and give you what hap plness he could coax from the scheme of thlngs2 Don't I interest you? Must I lose my money or must l take sick and almost die or save somebody in some romantic stunt to make myself Interesting? I want to know where ,-, ,,-bot T com 1O vn ,yor ffrnd oP