St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1910-04-20
DOING SOMETHING
DESPERATE.
And After 1t Was Done Sylvia
Really Felt Contented.
BY JEANNE OLIVE LolzEAux.

Inc moonlight and hef 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 his wife had walked in, be-
ing due at an important function.
Your Sylvia's tone matched the
intention of her glance
Even l, Sylvia" he replied with
rueful grin. Fate is sometimes de-
cent. A fellow has to risk what well
come is coming to him."
lit was horrid of the BURROUGHS TO
send you, but they had to get to that
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. He
took both hand and pistol as she ex-
planned.
'Jack would leave it when 1 insist
ed on their going and sending back the
first respectable person they met
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 pistol. l can't trust you
Her tone was quite serious. Next
time you ask me to marry you l 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 chill
dren.''
II won't propose. in the car, 1 prom
Use. But l will not take you straight
home-it's too early-you and the moon
are too divinely fair. L don't want to
behave especially. but since l must
will. will vary the program by ask
ing you not Will you have me-? but
why is it that you won't have me?
Gomez"
Finally she reached him her hand,
but without excuse he suddenly took
her in his arms and lifted her to his
car. For a few minutes they sped
along with the June breezes freshen-
ing on their faces. At length he spoke
frankly, quietly:
Sylvia, let's talk it over. l may
have annoyed you'll may have made
a fool of myself imploring you to be
mine times innumerable, like a comic
opera hero with the same old song
don't know how to say it many ways.
1t all comes to the same thing-mar-
riage or not. But love you"
Sylvia laughed. 1t was a change from
the dead serious, anyway. He was
never modest about his real worth
He continued:
81 am lovable, too, with an affection
ate disposition. What is the matter
Sylvia? Please tell me. 1 will not
ask you again-in the carl promised
and never again at all once see you
do not love me. You have never fatty
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. l don't
feel polite. You always make me so
irritable and unlovely. I want to fly
when 1 see you coming. 1 came out
with the Burroughses to be rid of you
and to save them from each others
company. l can't tell you just why it
is, but the sight of you. makes me
contrary, and l cannot say what you
want me to-
Speeding little more, he turned to
her coolly.
"You are never unlovely, Sylvia.
Just how do 1 irritate you?''
They glided 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 l
don't want to. It's like pushing some
thing away that you do not want to
come too close. I simply don't seem to
want to be married. p She stopped
short.
SIS that it? Of course you have to
decide that. What is it you do want
in your life. Sylvia? To grow old
alone? Your aunt won't always live
y
Do you know of anything that would
be a satisfactory substitute for mar
ried love? Do you want to study some
art or a rofession-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
anything-die Tor you, live for you
and with you and give you what hap
piness he could coax from the scheme
of things? Don't 1 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
am, what 1 can do. Are you tired of
seeing me about? / might go away
few years Shall I?' She laughed at
his ridiculous, half practical. half SEN
timental vein so characteristic Of him.