The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-10-08
TAKEN AT her
WORD
A Conspiracy That Was Emi.
nentIy Successful.
BY JOANNA SINGLE.

John Mason did not slam the gate
simply because he knew that this mani
festation of rage would surely delight
Rosnle She was watching his depar-
ture from the window. and he was an.
grily conscious that she knew he
would, as usual, return in q few days,
although she had said she hoped she
would be rid of him for awhile. She
was so young and SO beautlful-and so
provoking!
At the entrance to the little park. al
ready growing green In the April sun.
he met her sister. He did not know
Anne very well-he had been too busy
with Rosalie. He wished now that he
had made friends with her; her blue
eyes were SO like and still 80 unlike
Rosalie's. Anne stepped in front Of
him and stopped him unceremon!ously.
"Been trampled upon again" she OBJ
served. John Mason, for SO clever a
man generally you're sometimes IN aw.
ful--foolr' She submitted this thought.
fully, in q voice too gentle to be in
sulting.
"Then you and Rosalie are agreed,
and | suppose you are expert testi-
mony. May ! turn and walk with
your
She nodded md then asked matter
of fact question, How many times
has she refused your"
II had not thought to keep count
Rosalie just now informed me that this
was the last time didn't know had
been the same sort of-fo0l so often.
But don't you think she ought to give
me credit for my persistence. Not ev.
cry man proposes 30 many times--to
the same girl"
Anne laughed dryly as he continued:
~ would have given up long ago II
/ were not unexplainably sure that she
does care for me. In fact, she never
has said directly that she does not. She
simply says she won't marry me.
What's the matter with me? Am too
rich? can give away the stun II she
likes. Am too successful might
lose case to please her. should be
as ugly us Satan? Perhaps she woul
like beauty and the beast effect!
What does she want? I've said and
done everything under heaven, and she
walks on me--she trails mey'
precisely! That's why l called you
what ! did. A girl likes to trail a
man. but hates the man that will be
trailed Not logical, is It? To use her
own words. you are always around,
underfoot. You give her no time to
want you or miss, you or think about
you. She's too sure Of you. She
knows just where you'll be. You never
let her want anything bad enough to
appreciate 1t when 1t comes. She has
always had her own way. She needs ia
be n bit afraid Of you. She needs to be
bullied."
He frowned. II am not brute. That
In not my way."
'No? Well. what has your way &C
complishedY
He tried to laugh. "Oh, III take your
advice IN do anything you say. II
can't be worse than 1t is now"
"Well. ! hate the responsibility. II
/ you get her you'll fight. II you dom
you'll both be miserable anyhow. You
must get her--and then work out y0ul
own salvation. In the first place, yOr
must give her u shock. Write her q
note and accept your dismissal. Tel
her you begin to see that she IL righl
and thut you wish to be friendly with
her and the family. Then call some
times on the father or on me. DOM
stay AWAY. Absences OF that sort art
hattering. You must be quite unaf
fected by her presence"
"YOu know that IL impossible. 70,
know how the sight OF her.
"NOuve got to do 1t! And you must
take another girl out occasionally. Be
ing naturally modest. I dislike to sug
gest that you send me- flowers some
times aud come for walk with me
That will bring things home to her.
girl hates to have an admirer transfer
himself bodily to any one, but espe
cially to her sister"
When they had planned their cam
palgn and he left Anne ut the gate sht
had him laughing Rosalie saw then
aud shrugged her shoulders. While
removing her hat In the hall Anne re
marked to her sister:
"Well. dear. John tells me that, 20,
have dismissed him for good. 70,
know ! never would have ifiterfered u
you had wanted him. but am glat
you do not. Now yon may 6nd tim'
for your music. Your talent Ia tot
marked to be neglected. Il will be ,
relief for you to have him ont Of tn,
way awhile. You're too young to leave
father and me. and, after all, I thinl
you're right about HIS not being tn
right mnn for YOU"
RosalIe shrugged her shoulders.
The next 6ay Rosnlie. without com
nent. handed Anne this note;
Dear Miss Carieton-i want TO than
you for your frankness OF yesterday. an,
l assure You that l shall not annoy yo,
again as | have In the past. Can you for
give me Tor having troubled you no muc
and so IongY You are probably right Il
decidinR that I could not make you hap
py. as | no,,ed To be able to do May
| hope 10 continue my present friendly "a