Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1912-08-28
What the
Man Said

whenever Mile haSper and Ralph
Waters approached within Mailing dis
lance of each other they were Instant
ly plunged into panicky, embarrassed
silence. 1t was such an assertive ST.
lence that it drew the attention OF
everyone within sight. The knowledge
of this added to the misery of the two
principals.
1t was remarkable that two persons
who were so shy should have fallen in
love with each other. Not that they
precisely knew they were in love. They
merely realized that it was impossible
for them to stay away from each 9TH
err, and that it was an agony to be in
each others presence. They suffered
because they never had anything to
say TO each other
Sometimes Mile in sheer despera-
tion would carefully rehearse a con-
versation for the next time she saw
Ralph, but II she remembered her
part Ralph, of course, was not aware
of the part she had assigned to him,
and nobody can carry on a conversa-
ton without at least a little assist
ance.
While carefully tying his necktie
and brushing his coat preparatory to
calling on Mile. Ralph frequently fix
ed in his mind some joke with the in
tention of repeating il 10 Millie and
thus making himself appear perfectly
at ease and indeed a bit of a wag. All
the while he was laying these plans
he had the hideous certainty in the
bottom of his soul that when he ar
rived at Miles he would be seized.
bound and gagged by his unconquer-
able difiidence, and would sit squirm-
ing in silence. with his lips as immov-
able as though padlocked.
1t is impossible for two persons.
however shy, to sit staring at each
other in silence for two or three hours
at time. So it had grown to be the
habit of these two to play two-handed
cribbage. The necessary remarks of
"Filteen-two," "A pair" Sequence or
four" and the like had to them the
reassuring effect of brilliant repartee
Occasionally these remarks so braced
them up that they smiled timidly.
heetingly at each other, thus making
their hearts thump unanimously and
hopelessly confusing their game.
The exasperating part OF it was that
they were not troubled in this way by
the presence of other people. Neither
of them was vivacious, yet they found
not the slightest difficulty in express
ing their thoughts TO others when it
was necessary. The pail of silence af-
fiictod hem only when they were
with each other.
n Nhen Ralph was seized by jealousy
- the sight of Mile talking to an
her man he began to have an ink
Ing of how things stood with him.
|Ihe thought of telling her that he
flowed her sent him into a cold chill.
And the idea of some other man maxi
ing love to her successfully gave him
another chill. Altogether he was very
unhappy.
There were times when Millie
thought darkly of the situation and
decided that Ralph cared nothing for
her except as mere friend, yet when
she weighed against this decision the
fact that he called four or five times a
week and endured the anguish of their
unconventional evenings her melan-
choly conviction was shaken. He must
like 10 come. Still, if he did, why
didn't he say so?
RALPH did try once, deliberately. 1t
was just after he had said "Fifty-four"
one evening in their third game of
cribbage, and he hurried on without
taking breath. Before he realized il
ne had said: Il want to tell you some
thing, Millie-I-er-think it's going
to be a nice day tomorrow"
After this tremendous speech they
had both sat in electrified silence. not
daring to look at each other
IF that fellow wants to ask you to
marry him. Millie," said her father.
who was blunt and impatient, and if
he can't say it, why doesn't he sing
it?"
Thereupon Milile wept and said that
her lather had no sympathy and be-
sides 1t was perfectly ridiculous to as
sumo that Ralph cared a single thing
about her!
The family always considerably de-
parted when Ralph arrived, so that no
alien presence might distract him. but
nothing ever happened. After all this
thoughtfulness. it seemed odd that
when Ralph finally made himself un-
derstood to Mile 1t was in public.
Mile and he had been to the thea
ter. In the crowd coming out a man
touched his arm.
Your wife," said the man quite
casually, handing over the artisle.
dropped her handkerchief"
"Ah-thank YOU" stammered Ralph
In perfect blaze of joy and hor