Gilpin observer., 1912-08-22
the
Man Said


tance Of each other they were Instant
ly plunged into panicky, embarrassed
silence. 1t was such an assertive ST.
lence that 1t 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
er, 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-
ton 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 conversa-
tion without at least a little assist
ance.
While carefully tying his necktie
and brushing his coat preparatory to
calling on Millie. Ralph frequently fix
ed in his mind some joke with the in
tention of repeating it to Millie and
thus making himself appear perfectly
at ease and indeed a bit of 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 difldence, and would sit squirm-
ing in silence. with his lips as immov-
able as though padiocked.
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
"Fifteen-two," "A pair" Sequence Of
four" and the like had to them the
reassuring effect of brilliant repartee.
Occasionally these remarks so braced
them up that they smiled timidly,
feetingly at each other, thus making
their hearts thump tumultuously 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-
ficted them only when they were
with each other.
, When Ralph was seized by jealousy
at the sight of Millie talking to an
. other man he began to have an ink
ling Of how things stood with him.
. The thought of telling her that he
loved her sent him into cold chill
And the idea Of some other man max
, 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 to come. Still, IL he did, why
didn't he say SO?
Ralph did try once, deliberately. 1t
was just after he had said "Fifty-four''
i, one evening In their third game of
cribbage, and he hurried on without
taking breath. Before he realized 1t
3 he had said: Il want to tell you some
thing, Millie-I-er-think it's going
to be nice day tomorrow"
After this tremendous speech they
had both sat in electrified silence, not
J, daring to look at each other.
= "If that fellow wants to ask you tc
{ marry him, Millie,' said her father
who was blunt and impatient, "and II
he can't say it, why doesn't he sing
IT."
, Thereupon Mlllie wept and said tha,
her father had no sympathy and be
sides it was perfectly ridiculous to as
sumo that Ralph cared single thing
= about her!
The family always considerably de
q parted when Ralph arrived, so that nc
alien presence might distract him. but
o nothing ever happened. After all this
thoughtfulness. It seemed odd thai
, when Ralph finally made himself un
derstood to Mile It was in public.
q Mile and he had been to the thea
ter. In tho crowd coming out q mar
a touched his arm.
Your wife," said the man quite
= casually. handing over the article
dropped her handkerchief"
4 "Ah-thank you." stammered Ralph
;. In a perfect blaze Of Joy and hor
s ror Sh-she would hate to lose 1t
}. Thank you'll"
They walked on. not looking at eact
r other. Then suddenly Ralph squeex
( cd Miles arm that rested on his.
did you hear him?" he asked. "Ant
8 did you hear me? You can't go bacl
L -