The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1913-07-04
TAKEN AT HER
WORD
A Conspiracy That Was Emil
nently Successful.
BY JOANNA SINGLE.

~
%&%x4&xx4H4444 :
John Mason did not slam the gate
simply because he knew that this mani
festation OF rage would surely delight
Rosalie. She was watching his depar-
ture from the window. and he was an.
grily conscious that she knew lie
would, as usual. return In few DAYS,
although she had said she hoped she
would be rid Of him for awhile. She
was so young and so beautiful-and 80
provoking!
At the entrance to the little park. nl-
ready growing green I'm 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 so unlike
Rosalie's. Anne stepped in front OF
him and stopped him unceremoniously
Been rampled upon again!" she OBJ
served. John Mason. for SO clever u
man generally you're sometimes an aw.
ful-foolr' She submitted this thought.
fully. In a voice too gentle to be in
sulting.
Then you and Rosalie are agreed.
and, suppose you are expert testi-
mony. May I turn and walk with
your"
She nodded and then asked a 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-fool so often.
But don't you think she ought to give
me credit for my persistence. Not ev-
cry man proposes so many times-to
the same girl
Anne laughed dryly as he continued:
Il would have given up long ago il
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 I too
rich? l can give away the stuff IL she
likes. Am I too successful? l might
lose case to please her. Should be
as ugly as Satan? Perhaps she would
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 me-
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 to
be bit afraid Of you. She needs to he
bullied."
He frowned. II am not a brute. That
is not my way" 4
mo? Well. what has your way nc
complished!-
He tried to laugh. "Oh. I'll take your
advice. I'll do anything you say. 1t
can't be worse than it is now."
"Well. I hate the responsibility. II
you get her you'll fight. If you don't
you'll both be miserable anyhow. You
must get her-and then work out your
own salvation. In the first place. you
must give her a shock. Write her u
note and accept your dismissal. Tell
her you begin to see that she Is right
and that you wish to be friendly with
her and the family. Then call some
times-on the father or on me. Don't
stay away. Absences Of that sort are
fiattering. You must be quite unaf.
fected by her presence"
"You know that is impossible. You
know how the sight Of her.
you've got to do 1t! And you must
take another girl ont occasionally. Be-
ing naturally modest. / dislike to shg-
gest that you send me flowers some
times aud come for walk with me.
That will bring things home to her. A
girl hates to have an admirer transfer
himself bodily to any one. but espe-
cially to her sister"
When they had planned their cam
paign and he left Anne at the gate she
had him laughing. Rosalie saw them
and shrugged her shoulders. While
removing her hat 10 the hall Anne re-
marked to her sister:
"WelI. dear. John tells me that you
have dismissed him for good. You
know never would have intepfered II
you had wanted him, but an glad
yon do not. Now yon may find time
for your music. Your talent Ia too
marked to he neglected 1t will he a
relief for you to have him out Of the
way awhile. You're too young to leave
father and me. and. after all. Z think
you're right about his not being the