Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1913-03-20
WEEKLY SHORT STORY
TEMPORARILY ENGAGED.
BIZ Susanna GIenn.

Miss Van Doren. will you marry
me7" The young man looked at her
with strange indifference. considering
the question be asked.
Then. as she remained silent, be
suddenly wheeled about and took her
two hands ia his.
"Oh. see here. this isn't fair TO you,
! know what you are going 70 say. and
IL simply shifts the responsibility TO
your shoulders. But, you see. they
wheedlcd me into a promise that ]
would ask you. on the grounds that q
was a personal slight not TO 60 SO
under the circumstances. Now that 1
have asked you, and you nave said
"
NO" she supplanted. with a frank
smile.
why. It simply leaves the whole
blame with me. Believe me, I did not
see that side Of IL when 1 spoke. Miss
Van Doren"
Il am sure you did not"
Il cannot understand why parents
need interfere i'm these matters." he
added gloOnily, neglecting TO release
the hands he held. Eve are mere
strangers 10 each other. How can
they expect us TO consider such a
proposition ?"
Resides answered the girl very
gently, there Is another mani"
"By Jove, do you mean ftp cried
Leon HalcOtt. crushing her hands IN a
sudden friendly grasp. "Why. TO tell
you the truth. there IS a girl. too
That was what made II seem so i'm
possible. But IL we tell them this.
therell be no end OF a rowi"
D
Van Doren with a troubled frown, as
she gently drew away her hands.
f'You've no idea how determined ms
father can be when ne chooses"
Halcott moved two chairs out OF the
arbor. and they sat down IN silence.
'See here" he said at last. leaning
toward her, where is this young
mann"
Europe" she answered laconically
same with the girl he nodded
There IS no definite tanding?"
The girl shook her head
This being The case" he continued
I've thought Of a plan. Suppose We
/. become engaged IL VIII satisfy the
heads of the house. Then, when the
Others return, we viii simultaneously
discover our mistake. and break the
engagement They cannot then say We
insist upon lifetime OF unhappiness
for us"
You are sure 70 viii be all righte"
What can be wrong2 Engagements
are broken every day. We Will reQucs.
that this be kept n family affair for "a
few weeks
III we simply kick out from the
start without giving their plan a trial.
an angel with golden halo would not
satisfy them. and Wen simply be put
ting ourselves In for no end OF trouble.
We have 20 spend the summer here to-
gether, and we may as we'll spond Il
engaged
very we'll" agreed the girl. rising
we are engaged There now remains
20 you the ordeal OF 'acking papar"
But surely YOU are not going IN
Miss Dorisl Wouldn't that be rather
remarkable under the circumstances
and on such an evening" We Will walk
in the garden, II You Will. and then go
In and break the news"
The moonlit garden was a midsum.
mer dream, and they loitercd In
definitely. Then they went back 20 the
lighted house 20 receive their bless
ing"
At the foot OF the stairs. Halcot
kissed her fingers as he babe her goot
night For tho special benefit of IN,
Y family" he murmurcd.
Next evening he asked her again q
walk in the garden. Beneath the Sc
cluded arbor, he drew from his pocke
little box. and something sparkled II
the moonlight
At the girls explanation OF astonish
nent he said with the slightest hint O
injury:
But surely yon expected me 10 Civ
YOU Il ring, Doris"
1T seems very strange" she IN
sisted. But she let him slip the rim
on her finger without further protest
The delightful summer days slippe
Npast. Each morning the man and cir
n walked or rode or motored together
y Each afternoon they dutifully perform