Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-01
BY DOROTHY DOUGLAS.
Copyright. 1914, by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.

lence born of interest and surprise
followed the exchange of the ring.
Henry Vincent laughed quickly and
shrugged his shoulders as If to dispel
any feeling of tragedy in the air.
"This is as good as one-act play
ut the Princess" said Sally Lund, for
the sake of saying something.
WELL. Enid added, still trying to
stifie the tremor, II knew that if
broke my engagement to Henry when
the house was dark, as 1t were, he
would talk me into letting it remain
WHOLE For a moment Ends voice
arose above it's ordinary soft pitch;
she looked squarely at Vincent. u
have not fiirted with every man who
has attracted me since | promised to
marry one man, and ] do not expect
to sit quietly by and let that one man
enjoy himself with every pretty face
he sees. l, too, shall fiirt now and
with every Tom, Dick and Harry il
I so choose, because / am free, free,
free!, She laughed unrestrainedly
and only she herself was aware of the
falsity of her merriment.
The crowd under the old apple tree
Joined her laughter. All but Vincent;
he alone sat with an inscruitable ex-
preston on his extraordinary good
hooking face.
well, this act seems to be over.
said Billy Langhorne. Come on
Enid, I want to be the hero in the
next act. Let's go down by the duck
pond and rehearse it, He drew the
girl to her feet. and tucking his arm
into hers, led her away.
Vincent followed the two with his
eyes and the inscrutable expression
covered his features like mask.
you can fiirt to your hearts con-
tent now, old boy" laughed Jimmy
Rogers
Vincent seemed not to have heard
him. He turned his unreadable face
toward Sally Lund.
WAS she altogether right?" he
asked her.
Sally did not pretend to misunder-
stand.
Yes she said. ENID was right
We have all talked about on your
flirting and had bets as to how long
Enid would stand it," Her express
sion was not unkind, as her gaze
fingered on Vincent. you see
Henry-we love Enid-all of us, and
we think her worthy of mans ems
tire affection"
For Ends jolly good fellow!'
and Jimmy Rogers then added quick
ly: "Give us a light, Vincent. This
broken engagement scene has given
me the humps l need a cheering
weed He drew cigar from his
pocket and took the mechanically
proffered light from Vincent. After
lighting 1t he strolled off toward the
direction of the duck pond.
Sally and Vincent, being left alone,
he again asked a question.
will she marry either Langhorne
Or Rogers--do you think?'
Il don't Know" returned Sally.
thoughtfuHy, they are both in love
with her and love begets love-so
often
still, Enid never does anything of
moment hurriedly," Vincent suggest
ed, and waited for confirmation of his
words.
But Sally made no comment. She
hardly knew the new Enid who had
at last taken the reins in her own
hands, and did not care to offer fur
Their opinion.
During the following six months
the small coterie of friends continued
to meet under the old apple tree. The
blossoms had developed into green
crabs, the crabs into apples with
cheeks. and still the broken engage
ment remained. Henry, Vincent and
Enid were as gay as the others, but
anose who knew Enid realized that
her heart was breaking slowly and
that the smile she gave so generously
was not from the inward being.
Vincent continued to fiirt with Alice
York, Bessie Vane, and in fact all
the girls of the village and to take
them to theatres in town or to the
beaches for a swim or for long drives
through the country.
The tide of his affection seemed
assuredly to have turned from Enid.
He was getting his portion of joy out
of the world as far as the beholder
could see.
1t was not until the apples were
red and rosy and many fallen to the
ground beneath the old tree that af-
fairs turned again toward the dra-
matte.
They. the five friends. were lolling
about in the cool of a September twi-
light, when Vincent looked suddenly
at Enid. His hand was in his vest
pocket. and he drew it out and held
out the ring Enid had returned to
him.
Dear he said. and the friends
drew swift breath. 81 want you to
wear this ring again. l have tried
out all the girls. have spent long
hours with the most attractive OF
them, and always--on the homeward
way / wearied of them and longed
only for the one woman whom 1 love
and always will love. If live the
appointed three score and ten / can
love just you, Enid. Won't you
marry me?" file looked only at the
slim girl beside him.
Sally Lund swallowed hard at the
lump In her throat. Billy Langhorne
twisted uneasily on the soft turf and
Jimmy Rogers tried his best to as
was NO reality in anything save the
bysterical tenseness that was ending
a. crisis that had been in the build
ing during six months.
Ends big startled eyes leapt
toward each of her friends, and in a
flash she saw the relief in each pair.
She knew that there was no outcome
save one and she did that which they
were waiting for. She turned swiftly
into the arms that closed tightly
about her. If sob shook her from
head to foot it was perhaps only
Vincent who knew 1t.
1.-THE tide seems to have turned, .
shouted Roger. unable longer to re-
press the emotion that had gripped
him.
Vincent smiled happily over Enid S
head and she looked up and offered
smile that came from the heart.
You two" said Sally Lund, had
better be married soon. none of US
can stand these dramatic sketches.
Our apple tree is not theatre
More like a sea of love- COM
fnented Langhorne, where the tide
Is ever changing
Never again." said Vincent, and
tiEktcEed his hold on Enid;