The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1915-01-01

lifted his right nan0 u So'-
emily made VOW.
Never again-never again." he
promised savagely-'never again will
/ ask Irma Wade to marry me"
Indy had pursued the beautiful
Miss Wade for upward Of a year, ana
three times had he proposed to her
and had been refused.
II am afraid it Is merely a habit you
have contracted" she told him the last
time.
..Then it's a habit I'll break!" he
flashed grimly. and now be was doing 1t.
The year was still young when he
sat beside lrma at a dinner party.
do you believe in New Years reso-
lutions:" she asked.
Indy Redeemed and eyed her keenly.
II never made but one." he ad-
mitted.
You will tell me If you are success
full in keeping that one?"
YES" he smiled ironically-"on New
Years eve"
Months passed and Indy Folsom
saw very little Of Miss Wade. To bis
surprise lrma did not avoid him as In
the past. but appeared almost eager to
renew their friendship upon old terms.
Indy tried to interest himself In
other girls just as charming as 1rma
Webb. hut his attempt was a failure.
"Hang it all!' he growled one day.
81 can't help staying in love with her.
but 1 can and will keep that resolu-
ton not to propose to her again."
Summer waned and autumn flung a
gorgeous cloak Of crimson and gold
over the countryside.
One day in late October he was rid
ing in the park.
Down a leefy tunnel of golden ma
pies came the sound Of runaway
hoofs. Around a bend in the bride
path flashed a black mare. and cling
ing to the foam f]ecked neck was Irma
Webb. a matchless horsewoman. Lind
~ snatched at the flying bride rein.
caught it. dragged the animal to a
standstill and received in his strong
arms Irma's half fainting form. The
smile on her lovely lips tempted him
almost beyond his strength.
II promised myself" he reminded.
and his hold slackened Is he allowed
the girl to slip to her feet. She leaned
against his arm. and her face suddenly
went very white.
II will call q taxi and accompany
you home." said Indy. .
''Please call the taxi and then send
my mare home. 1 am perfectly able
to go home alone. l I'M sorry that you
have been troubled. Mr.. Folsom" she
said gravely.
Il shall call this evening to inquire
after you" said Indy when he put
her into the taxicab. 49,.
IL shall be glad to e you" she said
softly.
Indy took her smile and look and
tone home with him. All day he saw
them-at his Office. at dinner and later
when he chose to walk up the avenue
toward the Wade mansion.
lrma. charmingly sweet and girlish
in a pale ose colored gown. thanked
him prettily for his heroic rescue Of
the morning. and Mrs. Wade. with
whom Folsom had always been a ia
vorite. added her appreciation to that
OF her daughter. He was stirred to the
very point Of throwing his resolution
aside. 81
But he set his lips grimly. and the
words were unuttered. He took leave
hurriedly and did not see her again
until the very last day Of December.
The Wades giving a fancy dress
bali. and the guests were to dance the
old year out and the new one in.
Indy Folsom. dressed as a cavalier.
loOked unusually handsome in his o 8
tune of peach colored satin with pow
dered hair and lace rufles. lrma was
a Quaker maiden.
"Y0u have not forgotten" she asked
him once when they were dancing TO-
gether.
THAT l was to tell you the result Of
my New Years resolution"
Yes. When the clocks chime in the
new year you must make confession"
Il will. That will be about supper
time. May I have that dancer"
Irma gave him her card. and he
scrubbed his name there. Then. he
gave her into the hands Of another
partner and went away to . by
himself in the conservatory.
He was dissatisfied with himself.
The year was ended. and hc vas as
deeply in love with Trina as ever. Yet
he dared not believe that, she cared for
him.
So long did he sit there that he quite
forgot the flying moments until Irma
herself came into the conservatory
alone.
.'Oh. you are here!" she cried. II
have searched everywhere for you. Sir
Cavalier. began to suspect that you
were trying to avoid confession"
II have been thinking" he said
gloomily as he placed a chair for her
in u secluded nook by the goldfish pool.
Zone is prone to mediate at the
close Of the year. wondering If the best
mas been made of tiff one has done
all the possible good in ones power
has grasped all the happiness offered.