The Yale expositor., 1918-02-28
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breath.
'Tll answer it now" she replied. 81
can't come"
won't you be sensible, Madeline?'
he pleaded. you know want you
to come, don't your
ayes, l think you do-now."
"Then why won't your"
Because / think that two weeks
me-"
"That's nonsense. You know it Is"
Madeline Gilman shook her head.
sit isn't nonsense. Let's look at this
thing fairly, Hal. A month ago you
came up here In the mountains to rest
from too many dances. You didn't ex-
pect to find anybody but lot of farm
ers, and when you discovered me here,
the simple fact that I'm not altogether
farmer was such a surprise that you
haven't quite gotten over II. Com
pared to the ordinary run Of farm
girls, perhaps, am something of re-
lief, but as soon as you get back home
and see the girls you're accustomed to
you'll forget all about me-"
"Then you won't conner"
II guess not, Hal. I'm all right up
here, where an assembly ball is
thing unknown; but down In Ridge
field, with Its country club and after
noon teas, I'd be out of place. You'll
like me better II I don't go to the
assembly"
For a moment, Hal Shepard was ST.
lent. 1t occurred to him that posi-
bly, the girl beside him was right. Com
ing TO the little mountain village
month ago, he had been pleasantly
surprised to find her. They had been
together almost continually, and the
freshness of her viewpoint, her lack
of affection, had appealed to him no
less than the blue of her eyes and the
rose tint of her cheeks. The Gilmans
had lived in Mountville for three gen.
erations; comfortably fixed, they had
reaped the harvest season after sea-
son, and had pursued the even tenor
of their ways.
"Tm sorry you won't come" he
said. II was hoping that you'd change
your mind the last minute"
"No," she answered. "Pve thought
1t all out"
"Do you mind singing just once be-
fore I leave for home"
"Of course not"
They made their way together to
the cozy house on the top of the hill.
After she had seated herself at the
piano Madeline looked up inquiringly.
"What shall / singf" she asked.
Forgotten"
Hal thrilled just bit as the words
Of what they had designated their
song broke softly from the girls lips.
eff counting each moment of longing
Till the time when see you again.
If this be forgetting, you're right,
dear,
And I have forgotten you then"
When the last notes died away, Hal
looked directly at the girl beside him.
"Tll never forget you" he said rath-
er huskily.
For the next two weeks it seemed
as If he couldn't forget her for single
minute. The Friday night dances at
the Country club were soulless af-
fairs. Even the presence of coun-
try-famed orchestra failed to arouse
his enthusiasm. The girls whom he
had once considered "good sports"
failed to amuse him.
The night before the assembly he
took supper with his sister, who
preached the subject of the dance.
"Do you know that Cynthia Thomp-
son hasn't been invitedr she asked.
"How is thatr
81 couldn't say; 1t just happened
that way. Maybe she'd go with you If
you should ask her."
maybe she would" Hal manifest
ed but little enthusiasm, but his sis
ter, anxious to do a good turn to Gym
thia, ventured a suggestion.
"Why don't you call her up?" she
asked.
For a moment Hal hesitated. "May-
be / WILL" he said. Hal turned to the
phone. But the number he called was
"Mountville 420R." When Madeline,
who had answered the call, recovered
from her surprise, he Informed her
gently but firmly that he had decided
that he didn't want to go to the as
sembly ball without her, and so he
wasn't going at all.
I'm coming up to Mountville In
stead" he continued. II can get the
three o'clock train Friday and reach
there at eight-thirty. And then I
want to ask you a question"
But he didn't tell her what the ques-
don was until he had climbed down
from the rickety stage and had seen
the light Of welcome In her eyes.
And then, after she had answered
In the affirmative, he made his way
hesitatingly into the dining room and
stated his case before her father. And
Mr.. Gilman, honest farmer that he
was, looked fairly into Halls eyes, and
was satisfied.