Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1919-01-16
The
Seventh Day
BY JULIA RICHARDSON

or The usual porch squad of people, and
dropped into chair-comfortabe, but
far from the madding crowd. Sever
times he had repeated these motions
with the same dejectedness, the same
absent-minded manner. the same weary
dropping into chair.
Immediately afterward, the heads OF
the rocker brigade would meet and the
buzz of whispering voices arise, some
sympathetic, some mildly angered
Scraps IF sentences drifted to Dawes
ears, such as, Too bad Poor fellow.
1t must have been her fault" n
wonder what the quarrel was about
anyway Some maintained that II
was not her fault, but his fault. David
tried to remember their names for fu-
ture reference.
In the meantime, on this seventh
day, Dave lit cigarette and stared
modify out over the sea and sky,
spread lavishly before him as If to
console him with their beauty. For Il
time, the poetic half of his nature re-
sponded enough to isolate him from
his disturbing thoughts. The sky was
like turquoise, he thought, the sea like
sapphire, the clouds and foam were
pearls--but at this point his mind wan
dered to engagements
girls-one girl in particular. And he
was back again in the world of his
troubles. For the seventh time Dave
reviewed the chain of events. Two
weSs~ ago he had come TO spend Il
month AT the quiet summer resort in
Maine TO be near Carol Thatcher, his
tiancee, before he left for the South
ern training camp.
The first week had been Elysium.
Utopia, and heaven all combined.
Every night marked the end of per-
feet day. Bathing, boating fishing,
walking on soft grass or cool pine
needles or luxuriant white sand, not
on hot payings or coblestones. And
then-One day he was to meet Carol in
their favorite spot a large, cleared
spot in the woods called the Cathedral,
pines and spruces for pillars. As he
approached the place, he heard voices,
one masculine, the other Carols. Dave
could not be seen through the thick
growth of trees
The masculine voice said "Then
am to have the pleasure of marrying
you?"
Carols laugh rang out you certain
ly are If have my way about it, John,
you old dear Why, I've planned 1t for
the last four years. ever since you en-
tered, you know"
Dave did not quite understand the
sufficient. He thought he understood
that perfectly. Waiting to hear no
more, he turned abruptly and made his
way back to the road.
That evening belboy had given
him small package and a note. the
package containing Carols diamond,
the note Il frigid one To Mr.. Stirling,
saying that his unexplained failure TO
keep the appointment that afternoon
seemed to the writer sufficient reason
for disseminating their betrothal
"a mere alihi," muttered David.
"She wants to be free for the other
man. of course Thus began his
gloomy days on the porch, preceded by
a brisk walk or swim every morning.
Carol had been playing with him, evil
IDENTIFY for the sake of the good times,
his companionship- and of course, the
diamond. All the while for four years
she had loved this other man John,
curse hint Dave was through with
women-abSolutel
During the week the two avoided
each other persistently, fact soon
noticed an recorded in the porch am
nails. Carol, just to show that she did
not care, flirted outrageously with
young and old alike.
David left the hotel rather early,
taking longer route to avoid meet
Ing anyone he knew As he entered
The Cathedral from one path figure
in white entered on the opposite side
II was Carol.
Good evening, she said coldly.
Good evening" replied David in the
same tome. ALLOW me 10 congratulate
ynu on your coming marriage It
was tho hast thing he had intended to
SAY. hut IN his confusion the words
we're spoken. Carols eyes opened
Wide. I'm sure ] don't know what
you mean, MIR Stirling She replied,
trying H. appear casual and indiffer-
emit This was the first time the two
had been together for whole week
moreover the moon was shining The
setting ideal for romance. What each
wanted most was 70 fly into each 9th
er's arms. But they had quarreled-
hence the brave attempt at distant
formality.
So David explained AS he ex-
planned. Carols eyes grew happier and
happier, merrier and merrier until
they twinBled with laughter.
David, you goose, DO you know who
that was? John WAS John Flockton.
an old playmate Of mine -Four years
ago he entered d school Of theology
and nos he's a fuIl-hedsed minister
inst received his degree. He's stop
ping few miles from here and had