Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1920-07-28
SYLWA'S WANTS
BY ELIZABETH 3. DAY.
W i9lo. y Meclars. Nsrarnner srn1,e.1.


almost overcome.
Sylvia, the talented, brilliant. ponu-
Jar girl, with half the young men n
town clamoring for even one EVENING
OF her company, accepting Tom Train
or the moderate, determined younp
oank clerk with moderate salary and
very moderate prospects FOR the flu
lure. Truly 1t was amazingl II had
taken Tom three years 70 summon sue.
heient courage TO propose. and now
ne wondered for moment why he
had not done II before.
Too well he knewi His limited cir.
curnstances had at one time seemed
an nsurmountahle barrier between
them; but now that he had saved n
little and was getting on better at the
bank he had mustered the necessary
courage 10 pop" the question.
Yes. and Wen have a church we'd
ding and six bridesmaids and all the
nxin's.' and. Tom. I know dear lit
tie house I'd like TO live in, brand new,
and only $4,000. There's duck of
garage where we can keep our own
little car, for Wen surely have one,
won't We, dearf And. Tom, saw a
living room suite In town the other
day for $3.50, and n solid mahogany
set for only $500 You see. dear.
! sort of had bunch you'd ask me
soon. so I've been scouting around. for
! am firm believer In preparedness,
you know"
Tom was beginning to have
lunches In several different direc-
tons Now, Tom thought he had sized
Sylvia up better than that. He knew
her father was very well or though
not wealthy; that they had a "fiv-
yer" as did almost everyone In the
thrifty little town, but where had Syl-
via acquired such extravagant tastes?
Oh, hutrhe had been fool 10 dream of
winning her and keeping her. He had
won her. but how about keeping herr
Was she, after all. like some other
empty headed girls he knew, with
aspirations for a rich husband? Surely
he had never lived In a manner that
would cause Sylvia TO believe that he
had money.
Miserably he thought Of the $4,000
he had managed TO save, at no small
sacrifice. either. Well, he was DOOM
ed TO be an old bachelor, for he never
could love anyone but Sylvia. He
was disappointed in her, TO be sure.
for he had believed her the sincerest,
truest type of womanhood, but he
loved her none the less for his dis
appointment.
Sylvia, apparently mlstaking his ST.
Ience for bliss. was chattering on hap
PLY about a "ducky" kitchen cabinet
and fireless cooker and no end Of alu-
minum ware. the purchase OF which
would mean bankruptcy for Tom
He must speak. he must tell her
that all these things could not be, for
years and years anyway, and probably
never.
sylvia" he began, miserably.
"Yesf" with some asperity.
Il love you." finished Tom lamely.
"Of course you do. dear. and | love
you 10 distraction. and that Is why |
can hardly wait for all the lovely
things we are going to get together"
So that was 1t; she loved him not
for himself alone.
sylvia" he began again, and then
stopped. Then courage came to him,
a courage he had not thought possible.
II was clear that he must speak.
He did not try TO take her hand or
even TO look at her. Gripping his
knuckles together. he plunged.
Listen, Just a minute, Sylvia.
never lnteded to misrepresent things.
but surely must have II you think
| can afford TO buy $1,000 house,
several Thousand dollars worth of
furniture, car and all that sort of
thing. I've tried to save, and thought
| had tidy little sum until | heard
your wants. didn't realize girls need
ed so much TO make them happy.
somehow thought you loved me enough
TO start at the bottom OF the ladder
and climb up with me, but l guess
made a mistake.
"I'm sorry. Sylvia, but can't ex-
peet you TO marry me- for you'd never
be happy on salary Of $500 and
bank account Of $1,000, out of which
we'd have to buy furniture and get
started"
Sylvia was silent. Oh, II she would
only say something-anything TO break
the awful silence Tom could not
look at her; he felt weak and shaky
and thoroughly miserable.
Tom. dear" said Sylvia, smuggling
close.
Don't" he begged, moving away
from her, "don't make II any harder.
dear"
Sylvia sat up very straight.
very well, then. I've listened TO
you often and now you must listen TO
me.
tom, you're not the first man who
has proposed TO me; in fact, you're
- .htuA -t,,hf hara in this fnurn I'M