The Dolores star., 1920-10-15
SYLvIA'S WANTS
BY ELIZABETH 3. DAY.

almost overcome
Sylvia. the talented, brilliant, popu-
lar gfri. with half the young men in
town ciHmorins for even one evening
of her company. accepting Tom Train
or the moderate. determined young
bank clerk with moderate salary and
very moderate prospects for the fu-
ture. Truly it was amazing II had
taken Tom three years to summon SUI.
ncient courage 10 propose, and now
he wondered for a moment why he
had not done 1t before
Too well he kuewl His limited cir.
CutnstanCes had at one time seemed
an insurmountable barrier between
them; but now that he had saved
little and was getting on better ut the
bank he had mustered the necessary
courage to pop" the question.
Yes, and wen have church wed
ding and six bridesmaids and all the
'tNin's.' and. Tom. | know dear lit.
tie house I'd like to live In. brand new
and only $1,000 There's a duck of
garage where we can keep our own
little car, for well surely have one
won't We, dear? And. Tom. saw
living room suite In town the other
day for $3.50, and a solid mahogany
set for only Sl,2O0 You see, dear
| sort Of had Il hunch you'd ask me
soon so I've been scouting around, for
| am firm believer In preparedness
you know"
Tom was beginning to have
N In, a
tions. Now, Tom thought he had sized
Sylvia up better than that He knew
her father was very well off, though
not wealthy; that they had ''tliv
YER" as did almost everyone in the
thrifty little town, but where had Syl-
via acquired such eXtravagant tastes
Oh, but he had been fool TO dream OF
winning her and keeping her He had
won her, but how about keeping herr
Was she. after all. like some other
emptyheaded 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 $1,000
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 mistaking his ST.
lence for bliss, was chattering on hap
ply about "ducky" kitchen cabinet
and ireless 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.
"Sylvla" he began, miserably.
"ies?" with some asperity.
81 love you" finished Tom lamely.
"Of course you do. dear, and love
you TO distraction, and that is why
can hardly wait for all the lovely
things we are going to get together"
So that was IT. she loved him not
for himself alone.
sylvia" he began again. and then
ropped. Then a courage came to him
4 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 minute, Sylvia.
never inteded to misrepresent things
but | surely must have If you think
| can afford TO buy a $4,000 house
several thousand dollars worth OF
furniture, a car and all that sort of
thing I've tried to save and thought
had n 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
20 start at the bottom of the ladder
and climb up with me, but guess
made mistake.
"Im sorry, Sylvia, but ! can't ex
uect you to marry me, for you'd never
ne happy on a salary of $500 and II
Dank account of $4,000, out of which
we'd have to buy furniture and ge'
started"
SSINld WIS sllfDl. vi, II size Nou'l
only say omething-anything to break
the awful silence. Tom could not
look at her; he felt weak and shaky
and thoroughly miserable.
TON, dear. said Sylvia, smuggling
close.
Don't" he begged, moving away
from her, don't make 1t any harder
lear"
Sylvia sat up very straight.
Every well. then. I've listened to
you often and now you must listen to
me.
TON, you're not the first man who
has proposed to me; In fact, you're
the third right here in this town. III
not tell you their names because thai
would be unfair told ench of them