Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1920-07-23
SYLWA'S WANTS
BY ELIZABETH q. DAY.
Dc. Eco. 0y Meclure Newsraper synaleats.

"Yes, Tom I'll marry YOU" con-
sented Sylvia so readily that Tom was
almost overcome.
Sylvia, the talented, brilliant, popu-
lar girl, with half the young men in
town clamoring for even one evening
of her company, accepting Tom Train
or, the moderate, determined young
bank clerk with a moderate salary and
very moderate prospects for the fu-
ture. Truly 1t was amazingl 1t had
taken Tom three years to summon suf-
ficient courage to propose and now
he wondered for a moment why he
had not done ii before.
Too well he knew His limited cir
cumstances had at one time seemed
an insurmountable barrier between
them but now that he had saved
little and was getting on better at the
bank he had mustered the necessary
courage to pop" the question.
Eyes, and we'll have a church we'd
ding and six bridesmaids and all the
'fixin's and, Tom, l know a dear lit
tie house I'd like to live in, brand new,
and only $4,000. There's a duck Of
garage where we can keep our own
little car, for Wen surely have one,
won't we, dear? And, Tom, l saw
living room suite in town the other
day for $3.50, and a solid mahogany
set for only $1,000 You see. dear,
l sort of had a 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-
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 a civ
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 her?
Was she, after all, like some other
empty-headed girls he knew. with
aspirations for a rich husband? Surely
he had never lived in 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 mstaking his ST.
lence for bliss, was chattering on hap
PLY about a "ducky" kitchen cabinet
and tireless 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.
LEST Will SOtle uSDpTIlNs
81 love you" finished Tom lamely.
"Of course you do, dear, and I'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
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 inteded to misrepresent things,
can afford to buy a $4,000 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 I heard
your wants. didn't realize girls need
ed so much to make them happy. I
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 l can't ex-
pect you to marry me, for you'd never
be happy on salary of $500 and a
bank account of $4,000 out of which
we'd have to buy furniture and get
started"
Sylvia was silent. Oh, if she would
only say somethlng-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 1t any harder.
dear"
Sylvia sat up very straight.
"Very we'll, then. I've listened to
you often and now you must listen to
me.
Tom, you're not the first man who