The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-12-28
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Broken Resolutions
BY JANE OSBORN.

Ing with MS shirt cullb udb.
Cling. Moreover he had watched
the old year out and the new year
ii at his young sisters party and
had promised to go skating With the
crowd" by in the morning. The
meant an 8 o'clock breakfast He
was not In cheerful frame OF
mind.
What in thunder 40 yOu mean
by swiping my cuff buttons. Peg
gy?" he said 10 his sister. who was
already at the table pairing an APP
nile with aniable precision. Look.
He held up dangling shirt CUTS
Only this" cooed Peggy, who
was eighteen and uncommonly
pretty. She held up her hands.
showing the cuffs Of . blouse OF
masculine cut. u needed them.
dearie, so before you we're awake
came in and got them. Don't be
hutiy, sweetheart, It's New Year :
day"
well. you needn't ne 20 absurd
ly good.natured, growled Bon.
You're not usually SO pie sweet
this time in the morning.
no, dearest" SAID Peggy. "Bu:
it's New Years lay and I've made
some resolutions. Ones to be very
Eood.natured And I'm beginning
on you. have made out some for
you, too" she added drawing
very small piece of Taper from the
strap OF her wrist watch. = knew
you wouldn't make any for you:.
self. Here"
Tom read in very small. rattle"
childish writing. these resolutions
Thought by his little sists~ to cover
his besetting sins:
Not to nIrt
Not to be scrappy-"'rhat's be-
cause you punched Peter when you
caught him kissing me" OK
planned Peggy,
Not TO be late for dinuer-"I' an
noy3 cook so"
Not to be hogS.sh-rhis had spe-
cial reference To neckties, fountain
pens, cuff buttons. etc
Not to be engaged before 1924.
Because unattached men are
scarce and we need YOU in the
bunch to piece out with when the
regular men are away"
And I'm not regular man :?
said Bob.
'oh, Bobby" cooed Peggy 4
didn't mean II that way meant
when the boys in the crowd weren't
here. or course the Eirls like you
hut you're so old" Bob was all OF
twenty-five. Bobby dear" re-
sumod Peggy. rive asked some of
tic girls to cone in this evening 10
practice new dance step. We're
man short. That is we are girl
extra. Sally's bringing her cousin,
You'll come, won't YOU"
Fob looked over the list Of reso.
lutions Pesgy had made out to-
him. several times while he ate. and
before he left the house that morn
Ing he had promised Peggy TO keep
them. that IS. II he could.
R6b's Eocial engagement In his
own and bis sisters set kept him
until darkness had begun 10 settle.
But, as he reflected, it WAS only
half past 5, and with half an hour
10 get home and dinner ut half past
6, he would be in good time for
dinner. He could boast to Peggy
that he had kept all his resolutions
at least for the day.
He was aware OF the fact that
there Was.a young woman walking
hurriedly beside man, on the on
posite side Of the street. but he did
not give the matter much notice
even when they stopped in an ar
parent argument Then he saw the
young woman quickly cross the
street. She waved her hand and
why, Marmaduke. dear, how glad
am TO see you!" H. seemed to Tom
as Il in all his lie he had never seen
any girl look go entirely charmed
to clan eyes on him. yet he was surc
from the first that he did not know
the young woman. She was shak-
Ing hands with him and looking
archly, almost ardently. it seemed
to Tom, from eyes very deep and
tender. It was too dark to see just
what color they we're. He didn
know her, and Tom felt that she
knew he did not: still II she wanted
to pretend that she did, whal harm
Tom remembered the first Teso-
luton given by Peggy. mot to
flirt." There would have been sat
isfaction in keeping them all, hut
still greater satisfaction in becom
ing acquainted without an introdmc.
ton with a girl OF such apparent
charm.
Il thought It was you, Marina
duke" she said walking beside him
and laughing goyly. "OF course, you
we're on your way to your house.
we half expected you but ! didn't
know you would come this way" It
seemed to Tom that the girl was
talking vcry icudly. 'FRtheF and
brother are at the house on account
OF the holiday. They will be so glad
to see you. Marmaduke-" And
then in an aside she said. Marina
duke Buffers your name"
She had heard steps behind Their.
and then Tom realized that the man
who had been talking to the girl on
the opposite aide Of the street had
CROSSED and had caught i'm with
them.
"say, who are YOU" said the
) young man, well dressed but with
his hat drawn far down over his
eyes.
%Why, I'm Marmaduke Butler-T
think" stammered Tom
%Well, you can stop annoying this
laHy." said the stranger. She's n