Mountain advocate., 1922-05-19
AN AWAKENING
ny ISABELLE ENGLAND
~~~~~~~e~~~-~~>e~>~ee~~e~~~~~

Mary, darling" murmured Ted.
Love me lots? Hummm? Why, what's
the trouble now what the deuce-T
For his fancee's expression had be-
come anything but hattering. She
looked, indeed, decidedly bored.
You're n sweet boy" yawned Mary,
but really, you're horribly tiresome.
One can be so sure Of you. Oh, Ted
I do wish you weren't so faithful and
adoring -well-unthrillin Now,
IL you'd only make love to Cynthia,
next door, or something like that! |
want excitement, and freedom. want
to be Kidnapped by a big, bad man
with rough hands, and be pulled by
ths hair. and kissed brutally, until
Oh-h-h-h-w
Ted regarded her, Open-mouthed,
with half-dazed, incredulous expires.
sion. Then his face hardened.
'I'm sorry" he retorted, sneeringly
no longer the meek and perfect lover
but n very angry boy. "Sorry | had
the great misfortune be born respect
able. Sorry I'm not a rufiian. Drag
you by the hair, eh7 A spanking would
be more effectiver"
Mary smiled. maddeningly
"Of course you cant comprehend my
feelings Your life is so shallow, so
petty. Your highest ambition is to
marry me. Ye gods What have
done to deserve such a fate. II you
were half man, you'd abuse me once
In while, or do something to make
life interesting"
MARY" Startled, but once more
adoring, he knew not what to say.
Anyhow, don't stand there gazing at
me with that adoring, calf-like ex-
preston :" she scolded.
Ted was all at sea His dignity had
been completely swept away. He ap.
peared grieved and meek, and a little
uncomprehending. entirely unbelieving.
"Mary-Mary, can't understand! /
can't see what the deuce Is the matter.
your And he gave an injured glance
at the discarded offering.
Mistress Mary. quite contrary.
shrugged dlsdainfully.
"Not so bad" she answered, "but II
would have been much more interest
Ing II you'd given them to some other
girl. Please run home and don't
bother me any longer"
Mary laughed gayly as Teds defect
ed back passed from view at the bend
of the road.
"What an utter bore" :" she sighed
81 wonder II I'd look more piquant
and bohemian with my hair bobbed?
And Ted hates bobbed hair Oh.
could anything get him really mad, and
keep him mad? Inspiration"
"Oh, mamma! Where's my cOmb7
And oh, yes, the scissors, too? And.
mamma, you wouldn't mind getting me
the hand mirror, would you? Thank
you"
Mrs. Doran, a worried-lOOking little
woman, fidgeted nervously about her
over-temperamental daughter until the
latter Enthusiastically excused her.
81 hope you're not going to do any
thing rash, Mary" murmured the ner- |
vous little mother rather apologeh /.
cally.
"Oh, for heavens sake, do go away.
or certainly WILL" CALCULATED Mary .
Grossly. "Can't have minutes .
peace?"
Mary yawned. Really, she was so
tired!
She pOndered deeply moment. Then, .
her decision made, she raised the scls- .
sorS gingerly and trusted to luck-the |
fiapper's god
Several hours later a rather different .
Mary tripped down the stalrs-a girl .
with short. stiff, uneven hair, resem-
bling nothing so much as a futurst
puzzle. Mary's eyes were susplciOusly
red. She held her head defantly as
she swept by her Mortified father and
her nearly hysterical mother. to the
front porch.
The stars gittered dreamlly; the
town was quiet. What's more, Mary
felt lonely.
She smiled in self-satlsfactiOn. OF
course she would take the poor boy
back-after he had sufficiently suffered
and repented his stupidity. In her mind
she had the reunion almost staged.
when
"YOu darlingw Ted's voice sounded.
1t was dreamy. soft. The porch swing
next door, at Cynthia's house, ceased
squeaking, a gurgle of delight. Then,
silence-silence-
Mary gasped and groped feebly for
the door That funny feeling in her
heart was almost intolerable. All her
sensations seemed to grow yaguer-
stranger. She fell.
Mrs. DOran, hurrying into Mary's
room, discovered her daughter In a
tumbled heap on the floor In front Of
the easy-chair from which she had just
slid.
"Didn't hurt yourself. dear, did
your inquired Mrs. DOran. "Pd have