The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1922-01-11
AN AWAKENING
BY Isabelle ENGLAND.

Mary, darling" murmured Ted.
Love me lotsi Hummmf Why, what's
the trouble now what the deuce-r
For his fiancee's expression had be-
come anything but fiattering. She
looked, indeed, decidedly bored.
you're sweet boy" yawned Mary,
but really, you're horribly tiresome.
One carl be so sure of you. Oh, Ted !
I do wish you weren't so faithful and
adoring and-well-unthrilling Now,
II you'd only mako ,loXe to Cynthia,
next door, o. sslfS like thati I
to be kidnapped 81 a big, bad man
with rough hands. and be pulled by
the hair, and kissed brutally, until
0h-h-h-h-w
Ted regarded her, open-mouthed,
with a half-dszed, lncredulous express
sion. Then his face hardened.
'1'm sorry" he retorted, sneeringly,
no longer the meek and perfect lover,
but very angry boy. "Sorry had
the great, misfortune he born respect
able Sorry I'm not u rufiian. Drag
you by the hair, Ell? A spanking would
be more effectiveW
Mary smiled, maddeningly.
"Of course you can't 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 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
-adorlng, 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 APP
peared grieved and meek. and a little
uncOmprehending. entirely unbekeving.
"Mary-Mary, can't understand!
| can't see what the deuce Is the matter.
Didn't you like the violets l brought
your" And he gave an injured glance
at the discarded offering.
Mistress Mary, q,.ite contrary,
shrugged disdainfully.
mot so bad" she answered, "but 1t
would have been much more interest
ing if you'd given them to some other
| girl. Please run home and don't
bother me any longer"
Mary laughed gayly as Ted's defect
ed back passed from view at the bend
| of the road.
"What an utter bore" she sighed.
81 wonder If 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 your Thank
your
Mrs. Doran, a worried-lOoking little
woman, fidgeted nervously about her
over-temperamental daughter until the
latter Enthusiastically excused her.
IL hope you're not going to do any
thing rash, Mary" murmured the ner-
vous little mother rather APOLOGIZE
cally.
ooh, for heavens sake, do 60 away,
or I certainly will I" calculated Mary
GROSSLY. Cant ! have minutes
peace"
Mary yawned. Really. she was so
tired!
She pondered deeply moment. Then,
her decision made, she raised the scis-
sors gingerly and trusted to luck-the
flapper's god!
Several hours later rather different
Mary tripped down the stairs-a girl
with short, stiff. uneven hair, resem-
bling nothing SO much as futurist
puzzle. Mary's eyes were suspiciOusly
red. She held her head defiantly as
she swept by her Mortified father and
her nearly hysterical mother. to the
front porch.
The stars glittered dreamily; the
town was quiet. What's more, Mary
felt lonely.
She smiled In self-satisfaction. 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-H
"YOu darlingi" Teds 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 CROPPED feebly for
the door. That funny feeling In her.
heart was almost intolerable. All her
sensations seemed to grow vaguer-
stranger. She fell.
Mrs. Dorap. 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
called you before, only you were sleep
\