Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-02-01


settled down at home.
These last four, words, do you know,
sounded to ME the most horrible that
| had ever heard in my life.
l could hardly wait for Grannie to
go out Of the room and leave US for
what she always calls the young peo-
pies tete-a-tete." ] knew I'd got to
say then, at once, what l meant to say.
Otherwise 1 should shirk it. There's
nothing in the world SO horribly dini-
cult. l think. as breaking off an en-
gasement, particularly to u person
who has always been Kindness Itself,
and who has simply sprayed one VITA
presents like that pendant aid That
Bag. Oh! How glad l was that !
hadn't had time to think it all we'll
Overt. Gall the thinking must have been
done at the bottom of my heart with
out my realizing it, as lots of thinking
ISL. What a mercy hat l hadn't al
ready wondered how David would take
1t, or pictured to myself what a cruel
blow it would be to him when his
little sweetheart" rounded upon him
without warning and told him that ey-
erything was at an end! How prov1-
Dental hat L hadn't made up nv
mind weeks ago. and thai l hadn't
been arranging and rearranging how
I should put it!
For then / think l should have been
such a coward Observation-Disclosures
- A q ir wa = . n n uA0p - No II u. = go -.
lng-room DOR closed behind Grannie
than l just burst wildly into the sub
ject. 4
David" 1 blurted out, all gaspily.
David! About this wedding in June!
l. must tell you. something at once. 1t
can't be. I can't marry you then;
just can't!"
David looked very quickly at me
with those kindly eyes of. his. l found
myself opening and shutting the fin
gers Of my very hot hands, and wig
Cling my toes about inside my shoes
where stood. There was a seconds
awful pause. Then 1 think David
aid, quite easily. What is all this,
my little girl? You don't want to be
married just yet, Ell? Not in June?
Very we'll, then. Very we'll. why
June? Take your time, little wom-
an"
But l somehow knew hat it would
be just fatal to put anything off,
This must be definite.
shook my head violently, and said,
putting meaning into each syllable. ii
don't want time, David, please. 1 an.
SO sorry. But I want this settled now,
This minute. 1t is hateful Of me-. But
I! don't want to marry you. Not In
June not ever, David! Never, l can,
90 II; can't, can't :" Here l
teit the idiotic tears yelling up; part
~ misery at the idea of what it would
pe IKE, married to him, partly sorrow
oecause l mad to hurt him so awfully.
partly fright, over the battle that
felt sure should have to wage before
l could get free.
l. gulped, took out my handkerchief
ana set my teeth and pulled myself
together to give my explanation as en-
herently as 1 could.
David, I feel I should be too fright
fully miserable with you!'
"Miserablc?" said David in such a
oiank voice. Oh. I'm sorry for anv
s1rl Who has to hear that tone from
any man! l don't wonder lots Of
sheni marry anybody rather. than face
breaking off! But | couldn't face Mar
l gasped, ITS not your fault H..
the Font. I mean it's YOUR havinss
held me in my christening robe, 10
SOUNDS mad. l can't help it. I'm a
,ittie beast not to have thought of If
oe1ore,' scurried on, not DARING ~
look at his face. II ought never tn
nave got engaged to you. Now vou,n
forgive me. You'll hate NJ.
Hate you. dear?" INTERRUPTED n,-
va. 70 my establishment his voice
9ouli9eo now quite normal, and as If
i mad not Just been hurting out ire.
yocaoie Things. Hate you? WIN?
.afternoon?" Ills LIS
Oh! You aren't unders,a na;no..
! nearly wept. Don't YOU sac naa
dear, I do so awfully not want "a ,nar
~ you!" = $500 " mar
Littie woman, you aren't fee,i,.
well. ne told me, s%oothingly.
And We a a few ghastlv mona,
OF l. repeating things ahnut
FONTS and ages, and he saying 7 shov;a
take my own time about it ali and
that l, didn't know what I meant mv
sell, and that we'd talk about 60.
thing else. ' soAne-
! thought. TITS hopeless!
1nal never get away from him.
make MIN understand"
ana l pew my nose. A sob burst o,t
OF me by mistake. l choked down
Then came a long pause: ana 49,
David's voice somehow chanred
.Well. then . So. IL Won ras';,,
don't care for this idea Of marrvins
"t1TylnB
oh. I don't! Oh, dearest Daua
Il you knew how I ddn't!'
Oavid actually gave a little lar~h
went on rather slowly. Int ~
the q way. to talk abont no. !.
couldn't be helped. then. II IthomrhMt
ne couldn't make me happy, weilI NJ
was siad ! 9 found but my mista.,.
N TINE. He was the Very last person
n ms world TO try and force me in,n,
anytnlng against my will.
Great imp OF distress rolled OIL nv