New Britain herald., 1928-09-19

ton where they had left 1t off. that I'm trying to worm . proposal out of you for the world"
 He reached for her finserA
 You know" he told her. that you possess me entirely."
 "Fiddlesticks!" she retofted. and snatched her hand away.
 'I never did ask . girl to marry me-" he remarked ruminatively. I've always thought of marriage as a sort of trap, And of course it's desire that springs the thing"
 She said nothing.
 "Td make such rotten hus- band" he continued speculatively. I'm much to3 brilliant"
 And when she flashed him look of whitening acorn, he rallied his defenses humorously. "Morons make the pest husbands. you know, sybn. I've always said %. Look at the awful things marriage does to clever people. Now I've seen lots of fine. promising fel- lows"
 "Oh. shut up, Richard!"
 But l have" he insisted. And just as soon as they get married, what happens? Same old tread mill. Same old rut-"
 T hold no brief for marriage" |" she interrupted him primly. And your views don't interest me ! bit"
 But they ought to-" he protested. "Everyones interested in marriage. To marry happily one needs . single track mind-now I know what I'm talking about, sybil. You'd better listen"
 T won't!' she snapped. and put her fingers in her ears.
 "Oh. we'll" Richard shrugged indifferently. And, when she had taken her hands away. remarked casually. You'd make a rotten wife yourself you know, darling"
 "Why?" she demanded.
 You're not stupid enough" he told her cheerfully. Gentle. fruit full women make the best wives"
 "1'm gentle" she told him. And I must be dreadfully stupid. or l wouldn't put up with you"
 "Oh. mo-" he contradicted gently, you're not stupid. sybil. You are a very highly strung. sensitized bit of organism, utterly unsuited for anything so tranquil as matrimcny. You ought to be clever enough to see that, my dear. If you must set married. cultivate pracidity."
 "Oh. please!" she besought. ''I don't want to get married. Lets talk about something else"
 Lazy days. and tropical nights. Cocktails and kisses. Love on a painted ocean. Moon and stars. And darkness all about.
 They stood on the boat deck, de- serted at midnight: and leaning over the rail, watched the phos- phorescent water gleam like molten silver.
 "It's magical" sybil cried. "It's the loveltest thing ever saw. Every blessed wave has turned to silver! What made them, Richard ?"
 'The water" he informed her, "emits light without sensible heat. The chemical properties"
 T told you." she interrupted gaily. "Of course it's magic. There's no such thing as light without heat. It's only make-believe. It's water sprites weaving tapestries for Nep- tune. Or maybe it's the ocean turned upside down, and that's its silver carpet.
 Anyhow it's enchanted. It's the loveliest night in the world. Oh, Rich. I feel bewitched! It's full Of sorcery. Lovely. lovely night!"
 My dear" he answered, "you make me think of beautiful poem. It must have been written for girl like you on a night like this"
 He repeated the lines softly.
 "she walks in beauty. like the
 night
 Of cloudless cliues and
 starry skies:
 And all that's best of dark and
 bright
 Meet in her aspect and her
 eyes:
 Thus mcllow'd to that tender
 light
 Which Heaven to saudy day
 denieA"
 When he had finished. there was that thick, heavy silence that closes about lovers everywhere,