Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 June 1908 — THE WEEK of PROBATION. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE WEEK of PROBATION.

By MARTHA C. SANFORD.

Copyrighted, 1908. by the Associated Literary Press.

Dorothy’s love affairs bad come to a crisis. Three proposals in as many weeks put literally a stop to her coquetry. A decision had to be made. So she composed a form letter, brief and noncommittal, and mailed a copy to each of the three anxious aspirants. It read as follows: My Dear Mr. : Please do not come to see me again for a week or until T give you permission. I am thinking things over. Very cordially yours. DOROTHY BRETT. Not that Dorothy seriously meant to do any tall amount of thinking. The Wegk of probation would save her all that trouble. The test would be simple enough. Of the one whose absence should make her heart grow fonder—of that one Dorothy would feel sure.' She wondered dreamily why all girls did not resort to a solution so commendably automatic. It was so silly to allow oneself to be consumed for a prolonged period with nerve racking doubts and feverish fantasies. All one had to do was to assume a passive frame of mind—and wait.

When Reginald Warren received Dorothy’s laconic Instructions he laughed long and confidently. “So Dorothy actually believes it’s necessary to think It over,” he commented. “Bless her heart, she shall be allowed’ that privilege If she wants It. As If there could be the least doubt!” Right here Reginald broke off his soliloquy and whistled, for In sorting over hts mall he had come upon another envelope in Dorothy’s handwriting. It bore the name of Mr. Robert Butler, but was addressed by accident to Reginald’s street and number. Reginald balanced the letter tentatively In his hand. “How many more, I wonder?” he asked himself. “Shall I forward it to Butler or return It to Dorothy?” In a misguided moment he decided upon the latter alternative. Dorothy was furious when the letter came back to her. She recognized Reginald’s handwriting and immediately consigned him to the oblivion be de»

served. How did he dare treat her ■lip of the pen humorously, for that was what he had done, of course! She could tell it from the rollicking style of the penmanship. Had he been a gentleman he would have forwarded it to Robert and spared her the humiliation of knowing what a telltale blunder she had made. Robert Butler of course profited by his rival’s hasty faux pas—temporarily, that is—for, receiving no warning to the contrary, he continued to call upon Dorothy and found her so engagingly gracious that his emotions soared once more to the point of a proposal. Simultaneously Dorothy’s hospitality fell to the freezing point, and the following morning she mailed Robert his delayed ultimatum. The week of probation went by with nb word or sign from the third handle of Dorothy’s overfull loving cup. This unpardonable negligence piqued her not a little. "Ned might at least have taken the trouble to find out if I really meant it,” she argued, with proverbially feminine logic. “It’s positive proof that he’s indifferent. Well, he’ll find out that I can be indifferent too. I’ll write to— I’ll write to Reginald Warren this very night and tell him’’— She took up her pen with an air of determination. One beginning after another was dashed boldly off, read over with misgivings and finally discarded. Reginald himself interrupted these spasmodic outbursts. “Oh, I was just writing to you, Mr. Warren!” was Dorothy’s more or less fluttering welcome. "Dorothy—my own!” Reginald exclaimed jubilantly. She saw the gleam of happiness that lighted his eyes and quickly drew her hand away from his ardent clasp. “How did you dare to come before 1 had written to tell you?” she asked defensively. Reginald laughed easily, “Because I knew What you would write, dearest, and the week of my enforced absence is up tonight, you know." The amazing assurance of this lover

struck Dorothy dumb for the moment It was as though the man’s real character had revealed itself in a flash. He had taken her answer for granted. Dorothy’s vacillating little heart grew hot with rebellion and prompted her to take recourse in very daring strategy. “I was writing to tell you that I am engaged to some one else,” she announced bravely. ■ - Reginald stared at her. Slowly the situation dawned upon him. “So Mr. Butler is the lucky man. then?” he answered sneeringly. “I did not realize that he was a rival until I got his letter by mistake. Doubtless that was your acceptance of him. Miss Brett, that I remained to you. I shall certainly take pleasure in congratulating him at my first opportunity. Good night” “No, no; wait!” called Dorothy as soon as she could recover from the shock of this man’s anger. But it was too late. “Heavens!” she gasped. “Suppose he announces my engagement to Robert Butler!” She rushed to the telephone and waited impatiently for central to get the number. “Is this Mr. Butler? This is Dorothy Brett. What? You recognized my voice the very first word? You were expecting me to call up?” (Dorothy made a very little face.) “Well, I just wanted to tell you that I am engaged to Ned Hamilton. What? You say he denied it this very afternoon? Well. You see, I wanted to tell you about it myself! Why. thank you. Mr. Butler. I’m sure we shall be. Come to see me. Good night.” Again Dorothy waited with the receiver close to her little pink ear, this time with almost dancing anticipation. “Oh, Ned, Is this really you? Where have you been all this week? It seems a month. It’s my own fault Well. Ned, could you possibly come over this evening? You can’t? Got to take whom to the theater? Oh, your sister! Goodness! I thought you said Leicester somebody. Well, do find some one else to take her. You see, I just telephoned Mr. Butler that you and I are engaged and— That’s what I saidengaged! I had to. Um-hum. Now hurry!” Ned put on his “seven league boots” and hurried.

“Dorothy,” he gasped when he reached her, breathless, but happy, "do yon really mean that I*m the lucky dog?” "Of course!” she answered, laughing at his boyish incredulity. ‘ “Who else did you s’pose?” “Why, I don’t know, dearest I guess I was a bit shaky about Butler and that Warren fellow. Warren’s been boasting, in fact that you’d soon announce your engagement to him.” "The little beast!” exclaimed Dorothy, flushing. But her anger died down as suddenly as it came. “Oh, Ned, I'm so happy!” she whispered, for by this time Ned had her in his arms and was making up for lost time. “It was awfully risky of you leaving me alone for a whole week," she chided. “I came very near accepting Reginald Warren not more than an hour ago.” Ned his hold of her slightly. “Out of spite,” Dorothy added roguishly, "’cause you didn’t care enough to come for your answer." “But you asked me not to come till you gave me permission,” he reminded her. “Didn’t you see the special postscript on the inside of the envelope—on the flap?” Ned drew the from his pocket. It had been- cut open at the top. He folded back the flap. “If . you get very anxious,” he read, “you needn’t wait.” “Dorothy,” he exclaimed, kissing her' rapturously, ‘lf I had only knowaf* ,“Men have no curiosity,” she sighed happily, “and no imagination. They lose a lot #f fun.”

SHE WAITED IMPATIENTLY FOR CENTRAL TO GET THE NUMBER.