“Broken Off.”

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXII, Issue XXIII, 4 June 1904, Page 63

“Broken Off.”

RETURNING THE PRESENTS. “I think you’re a mean girl,” said Maisie. “ I’d rather die than keep the presents a man gave me when we were engaged if it was ‘ broken off.’ ” “ Jack said if we weren’t going to be married that was no reason why we should insult one another.” answered Dolly Tribe, with flaming eheeks at being called- “mean.” “He said he ‘didn’t give me the presents on a kind of hire system —no payment, articles to be returned sort of thing." After being friends so long before being engaged, he thought it would be more kind of each to keep our little offerings in memory.” “ Well, you’ll never have any pleasure in them, anyhow.” was Maisie’s parting shot; “and you don’t deserve to either.” Then Dolly sat down to have a good cry. And presently, when the storm in her head and heart had cleared a bit, she began for the thousandth time to look over the collection of charming things Jaek had given her during their two years’ engagement. What a lovely little enamelled watch that was he gave her on the anniversary of their engagement, all set with turquoises. “ to match her forget-me-not eyes.” he had said prettily when he presented it to her! And how eagerly she used to watch the hands going round that pointed towards the hour when he was coming—only, perhaps, to take her for a simple little walk in the shaded country lanes! But. oh. how excited she used to be even over a twilight stroll! And she had given him the dearest little compass, so that he shouldn't lose his way coming from his house to hers —just half a mile off! What nonsense it all was. but how sweet! And now, she supposed. she compass would point the way to some other girl’s house. Ella, of course! How stupid of her never to have thought of it! Everybody had been sure long ago he was in love with Ella, who had been so nasty over the engagement. And yesterday she looked quite triumphant when she met poor little depressed Dolly.

The engagement had been broken off for a month now, and she had lingered and fondled all the dear mementoes of Jack's love and thought of her. There was not a little trinket among them that had not been soaked with tears. She bad even put some under her pillow at night. Much as she had loved Jaek, and did still, she never knew the measure of her devotion till she had lost him.

He, too. had turned over his little store of gifts. At first it seemed to him that it was such a cruel, ill-bred fashion to return a few trifling presents just because an engaged couple broke it off.

Now. he was beginning to understand why. It was positive pain to him to see all the pretty and artistic things Dolly had worked to adorn his “ diggings.” He was too strong and manly to spare himself the cruel pain by hid ing them away. But how he wished now tiiat lie had been content to do as others did. and send them all back with one big wren i. like the wrench in a dentist’s chair and a lull in the pain afterwards. One morning at breakfast he found a Imi.x by his plate, and inside a small note —he was sure it was tear-stained —with just: “Dear .lack.—Please take them back. I cannot bear to see them.—Dolly.” And then he saw the wisdom of his folly in not “doing as others did.” If the presents had been sent back in the heat of their quarrel a month ago. there would have lx*vn no interval for repentance. In that awful four weeks, surrounded by all the outward and visible signs of an abiding love within, each had regretted in real sorrow and suffering their hasty quarrel and hot-headed breaking of their troth. Each knew now that their love was deep enough to last and live and bridge over the angry words which a stupid quarrel arising at a dance had given rise to. Dolly had danced three times running with a handsome stranger whom Jack had never seen before, and whom Dolly refused to introduce him to. She did it out of sheer wilfulness and a wish to pique him into jealousy, for, like many silly little girls, she thought because .lack had never been jealous that ho didn’t really love her. The “stranger” was Dolly’s first cousin, just home from India, and he was to be married the next week. So there was no cause for alarm. But Dolly wanted a little drama and excitement. And she got it, too! So. before be went to business. Jack, in his turn, wrote a little note. I do not

think it was tear-stained. But Ido know that he felt just as low and down in spirits as any girl does who is on the verge of a storm of tears. And this is what he wrote: “Dear Dolly.—Please take me back, for I cannot bear not to see you.—. Jack.” And. of course*. Dolly did. The presents. of course, came back with hifn. Ami the little watch began its daily task of pointing towards the time when .lack would come again, as in the old times, to hear her songs and stroll about the garden, aml talk aliout all the plans and hopes of Love’s young dream. The compass led Jack more often than ever to Dolly’s side. And one thing he was firm about: They should lie married at once, that no more risks of a broken engagement should threaten their happiness. So the wedding-bells were rung, and they were married, ami lived happy ever after. So the hasty return of the presents ami the cutting adrift of the engagement is not always wise.