The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-09-25
A Lesson for Girls.

LeSSOu IOr UlrlSs
The rule is a safe and wise ono, that
while it does not forbid a lady to sal
''thank you" to strange gentleman
who gives her his seat in travelling, no
to express her gratitude to the M:
who jumps into the water after her am
saves her from drowning, yetin genera
it NAV be said that no young lad,
should converse with gentleman t
whom she has not been regularly intro
duced. The following true story illus
trates the point:
Donald Mel is young architec
whose business is in New York CITY
and who boards, or used to board, il
some town in New Jersey, on the line
of one of the big railroads. He was &
good looking chap when L knew him
very quiet in his manners and soft Of
speech, with large eyes and big mus.
tache Ii Ike a troopers. The ''bovs''
knew him for a perfectly cool, rockies;
daredevil, thorough Bohemian, as
full of talent as he was of mischief
Going and coming daily on the train,
he had seen occasionally young lady
who lived one station nearer New York
than he did. She was youthful,
beautiful, elegant, and evidently a
favorite with all who knew her. One
afternoon on the train Mel saw
her sitting alone. Luckily for his pro-
ject the train was crowded and he sat
beside her. He opened or closed the
window for her, picked up her book,
and i'll five minutes, such was his cum
ming, was chatting quite smoothly and
gaily with her. 1t was evident that
the young lady was not a practiced
flirt. She was inclined to be a little
alarmed once in awhile, but Mr.. Nc
L was SO smooth, so respectful, so
entertaining, SO matter of-course, and
so unremitting that she hardly had
time to think of the situation.
When the train got within few
miles of her town (and l pause mo-
ment here to breathe my malediction
over the horrible red mud of that
country Mol said:
You will be getting out in a moment,
and / shall expect you to kiss me good
bye. l am not joking. | shall certain
~ expect you to kiss me goodbye
when YOU leave the train"
That was too much. The young
beauty said haughtily:
IF had not been so foolish as to al
low you to speak to me, l should GER
tainlv suppose you insane. Be so good
as to be silent until | can leave the cal"
But Mae was quite unabashed.
This is nonsense he said. | mean
what L say, and l think that you will
agree with me in a moment. This car
is full of your friends and acquaint-
ances. When the car Stops l shall
hand you your satchel and attempt to
kiss you goodbye. If you resist there
will be scene, and you will explain
that 1 am an insolent stranger. Very
goOdi But you have been talking and
laughing with that 'insolent stranger
in the friendliest way for the last hour!
This will appear rather singular tc
your friends and champions, and wiz
explain that inferred from your con-
7ersing with stranger that you would
lot prove to be very particular, and
hat L might kiss you without offense."
This was ratified off in soft, pleasant
,oice, and with a serious argumentative
tir that made the bewildered girl almost
loubt if she could have heard his words
fright.
son the other hand" he resumed,
if you will be sensible, you will allow
ne to hand you from the car. You
will give me a kiss and say clearly:
Cousin Wallace This,
'ou see. will explain everything, and
here will be no fuss or trouble of any
ind"
She looked at him-saw that he was
determined, and perceived IN mo-
nent what manner of man he was. |
Being clear-headed, as we'll as proud,
he appreciated the force of his reason
ny. When the train rolled into the |
Iew Brunswick station Mac helped her
o alight, delivered over her little bag,
ook her hand. and she put up her
'retty face, all smiling. and gave him a
weet kiss and said, ''Good-by, Cousin
Wallace"
What the young lady thought about
t and how she felt l have never been
old. 1t seems to me, however, that
.lmost any young girl can tell pretty
early, if she will try to fancy herself
n the same predicament.
If, now. any young lady has read my
tupid sermon thus far, perhaps she
will condescend to read and to lay to
cart these two warnings-from a man
' no knows men.
First-1t is impossible for you to tell
whether stranger is really gentleman
r not. For that you must have the
of an Introduction from some
erson responsible.
Second : If you allow a young
tranger to talk to you, he almost sure
0 infer that YOU are not particular,
nd so you will have the modification
t finding that he is not quite as re-
pec:ful and careful as are your gentle
aan acquaintance whom you know
4 the authorized way.-TOledo Blade