Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-10-02

prompt him 10 do for her sake. II WAS
10 with all, md yet three separate surly
lovers were ready to pick quarrel with
the light. headed boy, and though the
young ladies themselves took matters
less seriously than did their lovers, they
most sssuredly did not place go light n
value on my young friends gallantries
as did the New York girls, and had any
one OF the three through loyalty to her
lover or from some other cause felt
impelled to solemnly hint at the hope
lessness of this youths attachment as
did the young lady In the story II would
have required all the natural and
ACQUIRED courtesy Of my gay friend to
prevent him from laughing in her face"
"Yes," said Katie musingly and
evidently thinking Of something beyond
the story OF which she had just listened.
There was silence for awhile and Mr..
Barlow went on to say that there was
something more than the possibility OF
an awkward mistake risked by such
preoipitanoy. "How does q woman
know" he continued "thst she can neuer
love q man till she has given him 9
chance to show her whether or mot he 10
worth lovingf II is not fair for woman
to refuse man not actually obnoxious to
her his natural right to try and win her
before be himself puts his fortune to the
test-his fate in her hands. She may be
not only wreoking his hopes OF happiness
but her own."
"Perhaps,". replied Katie, shut !
suppose womsn can generally trust her
own instincts In such matters, and
happily the unsophistiosted country
girl, not accustomed to meaningless
attentions, Ia Just as strong there, and
possibly stronger, than the city belle.
As to the possible inj ustioe and wrong,
do not think there would be much
danger Of that to a man like your friend.
Nothing short Of q general conspiracy
amongst the fairly favored of our whole
sex could wreck that youth's happiness
or impair his self-complaoency."
"You must not be so hard on my
FRIEND" said Barlow laughing, she's
by no means bad fellow assure you."
"Who isn't bad fellow, and what has
Katie against himf asked Lutte Curtis
| entering the room at this moment.
81 don't know who he is," answered
Katie. "Mr. Barlow has been telling me
Of young friend OF his who paid devoted
attention to dozen different girlsin New
| York at the same time and afterwards
came near getting shot by indignant
real lovers for paying similar attentions
| to three girls at once down in Georgia"
$50 you have friend, Charlie," cried
Lutte "who keeps 1t up all the year
round and never told me a word about
him. What delightful practice he mus
be In. Won't you phase send him on 10
Washington consigned to me next
winter"
"Not a bit Of It," answered Bari,
gaily. Hes getting older and be't. :
off and may mean business by thii tin
aud he is SO fascinating that will Dut
riak my own happiness by bringing him
near you"
"Oh you might as well. I've told you
again and again there's no chance for
you" saucily answered Lutte as the two
young ladies moved from the room to
prepare themselves for supper.
4 ''Mr Barlow has just been expressing
strong disapproval Of any such refusal by
young lady before she. has been asked, p"
said Katie In the same spirit.
Sand pray how do you know he hasn't
asked me 2" lsughingly replied Lutte az
the two girls started up the stairway to
their respective rooms.
"How do /, indeed 20 asked Kate oi
herself as she closed her door and there
was a warm flush on her cheeks as she
reflected that possibly she had misin.
terpreted as peculiar to herself sort Of
attention that Mr.. Barlow might, for all
she knew to the contrary, pay to many
women. He had Just said to Lutte words
that would have been full Of meaning Il
offered to herself an hour ago, and
how much truth there might be in hii
intimation Of: a jealous unwillinRness II
bring fascinating man into the preseno'
Of her friend Katie could not tell. Mayb,
, It was true that he had asked Lutte to b.
his wife. Who knewP Katie was as
, tonished and alarmed at the great throl
, Of pain with which this last thought
came to her. She put II aside, though
, and went down to supper with smiling
, face, but as she avoided Barlow Atte
, supper he hung over Lutte at the plan
, the greater part of the evening. As h
bade Katie good night however there wa
, q note of pain in his voice and look Q
, reproaoh in his eyes which made her fee
for one moment as though she must cal
4 him back and comfort him, but she merel
' gave warmer pressure than usual to hi
D hand, and off he rode into the darkness
:. Yet that gentle pressure never ceased
n be felt during his lonesome ride hom'
Q and as he passed through strip I
a woodland where even the stars could nj
d look upon the boyish act, he lifted hi
. open palm and Kissed 1t. Not until
: man has been safely slowed in the grav
q Ia he absolutely secure against doing sill
+ acts on account Of love. Beyond he ma
a perhaps be safe, or 1t may be nuc
o impulses do not there seem silly. Go
% knows.
!, [To BIZ CONTINUED