The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-03-29


ate courses, that when she is present thu
that he does not know whether the prima
donna is singing well or i'll because al
his attention is fixed upon her eyebrow
or her waist, or her ear, etc, etc, etc
Most Of the women who read this car
enlarge the list indefinitely, and many
Of the men will wonder if mean them
But | don't mean nybody in particular
so much as nearly everybody in general
when once you get away from English
speaking men.
In this country Washington society
nearly reproduces the same state of
things; the mixture of nationalities in
the diplomatic circles, the indefinite sense
Of freedom and responsibility always
felt by men away from their homes and
usual ties, and the determination to have
"a good time with which young women
always visit our gay capital, all conduce
TO a very mixed and somewhat lawless
tone of social affairs, and few women re-
turning home after Washington season
fail to bring a budget of adventures
wherewith to enlven the mystic hour of
hair brushing just before going 20 bed,
the hour when no woman cal resist tell
ing her dearest friend the very profound
est secrets of her heart.
will confess that some Of these conf
dences impaired to me have been the
cause Of no little amusement when had
CHANGED to hear the other side of the
story first; as, for instance, when dear
friend and comrade of my own confided
to me his desperate attempts to outstay
another man while both were calling
upon girl staying with her married sis
ter, and how, as he could not approach
the girl, he devoted himself to the mar
ried sister to fill up the time. He finally
succeeded, and while his rival made his
adieuX to the lady of the house, he man
aged to say the word he wished to the
younger sister. This was all very well,
but day or two later the married sister
came to see me, evidently bursting with
some secret she wished to confide. l gave
her the opportunity, and the dear little
soul told me with tears in her eyes that
she really didn't know what to do, and
was so afraid of the future, and what if
her husband should see how it was, and
oh dear! she didn't know how to say it,
but actually Mr.. So-and-so was frantic
ally, yes, absolutely frantically, in love
with her: had declared himself, and said,
oh, such things, and it was not to be de-
MED that he was very handsome and
distingue, and she couldn't help plying
him, and did think it was safe for her
to receive him again.. mot that l am
afraid of any sort of weakness on my
own part, but there is Phyllis, you know,
and couldn't have her see anything not
quite correct in my house."
Igravely thought over the situation
for moment, and then suggested that
if she always included Phyllis in the in
terviews when this gentleman called
did not see that there could be chance
for any freedom of speech, and his fright
full designs would be thwarted without
any open rebuff.
"And it will be so delightful to tan
talize him, by always letting him in and
having him always find Phyllis at my
side" exclaimed my lady, beaming with
delight And the consequences were
that my friend wooed Phyllis quite at his
leisure and married her from her sisters
house.
A somewhat similar instance comes to
my mind. 1t so CHANGED that at time
and place both far removed from the
present had reason to believe that
certain person had something to say to
me which did not wish to hear; in fact,
it was proposal of marriage, and no
right minded woman ever wishes to sub
ject man to refusal. Accordingly kept
out of his way as much as possible, hoping
that some newer fancy would supplant
the old; but one night at the opera he en-
tered my box, evidently determined to
manage private word with me before
he left. A nice little girl was under my
charge for the evening, and called her
to sit beside me, the gentleman who ac-
companied us being at the back of my
chair and absorbing all the attention l
could spare from Patti. The evening
went on and went off, and the unfortu-
nate aspirant as we left the box managed
to slip penciled note into my hand, de-
caring that-well, never mind that part;
but a proposal of marriage is always a.
proof of sincerity. Now fancy my as
constituent at my little friend, with
smiles and bushes, thanking me for her
delightful evening, and consulting me as
to whether papa and mamma would al
low her to be engaged to So-and-so.
Engaged to him, my dear child! ex-
claimed l. 'Has he asked you to be?"
well, all but! He is only waiting for
little encouragement. He has made
love to me all the evening"" faltered the
poor little thing; and l cordially ex-
claimed:
Marry him by all means, dear. when
he asks you, but wouldn't do anything
to encourage him. These foreigners do
not understand our artless American
fashions" He never proposed, and she
was a good deal surprised, but finally
married far better.
If women could divest themselves OF
their vanity in this matter they would
be self deceived far less often than they
No ,,,attar hnuy praftv and attract