The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-03-08
A CANDOR CLUB.
Unforeseen Results 1t Happily
Brought About.

Haven't l told YOU how much I de
test fiattery? Even praise, and ever
when my vanity tells me it is merited
makes me distrustful of the person ut
tering it,
"Yes, l believe you have expressed
that idea, . replied Melville lazily; land
now perhaps you will kindly tell me tc
what your remark is relevant?"
And can you ask that" said she,
"after your repeated persistent attempts
to flatter me?"
II have made no such attempt. as
think you will admit on reflection" re.
sponded the gentleman, placidly, while
he idly tossed pebbles into the water.
Indeed! did you not just now tell me
that l made a singular impression on
you the first time you saw me?"
YES, presume l said that; and, it is
true, you did. You impressed me as be-
ing the most original person l had lately
met-as being quite singular"
OH said the girl coloring slightly
at having placed the other more COM
plimentary Interpretation on his re-
mark.
But you also said, il | remember
rightly, that my taste was remarkable
called this gown l wear unusually at
tractive.
1--WE no doubt that l did," said he.
SIT certainly attracted no little atten-
tion as we came through the streets.
saw Teed, the painter, take it in some
what interestedly, and | fancied, too,
that he shrugged his shoulders a trifle;
but his ideas ofcolor harmony may differ
Slightly from yours. You see, my friend, 4"
he continued, 81 use words advisedly,
and say exactly what ! mean. My fault,
as you will find, is really franllness, not
flattery." So speaking, as he half-re-
clined ON the beach by her side, he shot
some more pebbles into the lake, with
what seemed an unnecessary effort at
accuracy of aim.
well, this color combination quite
suits me, replied the young lady, sur
veying her gown with a pouting pre-
tense OF vexation; and then, reluctant
to give up beaten: But you surely did
say, Mr.. Melville, and confused me very
much at the time, that you found more
in me to admire than you had found in
any other woman for long time, and
more in that same tenor, until | cut you
short. Perhaps you can also explain
away that?"
Melville left his pebble-shooting and
looked into her face with little mis-
chievous twinkle in his eyes 81 had
just come home from the West, Miss
Mayne, from wandering life in the
t,s, n,.l tl..
really the only woman with whom
have talked much in more than year.
i think was not inaccurate in my re-
mark"
Secretly provoked to see his words of
supposed praise resolve themselves into
doubtful compliments, or worse and yet
amused at her own discontinue, the
girl laughed merrily. well, / take
back my charge, / retract fully and re-
pent. The mistake | made was in as
suming that you were like all the rest
of mankind-like Charlie or John, who
fancy it part Of their duty to a woman
to continually feed her vanity with
sugared compliments"
''Yes, you are quick to jump at con-
clusions," he replied, with a smile.
''But have an idea. Let us organize
ourselves into Candor Club or an Anti
Flattery Society, with a membership
limited TO two, and see If we can not be-
come acquainted with each other. Iquite
believe that IL is possible for man and
woman to be real, true friends. OF
course, we know it is easy enough to be
lovers or haters, but to be good friends
that's quite another thing. Yet think
1t can be done. viii you not try the
experiment? Every one ought to have
one friend, and have none, now, since
! lost my brave old comrade out among
the mountains"
There was something of sadness in his
voice. u wistfulness that touched hid
den string in the girls heart, and she
replied: 'lndeed, shall be happy to be
your friend, and TO believe you mine"
After which, for a moment, neither one
mauc any remark. llf gazed away abb
sently over the CLASSY waters, and she
mechanically twisted and turned the
glittoring brilliant on her engagement
hDgc".
During the day, Melville, who had
rome to their picnic a stranger to most
OF the party, was introduced TO Charlie,
and easily guessed him to be the gentle
man whose ring Miss Mayne was wear
ing. He was lively. good-hearted,
rattle-headed young fellow, with little
ambition other than to live to his liking
on an inherited fortune, wearing parti-
colored flannel suits, and chasing lawn
tennis balls. Comprehending at a
glance the young mans shallow ma
ture, Melville frequently found himself
wondering how Laura Mayne, superior
girl, girl with ideas, could find his So
cioty congenial or even tolerable. Fail
ing to solve the problem to his satisfac-