The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-05-13
ONLY HUMAN NATURE.
Dr :. Il. THORNTON.

Its a very singular thing" said Mr..
Harry Laigh, -that no woman can listen
to word in praise Of another without
losing her temper.
I Cant shsi" asked Mrs. Rosa Leigh,
with the ai' of one desiring information.
IWell, you should know, her husband
meaningly returned.
Indeed! Why. pray?"
You would like case in point:'
"By all means"
This morning. when spoke Of that
pretty Mrs. Brown"
She isn't pretty" promptly inter.
rupted Rosa.
"There-you see! have convicted
you without au effort"
BY telling fib. Harry; you know
perfectly well that Esther Brown is the
homeliest woman in East Hill.
1Oh, well-rll start again. Because
said that Mrs. Brown was we'll dressed.
amiable, and a model housewife, YOU
became furious-you must admit it,"
Nonsense! Don't exsggerate the case
simply objected to your making ridicu.
things; she dresses vlely, is little better
than shrew, and as for her housekeep-
ing-well, you should peep into the cor.
ners!"
Mrs. Leigh looked triumphant, evi.
IDENTITY thinking she had proved her case,
Harry laughed uproariously.
Shau begin again, Rosis?" lie asked.
How absurd you are!" she pettishly
exclaimed. realizing she was caught. IF
you must laud other women, don't choose
he most ordinary one Of my acquaint-
nee. I'm sure I'm always delighted
hen you praise Fanny Deane. or Mary
snnings,. or Prus Fox, or"
Or dozen more Of your cronies, tha.
know nothing about"
"You know Fanny well enough
mot half as well as wish I did. She's
really very charming GIRL" declared
Harry.
is she not'" Rosa enthusiastically ex.
claimed.
And 90 prettyl"
oh, do you think so? Well, opinions
differ as to that; but every one admits
che Is as good as gold"
And as brilliant, judging from her
talk"
~Oh, yes. dear Fanny says very bright
things-sometimes." Mrs. Leigh returned
rather doubtfully.
1t seems to me never saw moro
beautiful eyes, said Mr.. Leigh, after a
short pause.
why, Harry! Fsnny's eyes are her
weak point! She admits il herself," cried
Rosa, flushing.
That's because she is so modest and
Eetiring."
Mrs. Leigh laughed in great apparent
HArriment
Don't be sarcastic. dear. she said in
tone OF gentle reproof. "You can't ex.
pect woman who speaks so we'll in pub.
lc to be ovsrburdened with modesty.
Fanny ha, lots Of other good qualities to
make up for that lack.
But Harry was laughing more heartily
than before.
oh, Rosie, what little fraud YOU
are!" he exclaimed. Don't you see
I've caught you again? Your friend is
everything except what say she is, it
seems"
We'll" said Rosa, pouting, 81 don't
think it's nice for man to praise other
women in the presence of his own wife.
anyway 1t seems as il he made uncom.
Portable comparisons. You wouldn't
IKE 1t II l were to gush over Jones,
Brown and Robinson.
"Nonesone! / shouldn't mind it at all.
Men are above trifies Of that sort" said
Harry, loftiy.
Really" Rosa laughed a little at his
grand air. Nevertheless, I'm disposed
to try you some day, when you are of
guard"
DO. I'll wager dollar to kiss that
I'll come out all right"
"Done!" cried Mrs. Leigh.
Harry, dear, wish you'd take me to
the Star Theatre tonight" said Rosa, in
her prettiest manner.
"Why, what's the particular attraction
there?" asked her husband.
young Hansum as Claude Melnotte."
THANK you-that's enough for me-"
he answered brusquely.
"Oh, Harry! He's perfectly splendid
in it! I've seen him twice already, and
am just dying to see him again"
For heavens sake, don't talk like a
matinee girl, Rosa! What women see in
that fellow passes my comprehension.
What don't they see, you ought to sayi
Has handsome"
Handsome! Come, like thati A
follow with red hair and stoop hand
ss0s! You should see him in the street."