The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-10-06
ANOTHER FELLOWS GIRL
How Godfrey Hslkett Was Cured
of His One Failing.

There was man Once-GeOf1rey Hal
kett by name-of few failiugs, but chief
among them was the ineradicable con-
viction that he understood the inner
most workings of the mind of girl.
"A clever beggar once knew he
explained one night TO his old intimate.
Paddon-''in fact. about the cleverest
beggar ever did know-once said 10
me: If you know one thing thoroughly
you hold the key to everything It
didn't strike me particularly at the
time. had no reason for testing it,
but it's awfully true, jim ! can see it
now"
1t was in Jim Paddon's rooms in
Gray's inn that this sententious remark
was uttered. Jim Paddon was at the
moment keenly interested in wonder
ing whether the cork of soda water
bottle would come out easily, like a
tooth with gas, or would require ex-
tracing with wrench. The gas
gained the day.
WELL" he said, content now to daily
with trivialitics, land what If it is?'
'Well, I'll tell you. Sometimes this
knowledge is very useful to you. and
sometimes-well, it's just amusing. l
don't think I'm particularly conceited,
but / natter myself that have always
had knack of understanding girls. It
isn't thing a man cares to talk about
much. In the first place pinety-nine
people out of hundred would put
anyone down as fool who said this
possibly, 1 am rather femininely
minded. In any case, often used to
think I could see things from their
point of view better than most fellows
and argue their cases in their own way.
Now, since 1 have thoroughly under
stood one girl, know / can do this.
And what is the consequence? Why,
they never astonish me now"
Paddon took his pipe from bis mouth
and attempted to realize an old ambi-
ton, and blow a second smoke ring
through first
MY experience" he said. when fall
ure tripped hum up remorselessly, lis
that they vary too much. No two are
alike and they always get mixed up,
and to try to put them right is the
worst of ALL" Whether he was alluding
to smoke rings @or girls, was not very
clear.
"Look here. s,old fellow" he said,
'.you've either had one whisky too
many or too few"
Paddon adopteduthe only course open
to him.
"Who's the poor girl you've expert
mented on? Do know her?'
That's rather brutal way of put
ting it, but suppose it's Kate"
Then" said Paddon, isn't it almost
a pity that you are not going to marry
her instead of me-"
Halkett smiled. $ He was not q mar
rying man.
When next the k.two friends met it
was at the home of Kate Temple, the
maiden who. after being analysed by
one man, had perversely fallen in love
with another. Halkett, too philosoph-
ical to be jealous, had only found in
the circumstance of her preference for
his friend further proof of the we'll
known law that ideals must be low.
cred half-mast high when science passes
by. q In short, he liked her still, but his
attitude now might best be described as
one of slightly contemptuous sympathy.
The circumstances under which they
all met were now rather depressing.
James Paddon had many weaknesses,
and one Of them had just attained an
alarming prominence, Sir McDermott
Ballarat, who doubled the parts of emf
nent specialist and family friend to the
Temples (for Kate had one incum-
brance-she was garrisoned round
a bout by maiden aunt with fads), had
Just discovered that his dear young
friend Paddon possessed only one lung
instead of the normal number, and that
that interesting relic must on no ac-
count be allowed to winter in England.
1t was now September. The young
man might take his lung to Davos
Platz or to Colorado, but he must be off
without delay.
Halhett, like most people. was at his
best in emergencies. The one cheering
fact to the Temples on this last de-
pressing evening was his quiet an |
to Kate that If Jim liked |
he would go with him and look after
him. He had previously arranged it all
with Paddon, who was pleased. This !
almost reconciled Kate to her lovers !
going to the further country. Jim Pad |
don did not feel i'll, he said, whereas if |
he went to place haunted by invalids |
he would grow worse out of sympathy. |
The good-bys that night were said |
in chapters. Godfrey Halkctt left first |
and Hates eyes were eloquent when |
she thanked him. She did not say |
much, but he was satisfied. 1t was at
that moment that the eminently femi-
nine thought occurred to her: What
pity Godfrey should not marry some /
nice girl!'' Then old Mrs. Temple said |
good-by to all and discreetly left the |
lovers to settle the rest This look two
hours and three-quarters. during which
time Geo frey leaned against lamp
post smoking and thinking it rather .
pity that Hates eyes should be wasted
On Jim He was aroused by Jim rush
ing down the steps, almost knocking |
him down and swearing at him. They
walked to London that night, by way
Of getting up strength for the journey.
Tie next day they started.
Ruskin, who advocated once period
Of heightened probationary absence for
the young man in love. probably fore
saw the advantage of taking steps /
which would cancel fifty per cent of
first engagements Paddon was not TO
be relied upon with impunity. His
Jung grew lusty and strong IA she
b-acing air of the Rocky mountains.
but he fell in love with settlers
daughter just before the time when he