The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1893-11-17
ANOTHER FELLOWS GIRL
How Geofrey Halkett Was Cured
of His One Failing.

i
l1ett 10y name-of few failiugs but chief
among them was the ineradicable con-
viction that he understood the inner
most workings of the mind of "A 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 to
me: II you know one thing thoroughly
YOU hold the key TO everything 1t
didn't strike me particularly at the
time. | had no reason for testing il,
but it's awfully true, Jim 1 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 lleenly interested in wonder
ing whether the cork of a soda water
bottle would come out easily, like
tooth with gas, or would require eX-
tracing with a wrench. The gas
gained the day.
Well he said, content now 10 daily
with trivialitics, and what If it is?''
We'll, I'll tell you. Sometimes this
knowledge is very useful TO You, and
sometimes-weu, its Just amusing. !
don't think I'm particularly conceited,
but ] fiatter myself that ! have always
had lnacl9 Of understanding girls. 1t
isn't thing = man cares TO talk about
much. In the first place ninety-nine
people out of hundred would put
anyone down as fool who said this
possibly, / am rather femininely
minded. In any case, ! often used TO
think ] could see things from their
point of view better than most fellows
and argue their cases in their own way.
Now, since | 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 his mouth
and attempted To realize an old ambi-
through d first
My experience" he said. when fail
ure tripped hun mp 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 abiding
to smoke rings or girls was not very
clear.
Look here, old fellow" he said.
you've either had one whisky too
many or too few"
Paddon adoptedothe only course open
to him.
who's the Door girl you've expert
mented on? Do | know hero
That's rather brutal way of put
ting il, but / suppose it's Kate"
Then" said Paddon, isn't it almost
pity that you are not going TO marry
her instead OF me-
Iallsett smiled. He was not a mar
rying man
When next the two friends met it
was ut the home of Kate Temple, the
maiden who, after being aualyzed by
one man, had pervcrscly fallen ia love
with another. Halkett, too philusoph-
ical 10 be jealous, had only fonnd in
the circumstance OF her preference for
his friend a further proof of the we'll
known law tnat ideals must be low
cred half-mast high when science passes
10y. In short, he liked her still, but his
attitude now might best be described Is
one Of slightly contcmptuous 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 McDcrmott
Ballarat. who doubled the parts OF emi-
neut specialist and family friend u the
Temples (for Kate had one incum-
brance-she was garrisOned round
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.
Halkett, 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
nouncement TO Kate that If Jim liked
he would 20 with him and look after
him. He had previously arranged il all
with Paddon, who was pleased. This
almost reconciled Kate TO her lovers
going 20 the further country. Jim Pad
don did not feel i'll, he said, whereas if
he went To place haunted by invalids
ne would grow worse out of sympathy.
The good-bys that night We're said
in chapters. GeOffrcy lIall,ctt left first
and kates eyes were eloquent when
she thanked him. She did not say
much, but he was satisfied. 1t was at
that moment that the eminently fcmi-
nine Thought occurred to her: What
pity Geotfrey should not marry some
nice girlr' Then old Mrs. Temple said
good-by to all and discrcetiy left the
lovers To settle the rest This look two
hours and three-quarters during which
time Geo frey leaned against a lamp
post smoking and thinking il rather
pity that Katc's eyes should Ice wasted
on Jim. lie was aroused 10y Jim rush
ing down the steps, almost lnocli ing
him down and swearing at him. They
walked 10 London that night. by way
OF getting mp strength for the journey.
The next day they started.
Isusl1in, who advocated once a 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 10
he relied upon with impunity His
lung grew lusty and strong in the
bracing air of the Rocky mountains.
bat he fell in love with a settlers
daughter just before the time when he
should have returned to Kate Hallxett
had noticed this emotion in its in
cipient stages. but Paddon had not.
nor had it even tinged his letters TO
Kate. when he contracted a prevalent
'pi aAA VI 4NNfi anu lt4t HtlAAcI ut.nEnleF
nursed him through it As soon as he
became convalescent he bestowed on
her a new Colorado edition of his old
love for Kate.
Now, Paddon's illness had been hal
xett's opportunity. Whatever sWerVeu
IN him, IL was never ms loyalty 70 ms
friends. lie wrote To Kate regularly
the invalid's health When
Jim regaiped convaleseence IL was
promptly brought home TO him that ne
should resume management OF ms own
affairs. but his new sentiment barred
the way To this At this crisis II seemed