The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1893-03-16
arOund-Were yOu."

arOund-were your"
/ Bob did not answer. He could hard
! ly feel that the conversation had been
I a success so far.
Il want to have serious talk with
you" he said solemnly
why. I'hope | always talk serious
! ly. But 20 on. | am dying TO hear
| You say something.
"Will you tell me, if YOU can" he
went on, why | don't get along bet
ter with people? People seem to hate
me instinctiyely, and why should
they?"
don't know why they do" replied
tone, for she really did not know very
well. I've never heard any girl say
anything about you one way or the
other, but I've known Helen so long
that perhaps they wouldn't say any
thing to me on that account. How
can you tell that they don't like you?"
"Well-I don't know - for various
| reasons" replied Bob.
Il guess the trouble is that they
don't fulfill your expectations. You
know that persons self-esteem is
equal to his success divided by his ex-
pectations."
"Rut why do YOU yourself go out of
your way to snub me on all occasions?
| should think we might be good
friends"
Surely. | want to be good friends
with any body that | see as often as |
do you. | have never meant to hurt
your feeling5-I never knew that l
could. But did you bring me in here
TO give me a lecture on manners?
Frankly, Mr.. Gardner, | don't think
you are the person.
No" interrupted Bob, q brought
YOU hither to ask you why you treat
me SO badly, because-I love you, and
A shrek Of laughter interrupted The
poor fellow. and Miss Shepard rose
from her chair almost convulsed. At
this moment Helen Gardner and Tom
Smith, Miss Shepard's cousin, came
| INTO the conservatory together. Miss
Shepard, still laughing immoderately.
exclaimed:
Your brother there proposed. OH"
As Bob made his escape the COM
biued shrieks of the three reached his
ears, but his sisters laughter was
faint, in justice to her, let us say.
Poor Bob, his head in whirl, feel
inc like an abject fool and crushed by
the blow to his vanity, no less than
chagrined that he had made such
confession to his enemy, as he thought
he regarded Miss Shepard, hung around
his mother and the older ladies for the
next half hour. How he hated and
cursed himself 1t seemed to him
that if he lived forever he must al
ways feel like a fool now. But finally,
as he was wandering around, he caught
sight of Miss Shepard in the hall with
her things on. about to 60. Seeing
that she was alone he stole quickly up
| to her.
Miss Shepard" he began, with
heaviness at his heart, 81 am very sor-
ry that you saw tit to make public what
| told you and made me ridiculous. [
had better idea of you than that.
What told you was true-why could
you not respect my feelings, even if
| they did seem absurd to you? ! think
Il haven't time to talk now." inter-
rupted the young lady brusquely, but
with the shadow of & smile; "those
girls there are waiting for me. And
hope, Mr.. Gardner, that you will find
out very soon why you cannot get
along with most people. But Bob"
she continued, dropping her voice,
don't be too angry with me, for your
sister and my cousin came into the
| conservatory an instant before you
knew it, and might have made fun OF
you anyway. If it is any consolation
TO you'll have decided TO accept you"