The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-08-27

mani She shrugged her shoulders most
charmingly as she reiterated, each time
with quite new and singular intonation,
''The wit of man; the wit of man."
Most people would havo been put out by
the obvious double meaning Of this re-
mark, but am a psychologist-in fact
pride myself not little on my penetra-
tion. ] understood that she smiled at my
wit, compared me to others and sighed as
she regretfully reflected how few men are
really capable of such subtle conduct with
women. They arc few indeed.
Then she buried her face in her hands
to think, and, with equal unexpected
ness, came softly to mo and kissed my
cheek.
"Thank you," she said in a strangely
faroff voice. Though but a youth, you
are a great philosopher. Henceforth we
are friends. We will never allow society
to make us pose one to the other, but
meet somctim Is and rest together"
She tripped away out of the room. But
the door suddenly reopened, and she leaned
forward, offering hor exquisite figure to my
view like a bouquet as she smiled with
her sweet red lips. Tho wit of man; ha,
hai'' sho laughed MS she ran down stairs.
Nearly every day Mime. de Canaples
comes to sit in my study. Her work bas-
heb anu 1DbhS arc III q CFbl NLtl
absent the atmosphere Of her pervades the
room like spirit and soothes me. We arc
usually quite silent, but when do speak
she listens as she did when first read my
poems to her, and the Pickering gold In
her brown eyes seems to light my memory
and color my expression. The other day
she said, II know exactly tho position
which l occupy between your books and
cigarettes" Her tone was somewhat BIT
ter But / proved to her that she is my
most precious friend, for she never borcs
me, following all my moods and indulging
them in manner most surprising when
think Of it, Really am SO thankful
that for once I resisted the temptation OF
flirting. Love would have spoiled our
friendship, ns 1t does everything Even
Mmo. do Canaples torincnts her lover,
for shc is going to marry Jacques de Chan
dicu, at least she tells mo so. But on this
subject she lavishes oil tho caprice and
childishness which friendship seems to
have drowned in her with me- Sometimes
she speaks passonately of le beau Jacques,
who Is dashing officer of chassours, some
what brainless, very handsome and quito
spoiled by Nine. de Plot -Chandieu. At
other times alIne. de Canaples says that she
hates him, and her sudden rerersions Of
feeling are really beginning to torment him
into man of thought. He obeys her like
faithful dog; she snubs him us woman
does man who loves her, whereas with
me she Is unfailing in her gentle consid-
Grafton, ceaseless in her delicate attcn-
tions And the moral of all this is II you
love woman, don't make love to her. If
you love her don { marry her. l told her
so the other day. She blushed and laughed
until the teurs rolled down her cheeks,
saying as usual, THE wit Of mani" as
she wiped her eyes and composed herself
back to the letter which 1 was debating
TO my Loplon tailor
| But / do wish she would marry Jacques
and be done with it. Her capricious treat
ment of him and appeals to my sympathy
| arc rather teasing. She always wants to
| know what l think. Now, that is just
what don't do when she is by me. l
then simply take ropose In her society from
all mental exertion. 1t has become habit,
| and these constant demands on my reason
| ing faculties, though hattering, bore mo.
| Can no woman ever leave well enough
Alonet
| When she came in this afternoon, 1 saw
by the way she hovered about my chair
before sitting down that something was
on her mind. She wore red dress very
like that which she had on the day first
| met her at Mime. dc Rctz's garden party.
| She struck me as prettier than ever, and
her charming figure was a joy to my eyes
% she lay on the sofa or leaned over to
read my last poem. There Is about hor
something suavely womanly which acts
like charm on man. She has that fra
GRANGE of body and soul which makes me
feel as though life is really worth living
when she is at my side.
| Il am decided to marry jacques y she
said as she poured me out II cup of tea.
/ AT lastl Allow mo to congratulate