The advocate., 1894-02-21
CHAPTER XI.

But there was something wantingon thewhole
don't know what, and therefore cannot tell
Which pretty Women-the sweet souls-can
soul. BYRON.
For the reason which the last chapter
made known to the reader but of which
Kate was ignorant, the entire week
since Christmas had passed, and Clar-
ence had not visited the COttereu home.
stead. Though one of those strange
Inconsistencies of the mind, especially
Of the feminine mind, no sooner did
Kate feel relieved of her dread that her
lover might come than she began to
feel incensed at him for not coming.
Had he not assured her that he would
come? Did he not know that she was
threatened with illness when they
parted? Yet he not only had not
come but had not even written to in
quire concerning her health. Did such
conduct show very dear affection for
her?
Now, when a sensible young woman
reaches this mental stage, it depends
very much upon what manner of man
her lover is whether affection for him
shall survive the ordeal Had Clarence
been a robust, Warm-hearted, manly
fellow, Kate's reflections would prOba-
bly, have been: "He has treated me
shamefully, but he is such dear, good
fellow" And next time they met he
could have explained it all in minute
whether truthfully or otherwise
would not have mattered. Such lover
may be safely thought about in any
mood, for memory Of the lover himself
will outweigh accusation. But let a
sensible girl like Kate feel offended at
the conduct of an etfeminate, conven-
tional, mediocre lover, in his absence,
and let her go so far as to reach the
mental inquiry, "Why should | care
for him anyhow" and his chances OF
remaining lover will likely be very re-
mote. AS have said, in this state of
mind the manly, big-hearted lover will
he almost certain to come out ahead in
his sweetheart's esteem. "Why should
love him? Why, John is the nOblest-
hearted man know, and he is able
and brilliant, too; and he is so hand
sOmel The dear fellOW | wish he
were here, and l would scold him till
he would say delightfully."- sweet things,
and we would make up. He didn't
mean to neglect me, really" But when
this question arises as to young man
like Clarence, the sensible young
woman's mind begins critical inven-
tory. Nothing special to commend him
as lover can be thought of. He has
mOney-or his father has. That is all.
Take that away, and attire him in
workingman's clothes, and what would
he bep He is effeminate, he is not
handsome in manly sense, he is
neither large minded nor large hearted,
but mediocre and conventional. He is
not poor, nor even minus leg or an
arm so as to excite a sympathy akin to
love. His physical, intellectual and
moral character may be summed up in
the one word, "little." Such an one
must never offend his sweetheart when
at distance and under circumstances
conducting to reflection. To reflect
upon him under the impulse of resent
ment is to make an end of him. AT
least it is almost certain to be so if
real man should happen to appear on
the scene before the offender meets his
sweetheart again and has been for
given.
From these sage observations, the re-
suit of a long and careful study ofsuch
matters, the reader may guess the re-
suit of Kates meditations when state
that only two days after it had become
certain that Clarence was not coming,
she became cheerful and even gay. But
she had been also thinking very seri-
ously about something else-about her
own future and that of her parents, for
as yet no letter had come from Over.
ton, save one of which the reader viii
be informed at the proper time.
One evening during the week sue