The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-06-22
CHAPTER Y.

In all her life Lefty had not heard
such language as this from the lips of
young man. She was inexpressib bly,
shocked, yet withal she was interested.
1t was quite delightful, she told herself,
she did not care to be seen in his com
pany by other men whose good opinion
she might one day wish to win. AL
though she had longed all her life to
meet man different from the men Of
her acquaintance, now that she stood
face to face with him she wished him
to be properly conventional.
Harold had not finished speaking
when he suddenly realized that this was
the twentieth century, and that the
world had changed while he slept.
do you mean to say," he demanded.
with sud,ien change of tone that was
almost ludicrous, that il is the custom
in this unenlightened community for
ladies to call upon gentlemen"
Il most certainly do" replied Lefty.
"Well." returned Harold after lit
tie period of silence, II think if We are
to be friends"-----
''As we should for grandma's sake"
eagerly interposed Lefty, who was so
anxious TO continue the acquaintance
that she did not think how her remark
might be taken until 1T had escaped her
lips.
"Oh, my dear fellow" she added
quickly. Il beg your pardon, I'm sure!"
Lefty was consumed with mortifca-
tion. She had always been careful not
to remind any man that he was growing
older every year and consequently less
attractive, and it was exasperating that
she should now have been SO thoughtless
as to remind this beautiful young fell
low that he had been the recipient Of
her grandmother's loverlike attentions.
As will be seen, Lefty did net quite un-
derstand the courtships of the nineteenth
century-perhaps because number Of
the books which her grandmother had
left her had been written by Howells.
Harold was far from being pleased.
It is never pleasant to be reminded,
more especially by handsome young
woman, that one belongs to past CEN
tury. Lefty could not but perceive that
he was hurt.
what can say2" she asked, dis
tressed beyond measure at his silence.
AS she spoke she went to his side and
tenderly took his hand in hers. Her
touch thrilled him, while it angered
him, and he pulled his hand away,
quite as grieved young girl might
have done in his day. The action re-
minded Lefty of previous firtations,
and she began to feel more at home
with him. She quickly dedded that,
after all, young men were all very much
alike, and that there was none of them
who could not be won by the lucky
young woman who knew how to work
upon their susceptibilities. She was
congratulating herself on the pleasure
she would have in Irritation with this
coquettish young fellow when her dream
was rudely shattered by the look of de-
termination on Harold's face as he arose
and stood before her.
Miss Everett, he said frankly, 81
should like to become better acquainted
with you, but cannot sacrifice all my
ideas Of the fitness of things to the alb
surd customs of this generation.
''Are our customs more absurd than
yours were?" asked Lefty.
They seem SO to me.
MAY that not be because you arc not
used to them?"
Perhaps so. However, do not mean
TO conform TO them in any way that
seems TO me TO reflect on my manhood"
''But they are established 49,
II cannot help that. 1 assure you I
would IL ! could. AS 4 said just now.
should like to know you better. Can
we not strike compromise that shall
enable us to become friendsf"
1--WE might try. I should feel fat
tered, I'm sure"
Suppose, then, ~ agree TO meet in
the park and dispense with calling and
few other Of the restrictions of society
conventionalitiesp will try TO forget
the customs of the nineteenth century
IL you'll ignore those OF the twentieth,
and we will be az free as the birds."
Lefty agreed, thinking that IL this
peculiar young man could afford TO run
such risk she certainly could. She
comforted her uneasy conscience with
-. . A. a. /. a IA a -