The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1894-07-13

surance left her to q certain extent, ant
she was in doubt as to the next bes
thing to do. She was extremely anxious
to propitate the handsome guest, who
evidently felt himself aggrieved about
something. Lefty would have given
considerable to know how she had Of
Tended, for her heart was stirred for the
first time. She felt that at last she had
leen man who was worth the price of
her freedom.
why she thought ''he is quite as
tall as myself, and he looks as if he
might be as strong. If he is as nearly
equal in other respects, how companion.
able he might be!''
Lefty wo1ld have been surprised could
she have known that his opinion of her
was far less fiattering. She was used to
being made much of by the opposite
sex and could count by scores the men
whom, she was sure, would have been
glad to accept the protection which she
could give to one whom she loved
1 have nc good excuse to offer for
this intrusion" began Harold.
I beg, sir" interrupted the lady,
THAT you will not mention it. assure
you that ! feel most honored by your
presence in my home.'
A period of silent awkwardness fol-
lowed, during which each was waiting
for the other to be seated, for in that
day it was considered mark of impo-
likeness for the lady to seat herself while
gentleman remained standing. Har
old finally recalled portion of his con-
ve1sation with the old woman, who had
used this fact to prove that the existing
state of affairs had begun in his day and
had clinched her argument by remind
Ing him that without doubt he had
known many men who declined to give
up their seat in a railway or street car
when ladies were standing. Harold
settled matters by dropping into the
proffered chair. He had kept his hat
on, remem bering that the old lady had
said that twentieth century men always
wore their hats in the presence Of ladies.
He recalled the objections made by
many men in his day to removing their
hats when riding in an elevator with
lady, and he wondered if that, too, could
have been considered sign of approach
ing effeminacy Of men and if it would
have made any difference could they
have seen into the future hundred
years.
Now" he thought, II am ready to
make a call, twentieth century fash
ion!' Harold had always prided him
self on his ability to adjust himself tc
circumstances. He made some incense
quential remark about the weather,
asked about the latest opera and looked
SO self satisfied that Lefty was quite dis
gusted.
II wonder if all men in his day were
so assured of their own winsomeness,
she thought.
To have pleased her he should have
been charming without appearing to
know that he was so. Instead of trying
to entertain her he should have waited
to be entertained. Or if he were bent
upon being entertaining he should have
shown his ability to talk about some
thing of interest instead of wearying
AC1 With WCdh ACIhdI No uOOut tIO NOdth-
er and the latest opera. The ideal of
the perfect man which Lefty had in
mind was not worked out as to details,
and it was not easy for her to say in
which of the more common characters
tics she would have him different from
the men of her acquaintance. OF one
thing she was sure, however, and that
was that Harold should have blushed or
in some other charming manner have
shown his appreciation of the fact that
he had overstepped the bounds of con-
ventionality, and that she was better
than most women would be not to take
of the fact and be little in
sulting. Lefty believed that a pretty
man had no business to have unattract
i've manners What else were men good
for but to make themselves attractive to
womenl She concluded that if all the
men of his day were like Harold Win
throp she did not wonder that the war
of the revolution between the sexes had |
taken place. She decided to punish him
for his brazen effrontery by treating him
with no more respect than she would
have accorded another woman, and thus
It happened that she and Harold were
enabled to get on quite comfortably to-
yether. Their talk was mostly of the
differences which Harold noted in the
,ity during the last hundred years, and
le made himself very entertaining by
describing the streets as he remembered
hem. 1t was not until he arose to leave
hat the difference in customs was
ouched upon. Then he precipitated the
discussion by asking if he might not
all again very soon.
Lefty looked embarrassed. 1t was not
asy for her to tell this handsome young {
nan that he was in danger of getting
himself talked about most unpleasantly,
nut she had almost resolved to ask him
0 be her husband should she succeed
n making him a little more conven-
ional, and she did not like the thought =
hat he might become an object of I'M .
leasant comment among other women.
t seemed to her that under the circum-
tances there was but one course for her