The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-10-31

I
! foolishnesses and hirtations by tn
mere frolic spirit of youth If sh
cared for ne, if she cared for anyone
she would settle down and give tn
whole noble side of her character
/ chance to show itself"
But she doesn't care for YOU" sal
I Miss Helston, with decision.
Don't / say SOP" he answered.; bu
irritably, for no man likes to be toll,
these things
do you know why she doesn't care
for your" He looked an inquiring neg
alive. because you are just like every
body else
Your frankness, Miss Helston, i
quite refreshing
We'll, but aren't you? Every maj
who comes near her falls in love will
her You do the same. Every maj
signs and languishes, and brings hel
flowers, and wants to carry hel
racquet and post her letters, and tur,
over her music. You haven't giver
Lola chance yet to distinguish you
from the herd"
John Percival laughed. Frank, al
most brutal as her words were, they
were sTeetened by the subtle pleasure
every man feels in talking himself over
with young woman.
i suppose, now you mention it, he
said, that the symptoms of the dis
ease are just the same in all of US. We
love her and we show it; but don't you
see that short of risking my fate on a
definite yes or no there is nothing I
can do to distinguish myself from the
herd? realize my unpleasantness much
more than you can, Miss Helston. have
had twenty-seven years experience of
it-you only six months. It's about
that, isn't it, since We came to know
each other?"
Il never said you were unpleasing.
don't think you are; but you must seem
30 to Lola"
''Well, what can do?- he asked, I'm
patiently.
Il don't know. know what 1 should
do if | were a man.
"What?" he asked, and In spite of
he hung almost breathless on
her answer.
II should give her a new sensation"
For instance?"
suppose you paid little attention
20 some one else when Lola was pres
ent; that would be an entirely new
for her.
He laughed. "Of course it would.
How could anyone help-you don't
mind my treating You exactly as man
since you asked for my confidence on
those terms?"
No, l know no one can think Of any,
one else when she is by. But If you
AN make up your mind to pay a little.
40, good deal of attention to, say one
II the Gumpidge girls, who are really
7ery nice, If Lola would give anyone
he chance of seeing it."
lyon don't seem to like your cousin
-ery much" he said, doubtfully.
'On the contrary, I am extremely |
ond OF Lola, but, like you, I regret |
Ter lack of a serious attachment. and /
'eileve honestly that the only way to |
inspire one In her would be, to put it
plainly, to make her jealous"
At the back of his mind lurked n
eep, intense establishment to find him
elf thus in confidential conversation
Nth woman, and that woman Miss
ieiston. But he went ON as though
hat confidence were the most natural
hing in the world.
Don't think me a cunceited fool
7hen | say that don't think it would
e quite fair to Miss Gumpidge to do
hat"
OF course, 1t would not unless Won
Explained what you were after. But
lrely there's some girl among all the
Ennis playing set whom you like well
nough to be able to trust"
You're the only girl | ever trusted
could trust" Then a new look came
Ito his eyes and he said, SLOWLY:
Nould you-but You would mott
", what an awful lot Of nonsense we
re talkingr'
Ii you thought that you could play
lie part convincingly L don't know
lat | should mind" she answered.
'avely, land if were quite, qnite sure
at You cared seriously for Lola. Sc
ously enough, mean, for your hap
ness to depend upon whether YOU
arried her not"
Il care for her SO MUCH he said.
hat nothing in my life seems to have
~ value or any interest except at the
'lnts where other things touch her"
Very well, Edith Helston answered.
know Lola pretty well. and 1 be- c
we that the man who appears indif-
rent to her viii be the man she will
re for. If you care TO play the com
Y will help you play it But YOU
IL have TO play it we'll" she added. !!
tn rather sad laugh; 1t will take
rood deal of acting TO convince Lola.
anyone else, that you could look at =
other girl while she was bv." Il
i can play the part well enough. he
sWered; You have seen me act; and
ey say | am rather good at it. But
.er ali. isn't 1t all rather too much !:
e plots people make on the stage? u
you think its any good?"
just as You like She said. y
But is 1t fair to you-to give Won all o
S trouble?' he added. hastily. II
1 don't mind the trouble" She said. u
sky. Indeed, l shall enjoy it. and 4
Won tt mean il couldn't be cousid-
q unfair 10 me in the way you said ~
would be 20 the Gumpidge girls, be- q
-you,may take my confidence in
'hange for your own"-she said il 81
n burning checks but with steady b
:, i have cared for some one else d
; long time; that is why am sorry a
You aud willing to help You" y
Ter voice had IN it the first soft note W
had ever heard there. He spranr a