The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1894-10-31
A MASCULINE WOMAN

/ hate that woman" said Captain
NIillet. "Boasting of her prowess
with whip and oar, and fond of dogs
and horses She told us at lunch to-
day that she could swim like a fish.
You heard her."
"rhe idea of hating woman, n
good-looking girl like that too ! it's
unnatural, Cap" said his friend
''Don't you remember how, once or
twice during the war we huzzaed at
the mere sight of a woman's face?'
81 remember" said Captain Millet,
and he had some cause to remember,
as the empty right sleeve pinned to his
breast seemed to attest. I don't think
ever even disliked n woman before
but this is not woman; il is sort
of boy in her dress"
"Rather a charming boy" said
Paul. 'But for another pretty girl,
who is even more charming, I'm not
sure that 1 should have made my
escape with whole heart from this
merry, good-natured brunette"
"The plainest woman here has more
charms for me" said Captain Millet.
When Mrs. Silverspeer, Captain
Milletts married sister, had invited n
little party to spend some weeks at
her home, she had, as she supposed,
carefully avoided inviting people who
would fall out with each other. A
pleasant young married couple, who
were always to he seen in the distance
arm and arm, four pretty young ladies'
and four gentlemanly men made, as
she hoped, delightful assemblage,
with hospitable host and hostess,
ready to make their guests happy in
any possible way that might be sug-
gested. And when in writing to "Cap," ="
as all his relatives we're fond of call ing
her brother, she told him that Miss
Matte Bell would be sure to come.
She had felt that Cap would fall in
love with Matte as soon as their ewes
met; for eyes of velvet brown like
Mattie's and eyes of blue like Caps
often do great execution on each other.
But Cap had arrived languid, and a
little out of sorts; and seeing upon the
porch plump young damsel, boast
fully declaring that she had ridden
some incredible number of miles that
day and was "famished," he had re-
garded her with certain astonished
elevation of brow, which has made the
quick-witted creature secretly but bit
,terly wrathful.
What disgusting puppy!" she
had said of him, in private converse
with friend. And you know how he
spoke of her.
1t was secretly known by every one
that this state of affairs existed. 1t was
a little joke among the others; only
the hostess chafed at it. The guests
had paired themselves off SO delight
fully, and the repugance which Matte
and the Captain felt for each other
other made a ridiculous contrast to
the generel goodwill.
Besides" said Mrs. Silverspeer,
SIT must be so dull for Matte, to be
either third party or bcauless and,
dor the matter of that, it's dull for
Cap, too"
cts his fault, you know, my dear, Z"
said Mr.. Silverspeer. "Mattie is a
nice grill"
And this even Caps sister felt OBJ
liged to admit.
Every other man liked Matte, but
'she was not one to take advantage of
this fact. Budding courtships were
iblossoming there at Silverspeer, and
.she had no wish to blight them.
There was Paul Holden half in love
with her. A glance, touch, look
would have made it wholly SO; but
sire was merely a merry friend to him.
Little Bella Grey's heart would have
broken, as she knew, if anything had
come between Paul and herself. And
Miss Rodman would marry Mr.. Nj
chols, as she would not; then why
hold Irritation with the man? And
Prue Hill wore an engagem "a ring
'on her finger, that Richard d. Hon
had given her. So, if Richard Dillon
was traitor enough to wish to whisper