The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-07-30
A FRIENDLY HINT.

1890
with my hair?''
s'No nothing is the matter. don't be-
heve 1 was thinking about your looks at
all -
Chow rude to tell me sol I suppose
your thoughts were miles away. 1 don't
suppose you were paying the slightest at
tention to what was SAYING
''To be perfectly frank with you, was
not, but you need not be vexed with me,
because I was recalling something you
said to me long ago."
Something brilliant, no doubt"
He smiled. sit was such character
istic speech, - he said; $50 exactly what
never forgotten it.
''Then you have been disobeying orders,
for told you positively that you were not
to remember anything I said.
1T happened this way" he went on:
''You had just come back from New York
and had brought with you all manner of
photographs and books and
german favors, and don't know what all
beside, and one night you very kindly Of
fered to show them to me. When 1 came
to one picture, you blushed little, and I
asked: Is this the lucky fellow? Has the
heart you have so jealousy guarded found
its master at last?' And you answered,
with a shrug of your shoulders: BAIL
that mamie loves me too we'll. He lets
me see just now mQCn L am TO MIN. he
would bore me to death in week. "
''Well, - she cried, opening her eyes, ''and
is that ALI Have you been treasuring up
q foolish speech like thats Why, have
said ever SO many cleverer things since.
"But none more chaFacteristicP' he re-
piled.
edo you know" she said cit is humil-
iating to reflect that after being as much
with me as you have been you should
know me so little. 1t argues that am
either very stupid or very reserved. -
ST not know youl' he cried "Why,
know you almost as well as myself. Do
you suppose I could have studied you in
all your moods as l have done for years
without having gained some knowledge of
your disposition?''
She laughed slightly. "And have you
been studying me all this time? I hardly
think am worth it. Did you find me in
teresting?"
"Absorbingly sol And one thing that
have discovered about you will surprise
you. People call you fiokle do they MOTIFS
Sometimes.
'Wen, you have impressed me as being
unusually consistent. I thought when first
I knew you that you were the coolest girl
I had ever known, and 1 think so still.
You have never given me any reason to
change my opinion
'fCoIdH' she repeated. "I cold? That
just shows how well you have analysed
me!''
81 am not the only one who thinks
that" he said ''Look at those roses
pointing to a cluster of Brides in the vase
at his elbow. "The man who sent those
meant you to know that they were appro-
! pirate; that they are white and cold
and passionless, just so are youF'
"And do you know she cried, "when
opened the box and saw them my first
| exclamation was one of disappointment
white rosesl How vexing! Why not red
ones? They at least mean something; they
convey an idea. But thesel' And ]
pushed them away
81 heard yesterday he said irrelevant
ly, "that you are going to be married.
wondered if it was trueI'
f'Who is it now?'' she laughed "The
northern army officer or the South Caro-
lima physician?'
els it true?" he asked.
F'Do you suppose, - she said, holding out
a ringless hand, "that if had SO far for
gotten my good resolutions as to promise
to marry anybody would not wear the
| badge of my servitude?''
F'That is we'll put, the badge of your
servitudel' No, think until the fatal
words are said over you that you viii allow
no man the pleasure of publishing his tri-
umph abrOad!''
80 wise young judge" she cried, chow
| I do honor thee!'
ooh, it is all very we'll to laugh" he
said. ''It is an easy way to dispose of a
| subject, but you will never convince me
that you have any feeling-nothing
could
would you like me to persuade you?''
she said in her soft voice.
There was a moments silence, then he
turned from her roughly. "No; it is bet
ter that 1 should think of you as do now,
for I can be bitter against you, and that is
protection
She looked up at him dazedly. Hitherto
no suspicion of the truth had come to her,
but it flashed over her all at once and with
it great rush of pity and regret.
81 am going now,' he said rising. eff
staid, I would make fool of myself, and
it frets you to have people make fools of
themselves, doesn't it? And yet they are
not always to blame. You have faculty
for drawing them out, for leading man
on to reveal his tenderest and most sacred
thoughts. Why do you do it? When it is
all told, you are not apparently touched
What especial object have you in view?"
| For moment she hesitated, then a soft
answer trembled on her lips, but her
worldly wisdom came to her aid and re-
minded her that this was not the method
to pursue; it would only mislead him and
end in trouble. Better be misunderstood
herself than prolong his suffering by i'll
advised kindness.
'What object have I?'' she asked, throw
ing her head back against her cushions
''have 1 ever any object? I don't think I
have. If men will tell me their private
affairs, I am sure 1 am not to blame.
often wish they wouldn't certainly
would be spared much boredom. Now,
what have always liked about you is
your Indifference. You are so delightfully."-
, Unconditional, so free from the troublesome
sentiment that makes other men uninter-
esting. Dear GeOff''-she rose from her
chair and laid her hand lightly on mis-
sleeve-"if 1 thought you would ever get
like the rest, SO stupidity personal and all