Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-09-27
A FRIENDLY HINT.

lieve was thinking about your looks at
all"
GLOW 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 1 was recalling something you
said to me long ago."
Something brilliant, no doubt"
He smiled. "It was such a character
istic speech, he said; $50 exactly what 1
might lave expected from you, that 1 have
nry"' forgotten it,"
Then you have been disobeying orders,
for told you positively that you were not
to remember anything 1 said"
at happened this way" he went on :
"You had just come back from New York
and had brought with you all manner of
souvenirs 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
asked; is this the lucky fellow Has the
heart you have so jealousy guarded found
it's master at lastP' And you answered,
with a shrug of your shoulders: 'Bahl
that man-he loves me too well. He let's
me see just how much 1 am to him. He
would bore me to death in week.
"Well, " she cried, opening her eyes, land
is that all! Have you been troasuring up
foolish speech like that? Why, 1 have
said ever so many cloverer things since"
"But none more characteristics he re-
piled
"Do 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"
II not know youP' he cried. "Why,
| know you almost as well as myself. Do
you suppose 1 could have studied you in
all your moods as 1 have done for years
without having gained some knowledge Of
your dispositions"
She laughed slightly. "And have you
been studying me all this timer 1 hardly
think am worth it. Did you find me in
terestingP"
"Absorbingly sol And one thing that
have discovered about you will surprise
| you. People call you tickle, do they not?"
Sometimes"
"Well, you have impressed me as being
unusually consistent. thought when first
knew you that you were the coolest girl
had ever known, and 1 think so still.
You have never given me any reason to
change my opinion"
"Coldp" she repeated. 81 cold? That
just shows how well you have analysed
meP'
II am not the only one who thinks
that" he said. "Look at those roses :"
| pointing to u cluster of Brides in the vase
at his elbow. 1.-THE man who sent those
meant you to know that they were appro-
| pirate; that as they are white and cold
and passionless, just so are youp
"And do you KNOW" she CRIED "when
1 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 these" And L
pushed them away"
~ heard yesterday" he said irrelevant
ly, "that you alH going to be married. 1
wondered If it was truer'
"Who is it now?" she laughed. "The
northern army officer or the South Caro-
lima physician?"
as it true?" he asked
edo 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 servitudeY'
"That is well put, the badge of your
servitudep No, think until the fatal
words are said over you that you will allow
no man the pleasure of publishing his tri
umph abroad!'
40 wise young judge" she cried, chow
1 do honor theel"
"Oh, it is all very we'll to laugh" he
said. at is an easy way to dispose Of n
subject, but you will never convince me
that you have any feeling-nothing
could''-
Would you like me to persuade your"
she said in her soft voice.
There was moments silence, then he
turned from her roughly. "No; it is bet
ter that 1 should think of you as I do now,
for 1 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
1 staid, would make fool of myself, and
it frets you to have people make fools of
themselves, doesn't itY And yet they are
not always to blame. You have a faculty
for drawing them out, for leading n man
on to reveal his tenderest and most sacred
thoughts Why do you do itp When it is
all told, you are not apparently touched.
What especial object have you in viewY
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 ill
advised kindness.
"What object have ~" she asked, throw
ing her head back against her cushions
"have l ever any object? 1 don't think L
have If men will tell me their private
affairs, l am sure am not to blame. 1
often wish they wouldn't certainly
would be spared much boredom. Now,
what l 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 his
sleeve-"if thought you would ever get
like the rest, so stupidity personal and all
that, should be perfectly wretched; for
after all, there is nothing like friend who
is nothing but friend, is there? don't