The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1895-10-25
ONLY A PAIR OF FOOLS.
By p. M'ARTHUR.

was very good, indeed She was wear.
ing the dress she knew he liked, and
her hair was made up rs she knew he
loved to see Tin soft folds ON the
sides and gathered into loose knot at
the back
(. Though there was much about her
petite figure and bright face that sup-
gested sauciness, it was quite evident
There was at least one person in the
world for whose sake she was willing
to subdue her teasing disposition.
Fred was really not late; but as she
happened to be ready to greet him be-
fore the appointed hour she was lust
as impatient as If it were long past. AS
she could not spend all her time look
ing IN the mirror over the mantel to
see II her hair was just right and all
her ribbons in place, or in admiring
her diamond engagement ring, she
finally picked up the morning paper
and began to read. After scanning
the millinery advertise she
searched till she found the swift and
| Wisdom" column. She then curled
herself in capacious easy chair and
prepared to pass the time as pleasantly
| as possible.
Now it sometimes happens that news
paper humorists are exceedingly wise
young men who frequently give utter
ance to marvellous maxims. As Nav
read down the column laughing at the
jokes and from time to time exclaim-
ing against her lovers hardness, her
eye was arrested by a notable bit of
wisdom. 1t read as follows:
mo girl but fool would marry a
man whom she has never seen en-
ragged"
How absurd, she exclaimed "What
good would it do to see him enraged?
1t would only make him say disagree
able things"
Then she unused awhile. "Well,"
she thought, perhaps it would be bet
ter to know before one is married
than after what disagreeable things a
man can say. I am not going to en-
rage Fred FOR any such foolish reason;
but, perhaps, it would be good fun to
tease him little. What can do? 1
couldn't enrage him very we'll without
flirting, and am not going to do that.
l know! He always says girl with
beautiful hair can make herself look
more hideous by doing it up untaste-
fully than in any other way-and he
hates to see mine made up in knot
on top of my head. I'll just make it
up that way and see how he will act
1t will annoy him SO that can tease
him just a little and then make up
friends. He deserves little punish
ment, anyway, for it is almost five
minutes past eight o'clock"
She hurried away to her room to
make the change just as Fred rang the
doorbell. He was admitted by the
servant and was surprised not to find
May prepared to greet him, but went
into the parlor to wait. In his hand
he had box of bon-bons he had
brought in payment of wager he had
lost. To make wagers with his fiancee
and lose them is the duty and delight
of every true lover. While waiting he
united the ribbon of the box, so that
she might get at the sweets without
delay. But still she did not come.
To pass the time he was at last
forced to take up the paper May had
left in the easy chair. Finding it
folded so as to show the "Wit and Wis
dom" column, he began to read the
paragraphs AS became a man of the
world, he shifted contemptuously at
the old jokes and smiled patronizingly
at those that were new to him. Sud-
denly he came to a dead halt at the
companion paragraph to the one that
was inspiring Mays conduct at that
moment. 1t read:
{ mo man but fool would marry a
girl whom he had never seen cry"
s'What Donsensep' he said, as he
passed on to the next paragraph. But
he didn't read much before he found |
himself turning back to that piece of |
wisdom.
"By Jove!' he thought, II have
never seen May cry. Well, I hope l
never shall. 1 wonder what is keep
ing her? Probably she is preparing
some little surprise for me-" and he
smiled to himself with that blissful
egotism peculiar to men who are en-
gagged. After awhile he reflected: II
wonder if it would really be very hard
to make her cry? guess not She is
such dear, tender-hearted little Great
IRE it would be cruel to try. Still
could easily explain everything away
and then we could make up friends
She really deserves some punishment
'or keeping me waiting. l believe III
pretend to be offended and make my
,elf disagreeable to her. know that
will bring the tears to her eyes in an
Instant and then I'll explain. To be-
rim, with, I'll pretend not to have
brought the candies" He went out In
"a the hallway 70 hide the box. Inc