The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-10-30

mere already past three cioch. E5tu.H
nyoI Andrew, do you find the clock
very Interestingly" aaa-.
n some confusion the young man
hammered an excuse, but she went on:
nNow don't deny it, you naughty fell
50. You wanted to know if your visit
s I'd lasted long enough for you to take
Sonr denarture decently."
mot mt all, aunt. Your guess is
Ito wrong, for haven't the slightest
,En+antion Of going yet. But why do
ron keen a regular sun dial like that
4 your drawing-room?
Gperbaps because l was born so long
ann that it is I and not the clock that is
behind time. But come-instead of
.riticising my drawing-room, tell me
what YOU are going to do when you
leave here"
"In the first place am not going to
,oove here for some time; but when I
have wtaried you with my presence
until Won cannot stand it any longer,
will be time for me to go to Mrs. La
tons tea
"Mrs. Eaton-Pauline Laton?"
1.-THE same"
"Ah. ve-. | used to see her some time
i 200 I remember her vaguely-a large
. woman, dark
"She is blonde, aunt"
aTndecd9 She used to be brunette.
And so YOU are signing at the feet Of
Mrs. Laton?'
I'VE are all signing at her feet"
"She must enjoy it,"
"Wen. ] rather think she Does
as It fun?'
"Ycs after a fashion. We are always
tbe same little circle of friends, and
then. besides Mrs. Laton, there's a sis
fer. a rather good-loolling girl, and a
few other young matrons and bachelor
girls"
"And what do you do besides look at
these women?'
I'VE take tea, which we moderate
with rum. a bit of lemon; we gossip and
We firt."
ooh, Oh"
But. my dear aunt, one must do
something between five o'clock and
dinner"
"Eyidcuty, and flirting is what you
have found to do"
at is a way to kill time"
81 scarcely know what you mean by
the term Explain it to me-"
"0h, impossible. A definition for the
word has long been sought, but it has
not vet been found But, given young
woman tete-a-tete with a young man
who is not n fool. and warrant you it
won't he long before you will have a
practical demonstration. Filtration is
amanner of being discreetly indiscreet.
To know how to flirt is no common ac-
complishmeut IT is veritable sci
ence"
"And is love a science, too?" ....
"No, II is rather an art"
"And uarriacc-whati is it?''
"ob that is philosophy"
"1ndeed? At what age does one at,
tain this philosophy"
AS late as possible"
at seems to me that at 2S--' Blk
"Aunt aunt" cried Andrew, spring
Ing from his chair, Confess that you
are concocting some terrible plot. You
look as guilty as a conspirator."
Mrs. Harmon smiled a fine smile and
enjoyed for a moment the consterna-
ton in her victims face. Then she an
swered, after a pause:
"Yes, yon are right. | wish you to
get married" rs.9ta
IN heavens name what have / done
to you?' gasped the young man, with
comic seriousness: and, as the old lady
still smiled. he continues: "See here.
aunt, | should never have suspected
you Of such a thing. You, a woman OF
intelligence. superior woman, de-
scending to the role of matchmaker
tits terrible SCATTERING of my ideals
Come. come. my poor boy, do not be
80 cast down. The girl is charming, /
can assure you" go Utln
"0f course" Andrew burst out, "the
girl is always charming. Oh, know
her; | can see her now; she may not be
exactly pretty, but, as you have said.
she is charming. She dresses admira-
oly' and makes all her own gowns. She
stood at the head of her classes in
school, and attends lectures now. More
over, she has taken cooking lessons and
can put up preserves. She plays the
piano, She sings, she paints, and She has
tidy fortune in her own right. Bah!
NO, a thousand times, no! / do not
want this miracle of perfection. II
Know thing or two, aunt, even if j
cont look it, and if / marry, i shall
marry woman who suits me. But |
Know girls-they are all alike-and !
Know what they are and what they are
worth. There isn't one who suits me.
or can suit me, and shall remainfa
bachelor" o.-+.,r
And you go to take tea at Mrs.
Laton's,' murmured Mrs. Harmon be-
tween her teeth, while disturbing ex-
preston came into her clear-seeing old
eyes f.fe1vfy h
Under this ironical and even inquisi-
orlal look Andrew lost countenance a
H'te; he could not deny that to ma tri'
Iony he preferred flirting with Mrs
Laton.
lie was pulling himself together to re-
piy' or rather to defend himself. when
'ne street door bell was heard. i49i3
"A caller, Ell? Is this reception
uay' aunt. or do you,, too, give your
friends tea at five o'clock p .tiEs ss3s.,.4 Il
fou are impertinent, nephew. sAt
NY age woman does not give five
UC0Qk Hfr4a - - an a.