Connecticut western news., 1896-09-17
MONTHS AFTERWARD

4
 "Gossip-it's a confounded nuisance, that's what I call itl Why can't they let us alone? I am accustomed to any amount of gossip People must have something to talk about, and I'm sure I'm delighted to be able to afford them any amusement, but when it comes to being smacked on the back and congrat- ulated six times in one afternoon, it's coming it a bit too strong. l don t mind for my own sake-a man can look after himself-but I'm thinking of you. I was in hopes that you had not heard.
 "Not heard, indeedl I had two let ters this morning and three this after noon-four wanting to know when the wedding was to be and the fifth from a girl asking to be bridesmaid. I am afraid to go out People fly at me at every corner, shake my hand off and say how delighted they are and how charm ing it is and how they always knew it would come to this and that we are made for one another-they never did know two people so exactly suited"
 Extraordinary! That's what they ssy to me. I never was so taken aback in my life. Of course, we've always been good friends, butt
 Certainly not"
 "And I don't think"-
 "Neither do L It's absurdi Utter nonsensep
 "No, but really-let us have it out while we are about it. What can have given rise to such a ridiculous report? We have been a good deal together, of course, because we are in the same set, and always seem to hit it off, and you are such jolly good dancer and all that kind of thing, but can't see what we have done to set people talking at this rate. Honestly, now-I am anxious to know-did you ever imagine-that is to say, did you think-I mean, have I ever"-
 "You never havel No, Captain May, and have never imaginedi On the con- trary don't mind admitting now that we are upon the subject that I have cherished secret grudge against you because you have never given me an op- portunity of refusing you. That sort of neglect rankles in woman's mind, and now you see for yourself the awkward position in which it has placed me. When people ask if I am engaged to you, am obliged to confess that have never been asked. You ought to have thought of this and provided against it. It would have been so easy some night at ball, or in an interval at the thea ter-the whole thing might have been over in five minutes-and then should have been able to say that I had refused you, and everything would have been happy and comfortable. I don't feel as if I could ever forgive youp'
 ''Sorry, indeedi You see, I should have been most happy, only I could never feel quite sure that you really would rel
 "How odious you arel You need not have been afraid; there never was any thing more certain since the beginning of the world. I wouldn't marry you to save your lifei would as soon think of falling in love with the man in the moon, We have always been friends, of | course, but that counts for nothing. | One may like a person very much and | yet find it quite impossible to go any farther. I could better love horse | manp'
 | Same with me! I think no end oi | you, but when Lewis came and congrat- | ulated me the other day I was struck | all of heap. If he had said the same thing about dozen other girls should have been less surprised, but it never occurred to me to look upon you in that light
 ''Oh, indeed! I'm awfully obliged, Pm sure, but I don't think much o1 | your taste. There are dozen other meI
 who wouldn't agree with you; that: one comfort. As am so utterly repul
 sive in your eyes, think had better say Good afternoon at once and re
 lieve you of my presence. 1"
 "What nonsense you talk! l nevel said word about your appearance tha
 I know of. That's the worst of arguing
 with a woman; she flies off at tangent
 and there's no doing any good with her
 don't see why you should be offended You seemed to think it quite as impos sible to fall in love with me"
 "That's different I mean I don'
 care what you think, but other peopl,
 think-that's to say, I have always beer told. Some people think am very nice
 if you don't I think it's perfectly hate , ful of you to say such things. I shoult
 like to know, just as a matter of curios
 ity, what it is in me you object to s'
 much. "
 "You won't like it, you know, whel
 you do hear; you'll be in 8 bigger rag than ever. Much better leave it alone Well, if you will have it, I dislike tn way you do your hair. Wait moment
 It means more than you think. It i f not only ugly in itself, but it shows
 fatal want of perception Your beaut.
 if you will allow me to say so-is 0
 a classic order. and if you adopted
 more natural style of coiffure your az
 pearanoe would really be-er-uncom
 monly fetching. Stead of that, yo
 persist in following hideous exaggera . tion of fashion, which destroys your ir
 dividuality and is utterly unsuited
 your style. It seems 8 small thing l '' itself, but it has farreaching const
 quences. The moment we meet l notic ff doy, # vou Hnoxr and fpa1 aDnOyaf