Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-01-18
Only a Pair Of Fools.
7. MArthur in n. Y. Truth.

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 sug-
gested sauciness, it was quite evident
there was at least one person in the
world who was willing to subdue her
teasing disposition. Fred was really
not late; but as she happened to be
ready to greet him before the appoint
ed hour she was just as impatient as it
it were long past. As she could not
spend all her time looking in the mir
ror over the mantle to see ii her hair
was just right and all her ribbons in
place. or in admiring her diamond en-
gagement ring, she finally picked up
the morning paper and began to read.
After scanning the millinery advertise
ments she searched till she found the
"Wit and Wisdom" column. She
then curled herself in a capacious easy
chair and prepared to pass the time rs
pleasantly as possible.
Now it sometimes happens that
newspaper humorists are exceedingly
wise young men who frequently give
utterance to marvellous maxims. As
May read down the column, laughing
at the jokes and from time to time ex-
claiming against her lovers tardiness,
her eye was arrested by notable bit
of wisdnm 1t reads as follows:
mo girl but fool would marry a
man whom she has never seen enrag.
ed"
How absurd" she exclaimed
"What good would it do to see him
enraged? 1t would only make him
say disagreeable things"
Then she unused awhile. We'll,
she thought, perhaps it would he
better to know before one is married
than after what disagreeable things Il
man can say. / am not going 10 en-
rage Fred for any such foolish reason !;
but, perhaps, it ould be good fun to
tea. him a little. What can ! do !?
| couldn't enrage him very well with
out flirting, and | am not going to do
that. I know. He always says a
girl with beautiful hair can make her.
self look more hideous by doing it up
untastefully than in any other way
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
punishment, 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 boms he had
brought in payment of wager he had
lost. To make wagers with his fiance
and lose them is the duty and delight
of every true lover. While waiting
he united the ribbon OF the box, 50
that she might get at the sweets with
out 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
Wisdom" column, he began to read
the paragraphs. AS became man OF
the world, he sniffed contemptuously
at the oil Jokes and smiled patroniz-
ingly at those that were new TO him.
Suddenly he came to dead halt AT
the companion paragraph to the one
that was inspiring Mays conduct AT
that moment. 1t read
"No man but a fool would marry 4
girl whom he had never seen cry"
"What nonsense - lie said, rs he
passed ON the next paragraph. But
he didn't read much before he found
himself turning back TO that piece oI
wisdom.
by Jover' he thought, Il have
never seen May cry. Well, | hope |
never shall. | wonder what is keep
ing her? Probably she is preparing
some little surprise for me :" and h,
smiled to himself with that biss!u
egotism peculiar TO men who are Ell
gagged. After awhile he reflected 81
. wonder if it would really be very hard
TO make her cry? | guess not. Sh,
is such a dear, tender hearted little
creature it W 0uld he cruel to try. Sill
could easily explain everything
away and then we could make "
friends. She really deserves somC
punishment for keeping me waiting
| believe I'll pretend TO he ofiende,
and make myself disagrecable to her
| know that will bring the tears to he
eyes ir an instant and then III ex
plain. To begin with, I'll preten,
not to have brought the candies" Ill
, went out into the hallway to hide th'
box. The first place that suggeste'
itself was his hat, and he dropped the
box into its ample depth. He had nc
sooner returned Ia the parIor thar