Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1896-09-04
MONTHS AFTERWARD

"Gossip-it's a COMPOUNDED nuisance,
that's what l call it'll Why can't they
let us alone? I am accustomed to any
amount of gossip. People must have
something to talk about, and Pm sure
I'm delighted TO be able to afford them
Any amusement, but when it comes to
being smacked on tho back and congrat-
ulated six times in one afternoon, it's
coming it n bit toe strong. Idon't mind
for my own sake-a man can look after
himself-but I'm thinking of you. /
was in hopes that you had not heard. "
mot heard, indeed / had two let
tiers this morning and three this after
noon-four wanting to know when tho
wedding was to be and the fifth from a
girl asking to be bridesmaid. / am
afraid to 60 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
say TO mo. l never was so taken aback
in my life. OF course, we've always
been good friends, but
Certainly not"
"And l don't think''-
Neither do L. It's absurd Utter
nonsensel'
"No. but really-let us have it out
while we are about it. What eau havo
given rise to such o ridiculous report?
We have been a coed deal together, of
course, because We are i'll the same set,
and always seom to hit it off, and You
are such n jolly good dancer and all
that kind Of thing, but 1 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
IL to say, did you think-I mean, have
ever
you never havel No, Captain May,
and l have never imaginedl On the con-
trary l don't mind admitting now that
we are upon the subject that / have
cherished q secret grudge against you
because you have never given me an OPP
portunity Of refusing you. That sort Of
neglect rankles in a woman's mind, and
now you see for yourself the awkward
position in which it has placed mt.
When people ask if 1 am engaged to
you, 1 am obliged to confess that 1 havo
never been asked. You ought to have
thought of this and provided against it.
1t would have been SO easy some night
at u ball, or in a interval at the thea
ter-the whole thing might have been
over in five minutes-and then / should
you, and everything would have been
happy and comfortable. l don't feel us
if I could ever forgive you'll
"Sorry, indeed You see, 1 should
have been most happy, only 1 could
never feel quite sure that you really
would re-
How odious you arel You need not
have been afraid; there never was any
thing more certain since the beginning
of the world. l wouldn't marry you to
saw your lifol l 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 II person very much and
yet find it quite impossible to go any
farther. 1 could better love a horse
mani
"Same with mel 1 think no end of
You, but when Lewis came and congrat-
ulated me the other day l YVES struck
all Of a heap. If he had said the same
thing about IA dozen other girls / should
have been less surprised, but it never
occurred to me TO look upon you in that
light"
'Oh. indeedl I'm awfully Obliged,
I'm sure, but l don't think much Of
your taste. There are a dozen other mon
who wouldn't agree with you that's
one comfort. AS l am so utterly repul-
sive in your eyes, / think 1 had better
say Good afternoon at once and re-
lieve you Of my presence.
"What nonsense You talk 1 never
said a word about Your appearance that
/ know Of. That's tbs worst of arguing
with n woman she flies off at a tangent,
and there's no doing any good with her.
1 don't see why you should DO offended.
You seemed to think IL quite as impos-
sible to fall in love with me"
That's different. l mean / don't
care what you think, but other people
think-that's to say, Ihave always been
told. Some people think am very nice,
If you don't. / think it's perfectly hate
full Of you TO say such things. | should
like TO know, just as a matter Of ourios-
ity, what IL is in me you object to so
much"
"You won't like it. you know, when
you do hear you'll be in a bigger rage
than ever. Much better leave il alone.
Wen, if yon viii have it. / dislike the
way yon do your bair. Wait a moment.
1t mean Iaoro than you think. II is
not only ugly in itself, but it shows a
fatal want Of perception. Your beauty