Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1896-05-07
CAUSE AND EFFECT.

"Gossip-it's a confounded nuisancei
That's what I call it! Why can't they
let us alone? 1 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
Twas in hopes that you had not heard. "
'tNot heard indeed had two letters
this morning and three this afternoon,
four wanting to know when the wed
ding was to be and the fifth from a girl
asking to be bridesmaid / am afraid to
60 out. People fly at me at every cor
ner, shake my hands off and say how
delighted they are, and how charming
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 me. never was so taken aback
in my life. OF course we've always
been good friends, butt
Certainly not. =
"And ] don't think
Neither do / It's absurd Utter
nonsensep'
''No, but really-let us have it out
while we are about it. What can have
given rise to such 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 a jolly good dancer and all
that kind Of thing-but I 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 have. No, Captain May,
and have never imagined On the con
trary, l don't mind admitting, now that
we are upon the subject, that I have
cherished a secret grudge against you
because you have never given me an op-
portunity of refusing you. That sort of
neglect rankles in woman's s mind, and
now you see for yourself the awkward
position in which it has placed me.
When people ask if | am engaged To
you, / am obliged To confess that / have
never been asked You ought to have
thought Of this and provided against
it. 1t would have been 10 easy some
night at ball Or in an interval at the
theater-the whole thing might have
been over in five minutes and then
should have been able to say that had
refused you, and everything would have
been happy and comfortable. I don't
feel as if could ever forgive youl''
Sorry, indeedl You see | should
have been most happy, only could nev-
er feel quite sure that you really would
re"-
How odious you are! 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
save my life I 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 person very much and
vet find it quite impossible to 60 any
further. / could better love a worse
man. Y
Same with me / think no end Of
yoIl, but when Lewis came up and con
graduated me the other day l was
struck all Of a heap. If he had said the
same thing about a 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 men
who wouldn't agree with you, that's
one comfort. AS i am 81 utterly repul-
sive in your eyes, | think / had better
say Good afternoon at once and re-
lieve you Of my presence.
"What nonsense you talkl / never
said a word about your appearance that
1 know of. That's the worst of arguing
with woman-she flies off at tan
gent, and there's no doing any good
with her. l don't see why you should
be offended You seemed to think it
just as impossible to fall III love with
me "
That's different-I mean / don't
care what you think, but other people
think-that's to say, I have always
been told Some people think / am
very nice, if you DON'T think its per
fectly hateful Of you to say such things.
1 should like to know, just as a matter
of curiosity, what it is in me you object
to so much?''
''You won't like it, you know, when
you do hear. You'll be il a bigger rage
than ever. Much better leave il alone.
Well, if you viii have ii, I dislike the
way you ID your hair Wait moment;
1t means more than you think. 1t is not
only ugly in itself, but it shows fatal
want Of perception. Your beauty-if
you will allow me to say so-is Of
classic order, and if you adopted more
natural style Of coiifure your appear
ance would really be--er-uncommon
fetching! stead of that, you persist III
following hideous exaggeration Of
fashion, which destroys your indiyidu-
ality and il utterly unsuited to your