Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1896-10-28

4 -
of twenty-eight, who, for his part, wa
considering the timepiece on the man
tie, whose hands were already vel
past 8 o'clock.
"Well, Andrew, do you find m.
clock every interesting?"
In some confusion the young maj
stammered an excuse, but she wen
on: 'tNow, don't deny it, yo1
naughty fellow. You want to know i
your visit had lasted long enough TO
you to take your departure decently.
"Not at all, aunt. Your guess !
quite wrong, for I haven't the slight
est; intention of going yet. But wh.
do you keep "a regular sun-dial lik
that in your drawing-room"
''Perhaps because I was born s.
long ago that it is and not the clocl
that is behind time. But come-in
| stead of criticising my drawing.room
tell me what you are going to do whel
you leave here"
SIN the first place I am not goinl
| to leave here for some time, but, whe,
have wearied you with my presenc'
until you cannot stand it any longer
it will be time for me to go to Mrs
Laton's tea."
"Mrs.. Laton-Pauline Laton?"
'sThe same"
"Ah, yes, I used to see her some
time ago. She is widow. l remem
ber her vaguely large woman
dark"
'''She is blonde, aunt.
s'Indeed? She used to be q bru
nette. And SO you are signing at the
feet of Mrs. Laton?"
"We are all sighing at her feet"
''Sbe must enjoy it."
swell, I rather think she does"
els it fun?"
"Yes, after fashion. We are al
ways the same little circle of friends
and then, besides Mrs. Laton, there's
sister, rather good-looking girl
and few other young matrons and
bachelor girls"
"And what do you do besides look
at these womep?'
eve take tea, we gossip and We
firt."
"Oh, obi"
"But, my dear aunt, one must dc
something between 5 o'clock and din
ner."
Evidently, md flirting is what
you have found to do"
st is way to kill time"
tI scarcely know what you mean by
the term. Explain it to me-"
"Oh, impossible. A definition for
the word has long been sought, but il
has not yet been found. Bat, given Q
young woman tete-s-te with young
man who is not fool, end l warrant
you it won't be long before you will
have practical demonstration. Fir.
tation is manner of being discreetly
iudiscreAt. To know how to hirt is
no comuon accomplishment. 1t is
veritable science"
"And is love science, too"
"No, it is rather On art"
"And marriage-what is it?"
"Oh, that is philosophy"
'Indeed?-at what age does one at
tain this philosophy"
''As late rs possible.
"It seems to me that at twenty
eight"
"Aunt, aunt" cried Andrew, spring.
ing from his chair, "confess that you
are concocting some terrible plot.
You look as guilty Us conspirator.
Mrs. Harmon smiled fine smile and
enjoyed for moment the consterna-
tion in her victims face. Then she
answered, after pause:
"Yes, you are right. I wish to get
you married"
'In heavens name, what have l
done to you?" gasped the young man,
with comic seriousness; and as the old
lady still smiled. he continued: "See
here, aunt, should never have sus'
pected you of such thing. You, q
woman OF Intelligence, a superior
woman, descending to the role OF
matchmaker 1t is terrible shatter.
ing OF my ideals"
"Come, come, my poor boy, do not
be SO cast down. The girl is charm.
ing, assure you"
"Of course" Andrew burst out,
"the girl is always charming. Oh,
know her; 1 can see her now; she
may not be exactly pretty, but, as you
have said, she is charming. She
dresses admirably, and makes oil her
own gowns. She stood OF the head oi
her classes in school, and attends lee
lures now. Moreover, she has taken
cooking lessons and can put up pre-
serves. She plays the piano, she
sings. she paints, and she has tidy
fortune in her own right. Bah! No,
thousand times.no! 1 do not want
this miracle of perfection. know
thing or two, aunt, even if I don'I
look it, and if I marry, shall marry
swoman who suits me, simply for the
sole and unique reason that she doe:
suit me. But know girls-they are
all alike, and I know what they are
and what they are worth. There ism
one who suits me, or can suit me, ant
I shall remain bachelor"
"And you go to take tea at Mrs
Laton's," murmured Mrs. Harmon
between her teeth, while disturbing
| expression came into her clear seeing
old eyes.
Under this ironical and even inquis
itorial look Andrew lost countenanc
little; be could not deny that to mat
rimony he preferred flirting with Mrs
Lston.
He was pulling himself together t.
reply, or rather to defend himself
when the street door bell was heard.
ga caller, eh? Is this your recep
tion day, aunt, or do you, too, Civ
your friends tea at 5 o'clock?"
"You are impertinent, nephew. A
my age O woman does not give q
o'clock hirtations.' 1t is not even
caller. lam sure it is my little frien'