Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1896-10-02
MONTHS AFTER WARD

"Gossip-it's COMPOUNDED nuisance,
that's what I call i'll Why can't they
let us alonep l 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 ii comes tc
being smaoked on the back and congrat'
ulated six times in ono afternoon, it'f
coming 1t n bit too 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, indeedl / had two lot
tors this morning and three this after.
noon-four wanting to know when the
wedding was to be and tho fifth from u
girl asking to be bridesmaid. ! am
afraid to go out. People fly ut inc at
every corner shake my hand Off and say
how delighted they arc and how charm
ing IL is and how they always knew II
would come to this and that we arc
made for one another-they never did
know two people so exactly suited. :"
Extraordinary! That's what they
say to me. never was 80 taken abaok
in my life. OF course. we've always
been good friends, butt
Certainly not. +"
"And don't thing
"Neither do l. It's absurd Utter
nonsenser'
"No, but really-let us have it out
while we are about 1t. What can have
given rise to such ridiculous report
We have been good deal together, OF
course, because we are in the same set
and always seem to hit il off, and yor
are such jolly good dancer and al
that kind OF thing, but can't sec wha
we have done to set people talking a
this rate. Honestly. now-I am anxious
to know-did you ever imagine-thaI
is to say, did you think-I mean. have
/ ever
"You never havel No. Captain May,
and have never imagined On the CON
trary don't mind admitting now that
we are upon the subject that j have
cherished secret grudge against you
because you have never given me an op.
portunity Of refusing you. That sort Of
neglect ranklcs in woman's mind, and
now you see for yourself the awkward
position In which II has placed me,
When people ask If ] am engaged to
you, / nm Obliged to confess that have
never been asked. You ought to have
thought Of this and provided against IL.
1t would have been 80 easy some night
ut u ball. or In an interval Mt the thea
ter--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. 1 don't feel IN
If could ever forgive youl'
''Sorry, indeedl You see. / should
have been most happy. only / could
never 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. wouldn't marry you to
save your lifel | would NJ soon think Of
falling In love with the man In tho
moon! We have always been friends, Of
course, but that counts for nothing.
One may like u person very much and
yet find 1t quite impossible to go any
farther. I could better love q horse
mani
"Same with me! think no end Of
you, but when Lewis came and congrat-
ulated me the other day / was struck
all Of heap. II he had said the same
thing about "a dozen other girls should
H.. lana ,-y,ttuad h,tf
occurred to me to look upon you In that
light.
"Oh, indeed! I'm awfully obliged,
Pm sure, but / don't think much of
your taste. There are dozen other men
who wouldn't agree with you; that's
one comfort. AS am 10 utterly repul-
mve in your eyes. l think hind better
say Good afternoon at once and re-
lieye you Of my presence.
"What nonsense you talkl / never
said word about your appearance that
! know Of. That's the worst Of arguing
with woman; she flies off at u tangent.
and there's no doing any good with her.
l don't geo why you should be offended.
You seemed 10 think it quito ~ impos-
sible TO fall in love with me- "
CHATS different. / mean dom
care what you think, but other people
think-that's TO say, have always been
told. Some people think am very nice.
IL you don't. think it's perfectly hate
full Of you to say such things. should
like to know, just ~ matter Of ourios-
ity, what 1t Is in mo you object to sc
much.
"You won't like it, you know, when
you do hear; you'll be in bigger rage
than ever Much better leave 1t alone.
We'll, if you will have it. dislike the
way you do your hair. Wait moment.
It means more than you think. 1t Ia
not only ugly in itself. but 1t shows q
fatal want Of perception. Your beauty
If you will allow me TO say so-is Of
q classic order, and II you adopted 1
more natural style Of coiffure your ap
pearance would really bo-er-uncon
monty fetching. Stead Of that, yot
persist in following hideous exaggera
ton Of fashion, which destroys your in
dividuality and Is utterly unsuited :,
your style. II seems a small thing IL
| itself, but IL has farreaching conse
| quences. The moment we meet MOTTO,
1t, don't You know, and feel annoyed
The whole time am with you I an
worrying about it. 1t sets up chroni
state Of evaporation. Perhaps you don