The Van Buren press., 1896-10-10
In SUPPORT OF A THEORY,

The house party at Westwood were
dawdling over their coffee ON the moon
lit piazza.
1t WAS a merry crowd; everybody
knew everybody else, and there was
much laughter and talk but suddenly
Il silence fell Then it became patent
to all that the couple seated on the steps
leading to the lawn were engaged in a
quiet but bitter alteration.
The girls listless air was in striking
contrast to the mans eagerness. Your
idea is an absurd one" he exclaimed
s0h, fie." she said, Ito speak so rude
ly to woman"
1T is not rudeness, but truth
.'Then they are apparently synony-
NOUS
Il can't help it; it exasperates me to
hear an intelligent girl like you"
.'Now where" she broke in, did you
pick that up? l am not the least bit in
telligent If were | would know bet
Ter than TO argue with you; it is so per-
fectly hopeless -sighing-"and you
do get so excited"
And who notwithstanding to
such impossible theories!'
"You don't have toi | never asked
you to talk TO NE. / came out here to
be by myself, and you deliberately fol-
lowed me. Why didn't you stay with
the others? They are all pleasanter
than | am"
Humility" he said, ''is a cloak that
fits badly on your shoulders"
My sleeves are too large, perhaps
but really you misunderstand-I have
an excellent opinion of myself l can
lie quite agreeable when / choose, but
um not in the-mood tonight"
"Thcn according to your theory you
ought to be most attractive"
''What is your theory, Kate?" called
her cousin.
Zone you have heard me express thou
sands Of times before"
'Shall tell him, Miss Doane?"
Certainly"
"She says that a man doesn't like to
eel too confident of a woman's etfection;
that ii is the element of uncertainty in
love. affairs that makes them interest
ing; that he enjoys being puzzled and
played with, and that clever woman
has only to appear indifferent to first
p:que and then attract him"
"Heresy!" exclaimed chorus of
manly voices.
"Mr. Stewart has omitted an inn
portant clause" said Miss Doane. 81
added that to do this the woman must
necessarily be good to look at and not
lacking in this worlds goods"
ooh, Kate, Kate" sighed her cousin.
"would you insinuate that the mascu-
line fancy is influenced by worldly adj
yantages?"
She shrugged her shoulders. 81 have
stated my case; you can make ii what
you choose" The hostess, who had
been listening idly, now put in a word;
1.-THE trouble with you all is that you
analyze too much" she said. "Why not
take things as they come, without wor-
Tying over their possible causes? 1t is
SO much simpler and healthier"
Miss DoaDe turned around. isn't
Madge charming?" she said, amiably
ITO hear her. you would suppose that
she had never seen the inside of a draw
ing-room. She always gets like that
when She comes to the country; some
thing in the air, probably 81
And you?" said Stewart, when the
laughter following her speech had died
away; has it no effect on you?"
1.-THE country? Oh, yes, it makes me
If that is possible-more indolen:
than usual" and she leaned her head
against the pillar and looked, not a.
him, but past him TO thestretch frosy
sky. antr
what an actress you are!" he said
''you are not the least bit Indifferent.
really, but It has amused you 10 pose as
such so long now il has almost become
second nature"
"To pose as anything involves Ger
tain amount Of personal exertion."
well. doubtless you find il worth
wlfiie, if your audience is appreciative,
ard il usually is. fancy" o.
''Have sou noticed 4 lose two clouds -
she said. at is curious to watch how
they keep floating first toward and the.i
away from each other, like people who
are playing at cross purposes"
You were evidently not listening ID
a word was saying
"Oh. yes. was. You were scoldina
me, but you generally are, you know
and you said something about my pos.
ing. You have told me that often be.
ore. and So"
and so-apparently there was no
need CT listening to mel had no idea
! was such q bore"
She looked at him, saying; "Now