The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-11-12
A FIRST ATTEMPT. !
BY j. "A. Flynn.
ITS an awful nuisance, Will and
Flo getting engaged" said Wills
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Young DTOlneT, rueIully.
II don't mind their being engaged .
said Flo's young sister, stroking her
cheek thoughtfully with her tennis
racquet. But | wish they weren't al
ways off by themselves. They make
up such good set.'
And there's no one else this morn
ing" said young brother Ralph, fling
ing his racquet, discontentedly, into the
corner of the tent. I'll give you 80,
and service every time. if you like to
have single, Maudie."
Maudie shook her head decidedly.
Ralph was fine partner-a tall, lis
som boy just 16, and growing into a
grand athlete-but as an opponent he
was rather trying for a little girl two
years his junior. You play too well,
Ralph" she apologized, land get so
hot. Father says you play better than
a man"
Not if he's a good player" avowed
Frank, frankly. will can beat me
when he likes. But there isn't much
difference between boy and man in
anything. really, you know"
"Oh, but men can do lots of things
boys can't"
What thingsP'
Oh-well-smoke."
Look here!" said Ralph, contiden-
italy, producing an ugly little clay
head with a vulcanite stem.
"Oh. Ralph You don't really, do
you?"
Don't just? say, Maudie, let's go
down by the brook, and I'll teach you
Ito smoke, if you like"
Little Maudie made funny mouth
Ibig sister Flo couldn't make prettier
faces than she; and Ralph had once
Iconfessed to a chum that he liked the
look of that kid" Il should be sick,
expect, and | don't think | want to
learn, Ralph"
well, let's go down by the brook,
and I'll smoke" said the boy, grandly.
Of course, he didn't insult her by say
ing: Don't tell'-that was quite I'M
necessary. So they went and sat on the
grassy bank. and he had few-a very
few-whiffs at his nasty pipe. Then
they started catching tiddlers with
their hands, and putting them in pool
scooped out of the mud; and he let the
pipe go out. A man would have relt it,
but Ralph felt that he had done enough
for honor.
"Grown-up people don't care about
catching tddlers," remarked Maudie,
suddenly, as he deposited the seven
teenth unhappy fishlet in the'pool.
Not women. Men do They like
everything that boys do, so far as can
see. Boys can do everything that men
can. Though can't see that women
do much"
"Oh, but they do. Lots and lots of
things"
well, they amt much good a games.
anyhow. They don't care about them
Ireally, anyone can see."
Some of them do. do"
But you're not a woman. kiddie.
Mind! you'll be in" and he rescued her
adroitly from overbalancing, as she
hung over the brook. 1t did not occur
to him that a woman might have lin
gered superfuous second in a mans
arms, just as his pretty comrade did in
his.
When I'm a woman, Ralph, I'll play
you at tennis. and beat you," she said,
saucily.
But you won't care about it really"
observed he. disregarding the threat
as unworthy of serious notice. You'll
like women's things"
What things?"
81 don't know, do you? What things
do women like?"
"Oh, firting going for walks with
young menS being engaged, perhaps
expect" answered little Maude, wash
ing her hands in the pool, and waving
them in the air to dry. Will would have
wiped Flo's hands dry himself, bat
Ralph merely tossed over his big pocket
handkerchief.
Girls can't do those things" he OBJ
served.
Maudie's eyes sparkled very wickedly.
"oh, but they could" she averred, "only
they haven't anyone to do them with.
Boys are so different than men. Of
course, they can't make love, or any
thing of that sort"
Ralph rested his chin refiectively up
on his hand. and kicked holes in the
bank with his heels. They don't want
To-; they could if they liked"
mo. they couldn't. You couldn't"
Yes. could. as well as you"
oh. no. you couldn't. My part is
easy-at first. ! have only to look nice.
lust see mel" She smoothed her hair
and dress. folded her hands demurely in
her lap and looked languishingly at
him. Then suddenly-it was very
shocking, but history demands strict
truth-she put out her tongue at him.
is that part of the programme, kid
die" asked her cavalier, giving her a
gentle shake.
1es-with a silly boy like you"
What would you do if were sensi-
ble?"
Nothing"
Then how"
You'd begin, don't you see!"
Ralph blushed and felt bit uncom-