Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-07-24


we old bachelors miss great deal IN
life. What would / not give to be
once again my nephews age. l snouio
know how to use my opportunities.
But you aren't really bit old, ana,
besides, men never understand us Dit
until they have had twenty years ex-
perience of the world"
Undoubtedly this remark was IN
tended as a side shot at my nephew,
but that youth gave no sign OF having
! heard the remark.
81 fear that we never really under
stand you thoroughly" said /; the
study of your charming sex is like the
study of a book each page of which re-
quires pages and pages OF explanatory
notes."
Have you read much Of the book"
asked Amy, with little side glance
out of the corner of her gray eyes.
at never get further than the trst
chapter" / replied, with sigh.
"And what did you find to prevent
you from getting further"
II found that twenty different wo-
men might possess twenty different
sets of charming qualities, all so de-
| liciously attractive and so emlnently
! desirable that, for the life or me,
could not make up my mind to content
myself with any one of the dear crea-
lures to the exclusion of the rest; and
| as. unfortunately, the custom OF the
| country in which we live does not per-
NIT a man to be married to more than
| one woman at a time, l am obliged to
| remain a forlorn old bachelor love
| too much to love exclusively"
II think you put that rather nicely,
| said Amy rehectively; but isn't It
only a pretty excuse for a mans in
constaney?"
my dear young lady" said l, laugh
ing. consistency is only another name
for narrow mindedness. Suppose, Tor
! instance, that l had been married ten
years ago; what would have been my
position at the present moment
II don't quite understand, Mr. ste
vens."
Miss Creswell is evidetly unaware
of her own attractions" said l; there
is a marginal note, Destructive to pre-
vious attachments against your name
in the book of which | was speaking:
"You mustn't talk nonsense, said
my little neighbor, demurely; but, be-
tween ourselves, l fancy that she was
not particularly vexed at the innuendo.
what about men from a woman's
point of vieW?" she Sc1tinued present.
| ly. "Are you men such paragons that
we poor women must be sausned WIN
a share of one Of your
There are not enough to go round,
l murmured.
Suppose, now, that we started the
theory that no man possessed EeOre
than one or two Of the many virtues
which a perfect man should possess"
continued Amy, ignoring my Interrupt
ton.
"That's Just the difficulty" said I.
eve are all sadly unequal to the re-
ouirements of the case Either we are
too young or too old, too tall or TOO
short, too amiable or too exactlng, Toe
ardent or too cool, too ugly or not
handsome enough
That's the same thing" interrupted
Amy.
pardon me, there is subtle differ
ence."
and YOU, yourself, Mr.. Stevens"
81 fear" said 1, with regretfu
glance at my pretty companion, thai
in these days most ladies consider me
too old for anything but stop-gap.
tndU pUIHS
Upon my word, when talk to you
1 almost begN0 to feel that you are
right and thatA am not so very old, az
ter all"
rs it pleasant illusion, Nj. Ste.
vens?"
1T has its drawbacks.
(Which are?" said Amy, raising heI
prettily arched eyebrows.
MY nephew is one Of them just
now" said l, glancing at Gerald, and
in truth the boys rueful countenance
did rather take the edge off my appre-
citation of the situation.
Hes horribly cross tonight" said
Amy. "and it serves him right"
"rell me-" said l suddenly, looking
full at my little neighbor, docs it give
you pleasure TO make him unhappy
Poor little Amy's lip quivered, but
she replied: He shouldn't have oeen
so horrid about Captain Lachmere."
Il have no doubt Captain Lachmere
is a very charming man." said |, but
81 hate him!" said Amy, pouting,
"and if your nephew had any sense he
would know that.
"Of course he ought to, especially as
you said that the gentleman was one OF
your particular friends and that you
liked him so much"
You mustn't take everything which
woman says about one man 10 an
other too literally"
1T is perhaps wise to allow a liberal
discount" / agreed. ,-uos,.
At this moment Mrs. Willard gave
the signal for the ladies to retire, and
our conversation was brought to an
untimely end.
We men were left to enjoy our wine
and cigars and as l pulled meditative-
ly at an excellent Havana and slipped
Wizards unexceptionable port / real
" felt at peace with all the world.
Poor Gerald drank his wine in
moody silence, and when he joined the
ladies he declined to notice the vacant
| seat next TO Amy and went over TO
where that wicked little fiirt May
Walshe was sitting and commenced a
voluble conversation.
l fancy that the young lady in ques-
tion rather enjoyed her triumph over
| Amy. for Gerald was an eminently
presentable youth and before Miss
| Creswell had appeared upon the scene
he had flirted good deal with this
Miss Walshe. And we all know that,
however amiable girl may be, she
does not as a rule regard with sincere
cordiality the rival who has supplant-
IL L - nd q