, 1897-12-06
MAN VERSUS WOMAN.

Nj Gordon Watts had reached thar
time of life when Il man becomes Il kind
OF walking sportsman almanac There
was very little i'll the way of record
times and record distances" that Mr.
Watts did not know His soul was con
sumed with sport
10 be sure. he spent n certain portion
Of each day in Il solicitors office, but
this was sheer good nature, for it is I'M
possible to imagine any subject that in.
terested hin less than law. and it was
only i'll Difference to the wishes of his
family that he sat Oh al office stool
His real life began when he donncd box.
ing gloves. sat across his machine or
was stroking his club four.
MIR. Watts was at the height of his
masculine prejudice. Wien the man
versus woman subject came up for dis
cussion. he had one argument Can
anybody tell ME of one single record
which is held by a woman-eXcept, of
course, talking he would say
Having put this subtle question, he
would replace his pipe in his mouth
with the satisfied air of a man who has
disposed of u troublesome matter and
declines to be bothered with any further
argument, While the record for every
thing was beld by ''man" Mr.. Watts
failed to see how there could BIZ u doubt
IS to which WAS the superior sex.
Consequently it was IL cause of great
annoyance to him when one Saturday
afternoon a lady sprang into the smok-
ing apartment i'll which he reclined on
his way to Teddington.
This is smoking" said Mr.. Watts
severely
I'm very sorry" said the girl. who
had evidently been running for the
train, for she was somewhat out of
breath. 1T can't be helped. l had no
time to pick and choose"
The train MAS an express from Barnes
TO Teddington. and any ordinary man
would have been rather pleased at a
tete-a-tete with u nice looking girl who
showed no signs of being prudishly re-
served Not 10 Mr. Watts. 1t was an
intrusion. al invasion, of his privileges
~ u man The proper place for a WON
Al is anywhere you like except in a
smoking carriage.
"Do you wish me to put ont my
piper he inquired in a tone Of sarcasm.
Not at all. she said. "ln fact. l
think ! will smoke a cigarette myself. "
She produced a dainty cigarette case.
and, having lighted up, became absorb
oil IL, tl,n fnsl,inp v,Iafn ~ N loliaS' n
per. Mr.. Watts returned to his study of
Victor Wild's pedigree with u bitter
scowl on his face.
She was really u charming little
creature in her white blouse and tan
colored belt and gloves. If he had seiz-
cd his opportunity and tried to strike
up an impromptu Irritation 1t would
have been excusablc, but he was above
that kind of nonsense.
Here we are al last, she said as
the train drew up ut Teddington Il
hope ! have not annoyed you very much
by sitting i'll The same carriage.
Now, us everybody knows. the exact
force Of u remark depends entirely on
the tone Of voice. There was something
very provoking in the way she spoke
a kind OF light, semimalicious satire.
mot at ALL" he said gruf1y. DE
lighted to have your company. 1t is
quite the usual thing for ladies to use
smoking carriages.
1t was rather rude. but he was irri-
tated. No man likes to be laughed at
by . woman. especially when he de
serves it.
Mr.. Watts strobe away with gloomy
dignity to the ~boathouse, where his
skiff was h~arbored. and. having over
hauled it with the air of an authority.
padded lelsurely up stream.
Half an hour later he found himself
alongside the girl he had met III the
train. He gave her turnout q critical
look and was forced to admit 1t was de-
cidedly neat. She honored him with a
friendly little nod of recognition. to
which he responded by lifting his cap
very slightly indeed
Having taken i'll all the points Of her
craft and noticed that she sculled rather
prettily, he stretched his back with the
idea OF passing her
1t was here that II trinlng surprise
was in store for MIR Watts 1t may be
that the look he bestowed on her IL
her her boat ssa. was W. . ane o. f :. ;"s =. su hs n"iaE,
snsd his mac, sha nuickened hers and
Lent alongs;de
.Beautiful weather Tor the time of
tho vear ;sn,t itp'. she said with that
smile ON her lips
.ioyeIv'" be n,id shortly and set to
work seriously to get some pace on the
hoat, ref,stinp TINT the s,r,ner be not
clear Of this .~.confouuded girl" the bet.