CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1898-03-10
A Rash Experiment,
BY EUGENE LEWIS.
IXT HATS the good of it all2 What

NA HATS the good of IL all? What
wv can you see in me to make you
so certain that you can't live without
me? That's all nonsense. you know"
And the speaker tilted her chair back
wards and surveyed the good-looking
young man opposite her, with curl
osity.
Don't ask me TO analyze my feel
ings," he answered, bending a little for
ward. Il only know that love you,
can't tell you the why or wherefore
Love is too delicate, too fragile TO bear
dissecting."
The girl looked away far above his
head to where the young crescent moon
showed through the dark leaves of the
trees
Il don't profess to have any heart"
she replied. slowly I have never cared
for anyone, nor am ! ever likely to be
wildly In love. like you-I don't at
tempt TO deny that-bu: liking and low
ing are very different, believe. Then
NO, don't interrupt mel flirt-I can't
help it. / fiirted with you, perhaps
am flirting with you now-I suppose,
in the eyes of the World, am; but
am too fond of myself ever 10 be whai
people call in love. IL must be most
firing and depressing process, should
think. As / told you before, / have
no heart
THAT is true enough" he returned a
little bitterly. Some one said TO me
the other day: Miss Ysne has heart
like an artichoke; she gives away
leaf OF her affection to anyone, but
keeps the real heart entirely to her
self"
what a rude person. she said. with
smile. II daresay II is true enough,
though
"Now look here" said the man. ris-
ing from his seat and speaking earn
estly. "if you don't care for me much. at
iesst you don't care for anyone else. so
why not take me? am content to put
up with lukewarIn liking. il is better
than nothing, at all events
Damaris Nare considered a few min
utes. her fan to her lips.
VERY we'll" she said at last. with
a sigh. "Bu; you must clearly under
stand that there is one thing could
never put up with. and that is jeal-
ous husband. Now. ! am sure you
would be very Jealous"
TRY me-" he exclaimed. II swear
will never be jealous"
swearing is no good want a
proof
'-weu. let me prove it to you"
That is just what I want you to do.
Now. listen: am staying on here for a
little over n week. and what l suggest
is, that for that time we shall, both of
,,. IA, =. isixar.r ap1 sbaU taLa adtap.
tare Of it by flirting with the first inter
esiing man l can find, You. of course,
must not interfere, for you will have
40 opportunity to do so. For your part,
you may retaliaie by making love to
anybody, or everybody, IL you prefer
that; l shan't object, ] can assure you"
Every WELL" he said, despondently,
II suppose must agree TO that"
"Of course you must" she returned,
laughing. at is n most sensible ar
raugement. This day week meet me
here. about this time, and l win see IL
feel inclined to consent TO regular
engagement. i think II will be most
amusingr
roh, yes, remarkably amusing!" he
assented, in lugubrious tone.
We'll let us come in now. And,
mind, we are both of us entirely free;
II should choose TO marry another to-
morrow you would have no right to
object. nor should /, II you should-do
you seeG"
'Oh, yes, I see. You have a convinc-
Ing way of putting things. at any rate"
Damarls Nane had described her char
actcr pretty accurately, but she con-
cealed from everyone Including herself.
that she was growing fonder of Cyril
Hunt than any OF the other men who
had fiuttered round her since she came
out.
II was the general impression in the
section of society in which she dwelt
that Miss Vane was not only a thor
ough- paced fiirt, but utterly heartless
as well. The most affecting and touch
ing love scenes only moved her to
laughter. and she would Take off her
various admirers in sentimental atti-
tudes 20 her most intimate friends aft
erwards. That she had r-' chant for
Cyril she allowed. but si,g rs much
too proud 20 own that she ,avsd him. 1t
was quite true that she had horror of
Jealous men. hut the ridiculous test that
she had set him was but pretext TO
gain time. and she acknowledged as
,--..-s. - .--~~'s -~ - 49,. Nod h~~ v,,a~h-
sof6red drsperies into the softiyiight-
ed drawing-room. Damaris glanced
lazily round. aud then dropped into a
seat beside a tall. fair man.
II am going to bore you with my
company" she said, with glance from
her soft eyes.
III I didn't know you better, should
say you were fishing for compliments" ("
he rcjoined. with the eager look thai
came into most mems faces when Miss
Vane spoke to them. She giided OF into
some small talk. occasionally casting
Z glance AZ Hunt to see what he was do
ing. He looked little disconsoiatcly
round him for second or .wo. and
then drifted into chair beside Mollie
Bsntinck. . pretty-faced little girl Of
| 10, whose masses Of light hair and inno-
cent. brown eyes wsgo vooed ~ charm
Ing BY some people. sAU1RA the ma
toritx Of women ~oWp1nsrss TINT she
a =