The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1898-06-22
MY COUSIN EDITH.
I spoke seriously to Edith.

the gravel ON my aunt's garden path
with the pointed end of her parasol. She
chose to willfully misinterpret my
words.
at will all roll in again. think the
gardener wants exercise.
Fred" went on severely, "is not
a man to be played with.
II don't play with him. His screw IL
too feeble for words.
81 am not referring to tennis. Fred,
/ repeat, is too good to be flirted with
in the outrageous way you are doing"
II don't fiirt.
"You do, Edith. Last season it was I !;
after that
"Oh, that was not flirting; it was
cousinly affection. Besides, you don't
count.
1T is the same thing. Fred is too
serious
"And therefore shouldn't be taken
seriously"
"And you are making him believe
that you care for him."
perhaps do -
"You don't. Fred is not the sort of
man you would like.
II am not sure. l like him sometimes
when he is away. He is a very rest
full man to think about.
''It is impossible for you to care for
a man
"Thank you. You are abominably
rude.
-"who is fond of Stuart Mill" 1
went on calmly.
81 didn't know he was. He never
talks about it. 4"
II should think" l unused judicial
ly, THAT he can talk about nothing
else. What can he say?"
"Oh, the usual sort of thing-very
much the same as you used to. >"
Fred never struck me as being par
ticularly poetical. "
"Were you poetical?" she inquired
innocently. / disregarded the question.
AS your cousin l am bound TO speak
seriously TO you, Edith.
"As my cousin you are privileged to
be rude. "
cit is the fate of good intentions to
10 IlsuuuSrslOOu.
"They shouldn't masquerade as rude
ness.
Erred is l went on.
Every wearisome. "
"Then why do you encourage him?"
/ asked iumphantly.
Il don't encourage him. l don t
think any of them want encouraging. /
can t help it tiff they think I'm nice,
can L."
"It is not kind
"To be nicer
"To make man think you really
care-and be laughing in your sleeve
all the while.
my sleeves are tight this year.
If you really like him.
How do you know don IT,"
1t would be different. should say
nothing AS it is, it is disgraceful. I"
Suppose do care for him?'
"You don't. You said he bored you.
"You all do but like some.
Il really think you have no heart,
Edith. Poor Fred will be awfully let
down. There was Charlie last month -
His hair curled-do you remember
how his hair curled?'
"Curly hair in man is effeminate, "
/ said. Mine was quite straight.
Never mind Charlie, let US talk
about Fred. l am getting quite fond of
! him. / haven't seen him all day. "
Il wish you would be serious. 1t is
really time you began to look at life So
berry. You are no longer a girl. "
Have you seen gray hair?" she
asked anxiously.
"As your cousin and man of some
experience"
Dear mel Why didn't you tell me
that before?"
81 am three years older than you. A
man gathers a great deal more knowl-
edge of the world than a woman. +"
THAT is why women are so charm
ing"
"AlI women are not charming.
"ThaC is so, +" she assented musingly;
Constance Droury, for instance.
Miss Droury is a particularly well
informed girl. 1 rather liked Con-
stance; she appreciated my poems. Not
every girl has the power to appreciate
my poems.
Eyes, about the failings of her
| friends. ~
''They at least are failings."
'She says so. -
'You are i'll natured. hope, Edith,
you are not jealous in temperament.
"Of Constancef Certainly not. "
She answered my implied question,
not my verbal one. knew by that that
she was hurt.
Miss Droury is very popular.
Fred hates her. think she's we'll
meaning but unfortunate -
81 was not thinking of Fred "
No, you were thinking of yourself. "
Edith had disagreeable habit of
reading ones thoughts-to be more cor.