The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1898-10-19

eac1 Ot1er ana never WllllnSly mlSSe0
an opportunity to enjoy each others
company. I knew be would accept my
invitation, and when be did SO felt a
little touch Of conscience. A person of
my sagacity would hardly be expected
to invite q man like Mr.. Radmore into
company Of girls like Mae, Alice and
Carroll Indeed I did not know what
excuse should make to their i1ammas,
but, in spite of the past record of Lau-
rance RadmUre, something must be done
to save Charlie from his pending fate.
Constance, Of course, was above re-
proach, no matter whose record was in
question.
The morning that Mr.. Radmore ar
rived Charlie and Constance had gone
over to a neighboring sheep farm to get
pet lamb for her. 1t seemed to me
that she might have found Charlie lamb
enough, if her taste was for pets Of that
sort. She looked very witching with
the white little bit of thing cuddled
in her arms against trim black gown
and the SUNSHINE Oh her yellow hair.
To hear her laugh you would not have
believed that she could not sing note
or that she was an hour over 20. Mr..
Radmore was surprise to her, and she
gave me look that said very plainly,
ooh, | UNDERESTIMATE But she deter
mined to keep Charlie at beck and call.
Yet even for the pleasure Of spiting me
she could net keep to her resolution and
devote her time to him. The fascina-
tion Mr.. Radmore possessed for her was
too great, and he had not been there
two days till saw with delight that
Charlie was left to his own devices.
The dear boy was not very good ma
tured over it. He suspected my maneu-
yer and at once turned to Alfred for
sympathy. l suppose they had mutual
cause against Mr.. Radmore, and for that
reason they were drawn toward each
other At any rate, Charlie refrained
from giving me any condolences. Conse-
quently much that I relate from this
on is gathered from Alfreds observa-
ticn and subsequent condolences. Alfred
is not one of those perfect husbands
that for the most part belong to widows;
but, thank fortune, he will sooner or
later tell his wife all matters Of inter
est that come to his knowledge.
Constance and Mr.. Radmore glided
easily into their familiar relations, and
Charlie showed all his early bringing up
by becoming at once the most uninter-
esting of farmers Laurance Radmore
used to look at him with those quizzical
gray eyes and smile knowingly. One
day be said to Constance, "It's pity
that country boy has fallen in love
with you
"Indeed you compliment me, but
your surmise is not correct. "
Then Mr.. Eadmore assumed his ju-
dicial air and said, "You would not try
to tell me that You are not cognizant OF
an affair of this nature, with all your
experience?'
'"The 10y has been too bashful to pay
attention to any enc else, and I have
helped him out. l have not done bit
of mischief. may have bothered Mae
little, as she wants to marry him to
one or the other Of the girls.
"And you have made that an inpos-
sibilisy for him."
"Well, no, though fancy he is not
in love with either CT them"
(Which he would be had you allow
ed him.
"Mr. Radmore, you are ezaspe1at-
ing"
"No. am exasperatcd."
"By me?"
"Thou sayest it. The boy has the
making Of a fine fellow. but his expe:
rience with you willru:u him.
Nonsense. The little attention I
have shown him will give him an in
sight into woman S ways, and it will be
easier for him to succeed when be really
falls in love-
"Ee will not fall in love again.
crash statement. He is but g."
"Men never love but once.'
lyon are increasing in rashness.
who most has loved the best can love
again. .
"That applies only to women. A
woman's first love affair paves the way
for all others. lis only value to her is
by way of experience and to sentimen-
talize over, like her first ball"
"Ycu dare assert that men have but
one love??'
"Only one in which they take the
leading role: In ill others the woman
leads That is, they do the loving, and
men delight in the fattery Of being
loved. That's why men marry
"Do they rever marry for love:"
"The instances are rare. Every story
turns out that way, but in real life it
takes detective to find such case"
"And the result when they do?'