Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-04-05
MY COUSIN EDITH.
smoke seriously to Edith.

M lOUOlN Ell i H.
spoke seriously to Edith.
81 think you are behaving disgrace
fully"
She looked up. She was scratching
the gravel on my aunt's garden path
with the pointed end Of her parasol. She
chose to willfully misinterpret my
words
1T will all roll in again. | think the
gardener wants exercise.
Fred" went on severely, lis not
q man 10 be played with "
II don't play with him. His screw is
too feeble for words.
II am not referring 10 tennis. Fred,
I repeat is too good to be fiirted with
in the outrageous way you are doing"
II don't fiirt."
"You do. Edith. Last season 1t was l
after that
"Ob. that was not flirting; 1t was
cousinly affection. Besides, you don't
count"
1T il the same thing. Fred is too
serious
And therefore shouldn't he 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. / like him sometimes
when he is away. He is very rest
full man 20 think about "
ut is impossible for you to care for
n man
Thank you. You are abominably
rude.
who is fond Of Stuart Mill" !
went on calmly.
II didn't know he was. He never
talks about it,.
Il should think" unused judicial.
~. "tha, he can talk about nothing
else. What can he say"
"Oh, the usual sort Of thing-yery
much the same rs you used to- y
Fred never struck mo rs being par
ticularly po. teal. "
Were you poetical?' she inquired
innocently. disregarded the question.
las your cousin nm bound to speak
seriously TO you. Edith.
"As my cousin you are privileged to
be- rude. -
at is the fate OF good intentions to
DO misunderstood. "
They shouldn't masquerade rs rude
ness
Fred is / went ON.
Every wearisome.
"Then why do you encourage him.
asked triumphantly.
~ don't encourage him. don {
think any Of them want encouraging. /
can't help it Tiff they think I'm nice,
can r.
1T is not kind
ITO be nice:"
ITO 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,
at would be- different. should say
nothing As it is. it is disgraceful.
Suppose do care for him:"
"You don't. You said be bored you. r"
lyon all do; but like some. "
Il really think you have no heart,
Edith. Poor Fred will he awfully let
down. There was Charlie last month
His hair curled-do you remember
how his hair curled;"
Curly hair in man Is eifeniinate, "
l said. Mine was quite straight.
Never mind Charlie, let Us talk
about Fred. am getting quite fond OF
him. l haven't seen him all day. "
II wish You would be serious. IL il
really time you began to look at life 30.
berly. Yc;. are no longer girl p"
Have lou seen gray hair she
asked AMI nsly.
'As yo-, cousin and u man Of some
experience
Dear mel Why didn't you tell me
that bcfore;'
II am three years older than you. A
man gathers great deal more knowl-
edge Of the world than q woman.
THAT is why women are 30 charm
ing.
"All women are not charming.
THAT is 90. she assented musingly;
"Coustance Droury, for instance. "
Miss Droury is a particularly well
informed girl" rather liked Con-
stance; she appreciated my poems. Not
every girl has the power to appreciate
my poems.
"Yes, about the failings Of her
friends.
They ut least are failings."
'She says so.
"You are ill natured. l hope, Edith,
You are not jealous i'll temperament. y
"Of Constance? Certainly not.
She answered my implied question,
not my verbal one. l knew by that that
she was hurt
Miss Droury is very popular.
Fired hates her. think she's well
meaning but unfortunate.
~ was not thinking Of Fred. :"
"No. You were thinking Of yourself. "
Edith had a disagreeable habit Of
reading ones thoughts-to be more cor.
rect, Of reading my thoughts. Some
times it verged upon indecency.
"We are getting away from the ques-
ton, I said severely. ~ want to speak
to you seriously about your Irritation
with Fred .
II deny the Irritation. f"
"Then it is serious.'
She did not answer. She wore per
sonal blue. There are some blues which
belong to the universe, and there are
some which belong to persons. This
blue belonged essentially to Edith. l
liked it. liked also the way she had
done her hair. / had told her of it two
days ago. 1t suddenly struck me that
her adoption Of it was delicate COM
pliment to me. liked compliments
delicate compliments. Besides, Fred
was not the man to make Edith happy.
On the whole don't think he was the