The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1898-02-09
MY COUSIN EDITH.

I SMOKE sarinuSlv ~ Edith

L spoke seriously to Edith.
Il think you arc 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.
ut will all roll in again. think the
gardener wants exercise. "
Fred. | went ON severely, lis not
man to be played with. "
Il don't play with him. His screw is
too feeble for words.
II am not referring to tennis. Fred,
! repeat is too good TO loo fiirted with
in tho outrageous way you are doing"
Il don't flirt."
lyon do. Edith. Inst season it was
after that
ooh, 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 arc making him believe
that you care for him. "
Perhaps | do -
you don't Fred is not the sort of
man you would like. :"
Il am not sure | like him sometimes
when he is away. He is very rest
full man to think about. -
1t is impossible for you to caro- for
man
"Thank you. You are abominably
rude -
who is fond of Stuart Mill. 4"
went on calmly.
II didn't know he was. He never
talks about it. -
II should think, unused judicial.
ly that he can talk about nothing
else. What can he say?"
"Oh, tho usual sort of thing-very
much the same as you used to- =
Fred never struck me as being par
ticularly poetical,
Were you poetieal?" she inquired
innocently. ! disregarded the question
AS your cousin am bound to speak
seriously to you. Edith"
As my cousin you are privileged TO
be rude. ="
at is the fate of good intentions to
be misunderstood.
They shouldn't masquerade as rude
ness. 3"
Fired is | went ON.
VERY wearisomo. "
"Then why do you encourage him?"
/ asked triumphantly.
II don't encourage him. | don Z
think any of them want encouraging. /
can't help it if-if they think I'm nice,
can I?'
1t is not kind
"To be nicef'
"To make man think you really
oare-and be laughing i'll your sleeve
all the while
my sleeves arc tight this year -
If you really like him
How do you know don't?'
ut would be different should say
nothing. AS it is, 1t is disgraceful. "
Suppose do care for him."
You don't. You said he bored you. >"
You all do; but like some -
81 really think you have no heart,
Edith. Poor Fred will be awfully let
down. There was Charlie last month
His hair ourled-do you rememb Der
how his hair curled?"
Curly hair in IA man is effeminate, :"
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. "
Il wish you would be serious 1t Is
really time you began to look at life 80
berly. You are no longer girl.
Have you seen a gray hair?" she
asked anxiously.
As your cousin and man Of some
experience
Dear mel Why didn't you tell me
that before?''
Il am three years older than you. A
man gathers great deal more knowl-
edge Of the world than woman.
That is why women are so charm
ing"
All women are not charming.
That is so. " she assented musingly;
Constance Droury, for instance.
Miss Droury is 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 at least are failings "
She says so. ="
you are i'll natured. l hope, Edith,
you are not jealous in temperament.
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 .
Fred hates her. | think she's we'll
meaning but unfortunate.
II was not thinking Of Fred -
No, you were thinking Of yourself :"
Edith had disagreeable habit Of
reading one thoughts--to be more cor.