The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-12-08
|* hn Experiment -
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MTHEN 1 dropped into Clarissas

join conspiracy - deliberately,
thought-out plot directed against the
future of my all-important self, and
hatched by Clarissa herself.
During the five years that we had
been comrades of the brush" nothing
had occurred to mar our friendship,
and we criticised each others daubs
quite frankly and fearlessly; it is true
that Clarissa had been bit funny late
iy, but that was partly my own fault.
For she had made a study of girls
head for which l had a sneaking ad
Iniration, and it seemed to particularly
annoy her that l always turned to that
canvas. This morning felt mischiev-
GUS, and stopped there longer than
usual.
"George!" I did not hear. "George!"
(crescendo) No answer. "George!"
(fortissimo.)
"Did you speak?" said I, looking
startled. Clarissa stamped her little
foot.
81 shall put that picture away alto
gether if you come here incoming like
this, and won't talk to me; what an i'm
questionable fellow you are!"
"Hoity-toity!" 1 said. And pray,
miss, why am 1 so impressionable?"
"Well-(a pause)-you seem to be
struck with every pretty face you
see"
"a mans privilege" interrupted.
"-and-and with every sentimental
tale you hear"
"a sign of my good nature" l said.
and l do believe, if we had not
been chums for so long, that | could
make you fall in love with me now if
/ liked to try"
l Immediately became cautious.
"You have a very pretty face, Clarissa,"
l said, land / have no doubt that |
should have fallen in love with you
when we first met if you had only told
me a sentimental tale!"
'Now, George" Gmpatiently), "let US
be serious; are your feelings for Inc
really so cold that you would not mind
if fiirted with Mr.. Jones for whole
EVENING""
Ten million Joneses would not move
me-" answered.
"If that is the case" said Clarissa,
firmly, eve will try an experiment. Let
as drop our platonic friendship for
time, and will see if l cannot arouse in
you the green-eyed monster"
"It's quite impossible" l said. 81
know all your faults, and you would not
have the ghost of a chance"
Really, George, you underrate my
powers. You do not imagine that l am
serious, and you are SO conceited that
you think you are impervious. How
ever, I will see if cannot succeed"
"Clarissa, this is foolishness; it will
Ia happy thought, you know you
might fall in love with me-"
"There!" exclaimed Clarissa, clap
ping her hands didn't I say you were
conceited? The idea is absurd"
"Absurd?" I sneered; very well,
will accept. your challenge, but mind
you, Clarissa, can firt desperately,
and if l am making an impression on
you, l will propose. What will happen
then?"
Then? Oh, nothing at all; we shall
just take Punch's advice and won't
But, of course, you will never screw
your courage up to that point"
Ozone with you!" l cried; 'and you
will have to keep pretty wide-awake,
because | shall reserve the liberty of
flirting with other girls"
pooh! l shan't care. Now, George,
please go, and give me time to think it
over. We will commence our expert
ment tomorrow"
AS | went chuckled to myself; what
a time l would have! l would make
Clarissa jealous and beat her at her own
game.
Next day I called at Clarissa's house.
eager for the fray.
"Out? Didn't she think was COM
ing?"
ooh. yes!" they said, "she expected
you, but left word that she was obliged
to go out"
where has she gone to?"
They did not know. Oh, well, I am
sure didn't care one little bit Happy
thought! | would stroll down the High
street and see if could not meet any
other girls knew and perhaps Clarissa
might see me.
Sauntering along, I soon met Mabel
Carr and we went into the confection-
er's to have ices Who should be sitting
there at small table but Clarissa-
with Jones!
Clarissa nodded to me, smiled and
went on talking. got the wrong ice for
Mabel Carr, and brought her a ham
sandwich instead of a wafer, and she
said was awfully slow that afternoon.
Clarissa and Jones sat us out. and
Jones had such a particularly SNUG
look on his face as we left the shop that
i could have gone back and punched
his head
The next day being Sunday, went to
.church-because | saw Clarissa going
I tried to catch her eye during service
but she only looked my way once, and
then dropped her eyes and blushed.
Cha! thought l. we are getting on
But when the sermon began found
that Jones was sitting behind me-
Hang Jones!
Monday afternoon Clarissa's people