The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1898-02-10
MY COUSIN EDITH.
I spoke seriously to Edith.

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.
''It will all roll in again. think the
gardener wants exercise"
Fred, went OH severely, "is not
a man to be played with
II don't play with him. His screw is
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"
81 don't f1irt.''
"You do, Edith. Last season it was !;
after that
"Oh, that was not flirting; it was
cousinly affection. Besides, you don't
count"
"It 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 l do. -
"You don't. Fred is not the sort of
man you would like"
81 am not sure l like him sometimes
when he is away. He is very rest
full man to think about :"
cit is impossible for you to care for
a NAM
"Thank you. You are abominably
rude
--"who is fond of Stuart Mill" l
went on calmly.
II didn't know he was. He never
talks about it. ~
II should think, - I mused judicial
ly, THAT he can talk about nothing
else. What can he say?''
ooh, the usual sort of thing-very
much the same as you used to. y
Fired never struck me as being par
tioularly poetical. -
"Were you poetical?' 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.
cit is the fate of good intentions to
be misunderstood. -
"They shouldn't masquerade as rude
ness -
Erred is l went on.
VERY wearisome.
"Then why do you encourage him."
| asked triumphantly.
~ don't encourage him. | don t
think any of them want encouraging. 1
can't help it Tiff they think I'm nice,
can ~
lit is not kind
''To be nice?'
"To make man think you really
care-and be laughing i'll your sleeve
all the while"
my sleeves are tight this year -
eff you really like him.
"How do you know | don 't?''
cit would be different. | should say
nothing. As it is, II is disgraceful. "
Suppose | do care fer him.
lyon don't. You said he bored you. "
"You all do but l like some. ="
81 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 a man is etfeminate, y
l said. Mine was quite straight.
Never mind Charlie, let us talk
about Fred. am getting quite fond of
him. haven't seen him all day"
,iehr ii ha L. -.
really time you began to look at life So
berly. You are no longer girl y
'.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 musngly;
"Constance Droury, for instance. ~
Miss Droury is particularly we'll
informed girl" / 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 -
lyon are i'll natured. | hope, Edith,
you are not jealous in temperament
"Of Constance! Certainly not.
She answered my implied question,
not my verbal ene. L knew by that that
she was hurt,
Miss Droafy is very popular. ~
Erred hates her. | think she $ we'll
meaning but unfortunate.
Il was not thinking of Fred. .
"No, you were thinking of yourself.
Edith had disagreeable habit of
reading one S thong ht s--to be more cor
rect, of reading my thoughts So me-
times it verged upon indecency.
1--WE are getting away from the ques-
tion," said severely. Il want to speak
to you seriously about your Irritation