The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1899-09-08

1 were. Sometimes wis1 missionary
would come to me. / get tired of
making fun of things, and think that
perhaps they are serious after ALL
l twirled my mustache and felt my
own smile fading out. "They are Sc.
rious enough" said, "if you look at
them in that way. 1t isn't good way
to look at things-things in general
think"
But one looks sometimes she said
absently, sat things in particular, and
feels very, very serious"
Then" [ said, leaning forward, zone
doesn't talk about them much. There
is rarely anyone to whom one cares to
talk about them
II don't think" she went on, with a
little catch in her voice, ''there is ever
any single person to whom anyone
would like to tell them all-the serious
particulars I mean"
II don't think there is, so usually one
doesn't tell them"
"Or unburdens oneself in INSTALL
ments, as opportunity offers" She
sighed again.
Exactly. That is why there are such
odd condolences now and then. The
critics dashed a scene in my last book
because he told her one of his secrets
in the first half hour Of their acquaint-
ance. 1t was natural enough, really"
He was bound to tell some one" she
assented, land she was the fitting con-
tidante for that particular secret"
Quite so. She was the response to
that one item of his nature"
The worst of it, said my fair ac-
quaintance, sis when ones nature is
many-sided; because-weil, you know
what l mean"
Society expects us to find single
kindred spirit which is to respond TO
all the calls, and it cannot"
NO, it cannot" she spoke with sud
den energy; though it may answer so
well-so very weli-tO some" Her
hands trembled in her lap.
Wherefore" said I, speaking half to
myself, I'VE find ii a sound theory not
to expect too much frem anyone, to
be thankful for what is given and COM
passionate TO what is missing"
you look at the matter more calmly
than l." she cried, passic nately, with
her lips quivering.
Perhaps" 1 told her, Il have looked
at it oftener or longer ago"
She studied the floor for a time, and
1 studied her. She certainly was very
pretty.
What percentage of one, do you
think, Mr.. Nugent," she asked at
length, ought to meet with a response
in d "a friend?"
well, I'm hardly prepared for eX-
animation in the mathematics of the
subject. 1t depends on the one and
the friend and the kind of demand -
Take yourself, for example," she
proposed.
''All right" said 1, struggling my
shoulders; ''if it pleases you I'll dis
sect myself. My esthetic demands upon
the friend l have already formulated;
they are approximately satisfied by
several people whom 1 know-ior eX-
ample, you"
Your aesthetic requirements are
evidently very reasonable, but they arc
a minor matter after all
Theoretically they may be; prac-
ticaly they are all-important. Then
my intellectual demands hardly know
some people satisfy so per cent. Of
them. You would answer to quite 95
per cent, imagine"
She laughed again. AS I have stated,
she had a charming laugh.
Most peoples intellectual demands
are small" she said. ''The emotional
demands are the difficulty"
''Ah, yes! A general answer is i'm
possible there. You can never tell with
out trial, and when you try the demand
changes, and when you fail you pay
a price. 1t is always a risk"
rs there no way of forecasting?"
she inquired, eagerly. Cannot even
an author with a reputation for analysis
of character"-I wish l had-"make
an estimator 1 shook my head.
Scarcely, think. He might make a
good guess. Do you want me to sum
up someone for you?"
MOO. l merely wanted an exam
ple."
well" said, smiling; 'Tll take my
unworthy self again, and my emotional
needs. You would, 1 judge, answer to
90 per cent. of them!"
But, you see,' she objected, Il am
already appropriated"
For the matter Of that" said I, $50
am T."
Then we gave way to laughter
which is the practical philosophy
Black and White.