The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-09-03

1 regarded her with calm scrutiny San appear
of impudence becomes you" l said. "but'-
"But?'
$50 do all appearances"
pray don't think that you have exhausted my
Appearances" She sank back in another attitude.
"Why, you've barely known me an hour!
San hour" said feelingly, "of exquisite quail
ityw
can hour" she suggested, (which should right
fully have been devoted to black woman" She
looked as if she would like to add something, but
refrained.
"You were going to say
poor black woman" Her eyes sparkled wick
edy. 81 don't it," she fastened to add.
According to my theory l explained, you
should have been delighting the eyes and ears OF
some dusky gentleman, and-er--
poor black mani" never such a girl to
laugh.
ION the contrary if you likely to adopt my
theory, 1 should paint myself black"
but you wouldn't be so black as you were
painted
1.-The theory" observed doesn't say black
although"
'"The theory is nonsense; all theories are
Surely, out of so many theories or two must
be right-if only by accident!"
She leaned her head back against the chair, and
considered Don't you think she asked, with sud-
den gravity the folly is in such unstable beings
we having theories at all? We lay down all sorts
of grand principles. and when the time Tor action
eomes-why, of course, we break them!" She sigh
ed doubtless to the memory Of departed theory.
"Still" 1 said ''there is harm in laying them
down-for others!" She smiled again.
For Jones' and Brown. and Smith, black wonl-
an apiece" she cried clapping her hands; "for the
author of the theory
Blonde" interrupted, 'blue eyes and faxen
hair; preferably attred in pale blue with pink
roses"-
"Stop, stop! I'll assume that you've paid all
possible compliments Let us get down to the bed
rock of serious conversation
"Umph One rarely gets there that doubt
If have any serious conversation. You are not
missionary In disguise, your"
She didn't answer for a minute 1t curious
to watch her face change from merriment. through
thought to seriousness First the laughter died grad
ualy in her eyes, then the little curls and went
out of her lips; then the dimples in the cheeks
smoothed themselves out like rippes widening into
nothingness the sea; then she lifted up her head
a little on one side, and looked at with solemn
child eyes.
Sometimes" she said sadly 81 wish I
Sometimes 1 wish missionary would come to ME.
1 get tired of making fun of things, and think that
perhaps they serious after all"
1 twirled my mustache and felt my own smile
fading out. "They serious enough" said, sit
you look at them in that way. 1t isn't good way to
look at things-thngs in general think
But looks sometimes" she said absently.
cat things in particular, and feels very. very ser
ous."
Then" said leaning forward. zone doesn't talk
about them much There is rarely any to whom
to talk about them
Il don't think" she went ON. with little catch
in her voice, there is ever any single person to
+oll+ ,aII
Gus particulars, 1 mean"
II don't think there is So usually one doesn't
tell them
cor unburdens ones self in nst&Hments, IS op.
portunty offers" She sighed again.
Exactly. That is why there are such odd
fidences now and then. The critics dashed a
my last book because he told her of his secrets
in the first half hour of their acquaintance 1t
natural enough really"
He was bound to tell one" she asserted.
"and she was the fitting confdante for that par
ticuar secret
quite She was the response to that one
item of his nature"
"The worst of it," said my fair acquaintance, SIS
when ones nature is many sded because-well you
know what l mean"
Society expects us to find single kindred spirit
which is respond to all the calls, and it cannot
''No it cannot" she spoke with sudden energy;
though 1t may answer so Weii-So very Well-to
some" Her hands trembled in her lap.
wherefore" said 1. speaking half to myself.
1--WE find it sound theory not to expect too much
from any one to be thankful for what is given, and
compassionate to what is missing"
.'You look at the matter more calmly than l."
she cried passionatey, with her lips quiverns.
Perhaps" told her. Il have looked at it often
er, or longer ago.
She studied the floor for a time, and studied
her. She certainly very pretty.
what percentage of one, do you think Mr..
Nugent." she asked at length Sought to meet with
a response in IA fnend?"
'sWell, I'm hardly prepared for examination in
the mathematics of the subject. 1t depends the
one and the friend, and the kind Of demaad."
'"Take yourself for example, she proposed
"AH right said l. Struggling my shoulders: "n
1t pleases you. I'll disseet myself My aesthetic de-
mands upon the friend have already formulated:
they approximately satisfied by several people
whom know-for example, you"
sYour aesthetic requirements evidently very
reasonable; but they are minor matter after ALL
Theoretically they may be; practically they are
all important Then my intellectual demands
hardly know. Some people satisfy 80 per cent OF
them. You would answer to quite 90 per cent,