The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-04-14
A Rash Experiment.
BY EUGENE LEWIS.
EfyI7HAT,s the good OF it all? What

bO CcItdlH tudt y W Soh NV
me? That's all nonsense, you know"
And the speaker tilted her chair back
wards and surveyed the good-looking
young man opposite her, with Curl
osity.
Don't ask me to analyze my feel
ings," he answered, bending little for
ward, II only know that love you,
can't tell you the why or wherefore.
Love is,too delicate, too fragile to bear
dissecting."
The girl looked away far above his
head to where the young crescent moon
showed through the dark leaves of the
trees.
II don't profess to have any heart"
she replied, slowly. II have never cared
for anyone, nor am I ever likely to be
wildly in love. like you'll don't at
tempt to deny that-but liking and low
ing are very different, believe. Then
mo, don't interrupt mel flirt-I can't
help it, 1 firted with you, perhaps ]
am flirting with you now-I suppose,
in the eyes of the world, am; but l
am too fond of myself ever to be what
people call in love. 1t must be most
firing and depressing process, I should
think. AS I told you before, have
no heart"
THAT is true enough" he returned a
little bitterly. "Some one said to me
the other day: Miss Vane has heart
like an artichoke; she gives away a
leaf of her affection to anyone, but
keeps the real heart entirely to her
SELF"
"What rude person." she said, with
smile. II daresay it is true enough,
though"
"Now look here" said the man, ris-
ing from his seat and speaking earn
cstly, "if you don't care for me much, at
least you don't care for anyone else, so
why not take me? am content to put
up with lukewarm liking; it is better
than nothing, at all events"
Damaris Vane considered few min
utes, her fan to her lips.
VERY WE'LL" she said at last, with
a sigh. "But you must clearly under
stand that there is one thing could
never put up with, and that is jeal-
Gus husband. Now, I am sure you
would be very jealous"
"Try me-" he exclaimed. 81 swear I
will never be jealous"
Swearing is no good. I want
proof"
"Well, let me prove it to YOU"
"That is just what want you to do.
Now, listen: am staying on here for a
little over week. and what suggest
is, that for that time we shall, both of
us, be at liberty, and I shall take advan-
tage of it by flirting with the first inter-
esting man I can find You, of course,
must not interfere, for you will have
no opportunity to do so. For your part,
you may retaliate by making love to
anybody, or everybody, if you prefer
that; shan't object, can assure you."
Very WELL" he said, despondently,
II suppose I must agree to that"
"Of course you must" she returned,
laughing. ut is a most sensible ar
rangement. This day week meet me
here, about this time, and will see if
I feel inclined to consent to a regular
engagement. I think it will be most
amusing"
"Oh, yes, remarkably amusing!" he
assented, in lugubrious tone.
swell, let us come in now. And,
mind, we are both of us entirely free;
if should choose to marry another to-
morrow you would have no right to
object, nor should 1, if you should-do
you see?"
"Oh, yes, see. You have convinc-
ing way of putting things, at any rate"
Damaris Vane had described her char
acter pretty accurately, but she con-
cealed from everyone, including herself,
that she was growing fonder of Cyril
Hunt than any of the other men who
had fluttered round her since she came
out.
1t was the general impression in the
section of society in,which she dwelt
that Miss Vane was not only thor
ough-paced firt, but utterly heartless
as well. The most affecting and touch
ing love scenes only moved her to
laughter, and she would take off her
various admirers in sentimental atti-
tudes to her most intimate friends aft
erwards. That she had penchant for
Cyril, she allowed, but she was much
too proud to own that she loved him. It
was quite true that she had horror of
jealous men, but the ridiculous test that
she had set him was but a pretext to
gain time, and she acknowledged as
much to herself as she trailed her peach
colored draperies into the softly-light.
ed drawing-room. Damaris glanced
lazily round, and then dropped into a
seat beside tall. fair man.
II am going to bore you with nv
company" she said, with glance from
her soft eyes.
III didn't know you better, should
say you were fishing for compliments. !"
he rejoined, with the eager look that
came into most mems faces when Miss
Vane spoke to them. She g.iled off into
some small talk, occasionally casting
glance at Hunt to see what be was do
ing. He looked little disconsolately
round him for second or two. and
then drifted into chair beside Mollie
Bentinck. prettyfaced little girl OF
IL, whose masses of light hair and inno-
cent, brown eyes were voted as charm
ing by some people, though the ma
jority of women complained that she
had no style.
Miss Vane smiled sweetly. cyril is
actually taking me at my word" she
said to herself. slow amusing. I am
glad he has selected such safe person.
though"
What are you smiling at z" said Capt.
Howard, beside her.
Constipation,