The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-01-12
A Perfect Fool.

There wasn't a more attractive girl al
Mrs Van Alstine's house party than the
bachelor Girl herself. 1t is true that this
was her first meeting with the other
members of the party, but then she was
Mrs. Van Alstine's cousin, and Mrs. Van
Alstine, as every one who was any one
ar all knew, had enough blue-blooded
ancestry to stock a whole chapter of Colo
NAL DANES.
SO the women admired the Bachelor
Girl for her family position and because
she was so perfectly charming and always
said the most delightful things TO them
and about them, and then she didn' I
seem TO care rap about the three eligi-
bic men who were present for the Christ
mas gayety.
But her indifference to his attractions
didn't have the least effect upon the Per-
feet Fool. He followed her about, lay
in wait for her in the conservatory, lott
cred in the halls, and always getting in
her way at the ska ting pond. He tried
10 talk TO her on all occasions, although
as a conversatiOnalst he was not shin
ing mark. But the Bachelor Girl only
enyeloped herself in an atmosphere cal
culated to product grip in any one who
Yentured within its radius. The fact that
she did these things and snubbed him
numerically every time she got a chance
only made the Perfect Fool sigh the
more. Which is the way OF Perfect
Fools.
Now, when the Perfect Fool saw the
Bachelor Girl promenading the veranda
after dinner, alone, he made his way TO
her, and, after the manner of his kind,
said things which he wouldn't care TO
have repeated on the floor of the Stock
Exchange when in the fuIlness of time he
succeeds to papa's business. Still, he
didn't say things different from what Per
feet Fools and others always do say I'M
der like conditions He told her the kind
of story that even a Bachelor Girl hears
occasionally. 1t was about love, and
faith, and lifetime devotion, and star
OF existence and other things which even
a Perfect Fool may tell passably well.
And the Bachelor Girl was such a good
listener
You are sure she said, ''that you love
me?''
Absolutely" said the Perfect Fool.
And you couldn't live without me?"
Don't ask me to try" pleaded the
Perfect Fool in agonized tones.
And you want to marry me?'
with all my heart
do you know that I haven't a penny,
from my cousin?"
Il care not" the Perfect Fool protest
ed, Il love you for yourself. Tell me
you Will marry me!'
Certainly notr' The Bachelor Girl
drew back, and her eyes were full of
scorn. when I marry, If 1 ever do,
intend to marry a man."
"a wha-a-a-t?'
"A man. I am nuot surprised that you
wonder. I know there are but few speci-
mems extant''
But I-ah-er-tell me, in what have I
offended?" The Perfect Fool groaned in
agony.
Il may as well tell you. am, as you
know, Mrs. Van Alstines cousin, and 1
haven't a penny. 1 am having holiday
now. At other times 1 work hard with
my own hands. I operate a telegraph in
strument from u o'clock noon until u
O'Clock midnight in a Broadway office
building, and L have been doing this for
years"
But" persisted the Perfect Fool. ''yon
are yourself. and it doesn't"
'But it does said the Bachelor Girl.
Zone night last summer, when had fin
ished work and was standing on the post
office crossing waiting for the Broadway
car, a person came along, and, throwing
an arm about me, addressed me in en-
dearing terms
"A man. gasped the Perfect Fool.
mo" said the Bachelor Girl. lit was