The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1899-09-29
THE MIND OF A MAID
CHARACTERS.

CHARACTERS.
msrgot Carpenter .......A young lady
Reginald Oldercheek .............
,......... A young gentleman
Primes OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. A tramp
scene-Margots boudoir, afterwards
woodchester High Road, and after
rards Margot's bedroom.
Margot had no very particular reason
ar refusing the young gentleman who
ras so DESTROYS of being her Reggie.
M had she spoken that fatal mono
syllable which has struck cold to the
HEARTS of suitors since the days Of the
ttone age.
Margot looked at her rings, and her
Ace assumed an expression that was
meant to represent a compassionate
Negative. The shake of her head was
Intended to imply sympathy with Mr..
Nderchecks feelings; the tap of her
little foot gave him to understand that
ho amount of imploring on his part
Eould affect her decision. 1t was not
her first refusal. Already she had said
4 TAT one of 40 nay; already she had
burned her heel on the obese mans
thousands, his dog-cart, his high-step-
ping horse, and his unlimited expecta-
Hons. So, in a manner, she was an
Experienced maiden, and so when Reg
lnald proposed to her she did not flut-
Ter and blush to any great extent, al
though she did flutter and blush a
little.
Reginald Oldercheck was not wise to
propose at 1920 in the morning. | do
hot intend to discuss the hour at which
man may most prudently suggest
matrimony to the lady of his choice;
I will limit myself to the statement
that 1890 a. m. is certainly not that
hour.
With considerable trepidation, clean
W Shared irreproachably clad, but, as
regards his inner man, very vacant
Nor ne had eaten no breakfas). Mr..
0ldercheck was shown into the draw
ing room, where, being too nervous to
sit down, he toured the apartment, gaz-
ing at the pictures (but not taking
IN their merits to any appreciable ex-
tent and looking out of the windows
without observing anything there
from), until Indications of Miss Car
penter's approach fell on his ear. For
Nalsot collected new three penny bits
bearing interesting initials, and wore
them on a silver bangle, and these in
their iingling generally heralded her
advent.
When she entered, looking, as Regi-
nald could not fail to observe, very
fresh and nice, Mr.. Oldercheck, scorn-
ing PREDATORY remarks relating 60 moth
ing, intimated that he would like to
marry her. He said it stammeringly,
working button off his waistcoat in
his agitation, and then started intently
at cameo near by.
y am very sorry" began Margot.
Yes" said Reginald, 81 know I've
no chance. l know you don't-per-
haps in time"
THIS was an indiscreet interruption
on Reginald's part, for it made Mar
COTS task the easier.
Yes perhaps in time" she returned,
playing with the bangle, "but-but not
now"
DO you like me?" demanded Regi-
mad, letting his eyes steal up her form
until they reached her neck, but not
uarlng to look her in the face.
Oh, yes-I like you," she replied,
IN tone that Reginald didn't at all
relish, but nothing more-at present"
Thank you," said Reginald. "Er-
gOod-by!"
"Good-by. Mr.. oldercheck.
And SO Reginald went out into the
morning breeze, feeling that at any
rate he had broken the ice.
DIX months passed away. During
mat period Mr.. 0lderchsck proposed
hVe more times to Miss Carpenter, but.
~ quote a common phrase, to no avail,
iof on each occasion he suffered what
amounted to rejection. Miss Carpen-
s &c ala not summarily say mo" AS
Neglnald put 1t to a friend:
ohe seem to play about with n
send me clean away, and
!et won't have me. can't make her
out, old man"
An" responded the old man. sage
youth OF something under twenty, "wo-
men are queer cattle"
Inc Tact was that while she was de-
ISt;uedly partial to Reginald's society,
nafgot (although she tried hard, ever
~ hard) couldn't bring herself to feel
any particular longing for that society
~ rs d nxture rather than as movable
nor that, after all, is what marriage
means. Men who make extremely
alce movables often fail altogether as
SO Margot dilly -dallied with Regl.
naLd, and Reginald had not sense
though to demand a plain reply. Had
ae done so, there is little reason TO
suppose that 1t would have been other
man another bssitating negative.
----
II.
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III