Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1899-10-12
in disguise, are you?'.

in disguise, are you?T
She didn't answer for minute. 1t
was curious to watch her face change
from merriment, through thought, to
seriousness. First, the laughter died
gradually in ner eyes; then the little
curls and turns went out of her lips.
then the dimples in the cheeks smooth
ed themselves out like ripples widening
into nothingness on the sea; then she
lifted up her head, a little on one side,
and looked at me with solemn child
eyes.
"Sometimes," she said, sadly, 81 wish
I were. Sometimes I wish missionary
would come to me. 1 get tired Of
making fun Of things, and think that
perhaps they are serious after all"
1 twirled my mustache and felt my
own smile fading out. They are Sc
rious enough" said, eff you look at
them in that way. 1t isn't good way
to look at things-things in general
1 think"
"But one looks sometimes" she said
absently, "at things in particular, and
feels very, very serious"
"Then," 1 said, leaning forward, lone
doesn't talk about them much. There
is rarely anyone to whom one cares to
talk about them"
81 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 1 mean"
81 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 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
assentcd, land she was the fitting con-
fdante 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-well, you know
what mean."
Society expects us to find single
kindred spirit which is to respond to
ali the calls, and it cannot"
NO, it cannot" she spoke with sud-
den energy; though it may answer so
we.l-so very well-to some" Her
hands trembled il her lap.
Wherefore" said I, speaking half to
myself, 1--WE find it sound theory not
to expect too much from 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, passionately, with
her lips quivering.
"Perhaps,' l told her, 81 have looked
at it oftcncr or longer ago
She studied the floor for time, and
I studied her. She certainly was very
pretty.
What percentage of one, do you
think, Mr.. Nugent," she asked at
length, Ought 10 meet with response
in Il "a friend?"
well, I'm hardly prepared for eX-
animation in the mathematics OF the
subject. It depends4sn 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 1 have already formulated;
they are approximately satisfied by
several people whom 1 know-for en-
ample, YOU"
"Your aesthetic requirements are
evidently very reasonable, but they are
a minor matter after all"
Theoretically they may be; prac-
ticaly they are all-important. Then
nv intellectual demands hardly know
some people satisfy so per cent. OF
them. You would answer to quite 90
per cent, imagine"
She laughed again. As L 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. It is always risk
us there no way of forecastingY
she inquired, eagerly. Cannot even
an author with a reputation for analysis
of character wish l had-"make
IN estimator" I shook my head.
Scarcely, think. He might make o
good guess. Do you want me to sum
up someone for your
MOO. merely wanted an exam
pie"
unworthy self again, and my emotional
needs. You would, Judge, answer to