Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1900-02-16

~.,'-,. ing about the diff
MA: HZz%zzMN ference b tw ee n
EcNEAN H. VI the love of man and
icGIiT W. the love Of woman,
WI sMv and, as they were
zMs&&a4 all very young and
iSNsB more or less i'm
sI:Ss2 questionable, the
"HlN&SS conclusions were
-[SWFH interesting. Raw
n M'N Inns, who had said
! y little and smiled
much, patronizingly asked, when the
subject seemed nearly exhausted:
"Did you ever hear Of Dick Pol
sues AFFAIR.""
"No," they said in chorus.
81 knew that" no remarked, set
thing deep in his chair; "because that
isn't his name. Anyhow"
"Will you have it filed again?'
asked Tomlinson, who was accused OF
having the remnants of conscience,
because he imagined every allusion
was directed at him.
Don't worry, Tommy" said Raw
Inns, graciously contracting his brows
with the effort OF thought. The ex-
pectant listeners accorded him few
moments of dramatic silence.
"Well," he said, at length, sit may
open your eyes bit as to the creature
feminine, and if you want to
hoor
There were cries of "Let's have
it,"
"Dick-I'll call him Dick-and
you'll remember that the story COM
mences here, was getting close to the
thirties. Like most of you young
sters, he had gone around the circle
many times and was getting the bad
reputation of being, confirmed firt.
So when he settled hiS attentions on
Kitty, as nice girl IS you could
find in the town and wise beyond her
nineteen years, we all-or rather the
women all-said Poor Kitty Now
when Dick was attentive to a girl he
was very attentive. He didn't carea rap
for any other; he devoted all his time
and thought to the one. We thought
il would be the affair of month or so
as usual, but it wasn't, and when it
had gone on for three or four months
and Kitty and Dick were growing
closer and closer friends all the time
we began to talk. The women said
that Dicks time had come at last, and
we disagreed for arguments sake,
but any of us who knew him we'll
could see. with half an eye, that he
was in love. And when q man like
Dick falls in love, it's the one lasting
passion of his life. He gave his
whole heart to the girl, and she was
almost as much in love as Dick.
"The time came when it was said
they were engaged; but there wasn't
a word of truth in it. They had been
going along heedlessly enough, see-
ing each other frequently, to the ex-
clusion of everybody else, for those of
us who occasionally called on Kitty
dropped away to give Dick clear
field.
= "When the silly gossip about their
engagement reached their ears, they
decided they must see less =; of
each other and they talked the mat
ter over sensibly enough, agreed
they'd be just as good friends and ali
that, and saw each other more
than ever. At last they could no
longer hide from themselves the fact
that the whole town-it was small
town, you see-considered the affair
settled and the announcement expected
any day, and then they each made de-
termination. 4r
I've studied myself for the last
few months, Dick said to her, till I
know what every corner Of my heart
contains. Kitty, you're the one girl
in the world for me, and whatever
happens you will always be. I've
thought myself in love with many
girls, but I've only lately found out
what love really is. You might love
and marry some one else, but for all
hat. you would always have my heart.
Kitty, I'm rather shiftless fellow,
md want guiding star. With you
o help me can make something of
myself. It's poor lot 1 ask you to
share, but with you I can make a
name for myself. Will you marry
ne?'
"Now, Kitty had expected these
words. She knew Dick pretty thor
'ughly, and her answer to what she
new he would say had cost her more
han one sleepless night, but she said
t, though her lips trembled and tears
rickled down her cheeks.
Dick she said, I've thought
yer this for long time, and I am
aging what will say with no quick
ongue. Dick, there is no man like
s we'll as you-perhaps I shall never
md one like as well. I hope not,
Dick, 1 hope not. But am not sure.
do not know myself. You are going
n thirty; you have seen much of life;
on have known many girls you are ,
ecomipg settled in your habits, and .,
on can judge your heart. You know
ourself, aud want to know myself. 9
i've me FIVE years, Dick. I'm only