The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-07-07

The Kind Of q Man
For Miss Tr0laWn0y
by Harold OhlsOn.


"There they go" said Miss Ire
lawney.
"They" were a young man and girl
who had Just emerged from the door of
a boarding house and were making
their way toward the sea.
"They walk miles along the beach TO
a cave they've found and are always
late for meals" she continued. "Shc
saws he reads to her. but they've taken
the same book for three weeks now.
Fancy-with a man like that"
l puffed rchcctiyely at my after
breakfast cigar gazing. not without
pleasure, at Miss Trclawney rs she
watched the lovers out a. sight with a
fine scorn in her eyes.
"He is not a bad little chap" said l..
every likely. but he's not man. lie
has bad some money left TO him, be-
iieve. and he does nothing all day"
"a most popular amusement re-
marked.
81 hate a man who does nothing. l
could only marry one who-who'-
"Yes." l said for Miss Treiawney
had paused, obviously embarrassed
But l was far too curious about the
matter not to insist further.
"The man who?' l began, with in
sidious carelessness.
"Who-who-did something
had gained my point certainly but
Ike Eucud's, it had no parts and no
magnitude l wished for further infor-
nation.
"What would YOU have him doT'
"Somethlng something noble. ~
"That disposes Of the majority, who
don't meet such things during office
hours" l remarked cheerfully. 81 do
not work In an office. Besides. there Is
no smoke more gratifying than that
after breakfast"
81 hate business men, said Miss
Trelawney decisively.
She seemed to be n young lady OF
strong dislikes. l found myself Won
dering If her affections were equally
strong.
"And professional men-clergymen
and doctorsY
zone breaches, the other practices.
Ny ideal man must do both"
IAN illustration Of the impossibility
Of realizing an IDEAL" l said, thinking
that Miss Trelawney wanted a lot for
her money. CThis metaphorically, for l
knew she had no money. But she had
other attractions)
There are poets, now" I said, hop
ing ] had at last hit the right nail on
the head. do n little that way myself.
USELESS creatures she calculated.
So l realized that l had only knock
ed my thumb.
GLOW the women must have loved In
the days Of chiyalry," said Miss Tre-
lawney, after we had sat in silence for
some moments. TO a LauncelOt or q
Galahad a woman might give herself
and glory in the surrender-but nova
days-tO a city clerk
"Are there no righteous men in the
city," inquired, feeling as angry as l
could be with Miss Trelawney. The
emotion was not very strong. She did
not reply, and l continued. Il could
tell story of such q man which might
alter your opinion
"a tale, like that Of the bird-which
must be taken with a pinch Of salt|
she inquired, raising her eyes to mine.
tried to keep them there, but failed.
ain all the wide world there is not
one so true" l exclaimed with feryor.
Then l began my story.
"Some years ago a friend and were
voyaglng for pleasure among the West
India islands. Among our fellow pas
sengers was a girl TO whom my friend
promptly lost his heart. Some men
are so careless with 1t. The moonlit
nights Of the tropics aggravated his
complaint, but the girl showed few
signs OF catching it. She seemed to like
his society, but that was all"
"That is so little," -murmured Miss
Trelawney. do not think she meant
me to hear the remark.
zone day we were lying in harbor,
when the girls hat blew into the sea.
My friend Immediately jumped over
board to rescue it from a watery grave
in spite Of the fact that we had pre-
viously been watching a large shark
cruising about close to the ship. 1t
was piece of mad quixotism."
"He was brave man."
'Tn his heart be was horribly afraid.
He told me afterward that he had a
wild longing to scream, to draw in his
legs, to leap out of the water, fearing
that each second he would feel the
sharks teeth. But we on the ship only
saw him swim quietly to the floating
hat and return with 1t, reaching the
ladder just as the fin of the shark APP
peared not 20 yards away"
"She married him, of course" said
Miss Trelawney.
''No; she did not"
'gThen l think she was foolish. To
such a man a woman might trust her
life, because he was both brave and
chivalrous"
''Then that is the kind of man you
meant when l paused, not wishing
to put the question too bluntly. But
she understood ard answered softly:
Eyes"
1 did not tell her l was the hero of
my story.
But then, l did not want to marry
Miss Trelawney.-Chicago Times-Her-
aid.