Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1900-11-27
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!, A BACHELOR
GODDESS.
The Story of Woman Halter and
5 How He Was Converted.
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9 The Story of Woman Halter and
How He Was Converted.
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"An women are divided into two
classes either designing adventuresses
or simpering dolts. As for me-" quoth
Halbert cynicalIy, give me the frst
every time. You can trust to an adj
venturess to have q LITTLE gray matter
at least in her Uranium" He was talk,
ing to his secretary, young Allen, cal
low youth, almost effeminate, but nev-
ertheless brainy, too brainy. as Hal.
bert expressed it, for his size and
weight. Allen had got used to these
sinister observations concerning WON
ankind and rarely ever offered any
comment either to agree or to refute
the others statements. These two In,
dividuals were a study for one anoth-
err. The hour in which Allen accepted
the position of private secretary, q
short time before, they found pleas.
ant communion of tastes and ideas and
a peculiar inexplicable sympathy of
| ANN4lAAS5 lL4sAI aGNlllGNl " lltlNO iluLZlGO
both.
Halbert WIS confirmed bachelor
He boasted OF never having proposed
to any woman. He WAS afraid of
them. In his estimation they were all
scheming politicians and ready to mar
ry him or any man at moments no
tice. Keep the women away from
mer' snarled IIalbert at times when
driven by force to Il crush. I'D rather
smoke or sleep" And the little secre-
tary, with his strong, bcyish arlor
kept them far away and comforted
Halbert with his coinpanionable 81,
lence.
The one measure in Aliens make up
which Halbert could not understand
was his reluctance to smoke. He could
never get him to indulge even in a
cigarette. And in the matter of drink
ing. though Allen could mix punch OF
cocktail with commendaElc art, he
brought them untasted to uaIbcrt rs
a kind Of offering to that exalted
wretch
you should have been n woman, by
gad,' Halbert said once to him. "a
thousand pardoDs, Allen, but you
would have made n fine looking girl.
You've got grace and tact enough for
1t, you know. Why, believe me, Allen,
il there were women like you. today,
with the brain and all. l believe I'd
marry one of them" Allen actually
blushed and retreated in confusion.
Halbert liked this display of apparent
shyness, and his affection for the boy
II 1t. Il.
back and he said he felt lonesome
when the chap was away. 81 tell you
what, Allen, don't know whether tc
adopt you as my son, considering the
fact that shall never have one of my
! own. or whether to let things slide on
us formerly and just double your sal.
ary."
Things slid on as formerly until Hal
bert announced hunting trip to Abys.
sinia. He had actually completed plans
for both and was sketching out in his
Imagination the delicious camaraderie
of two in n tent in the wilds of Africa
when ALLEN announced his intention tc
resign.
You ungrateful beggar, you can't re
sign,' Halbert shouted. why, MY
boy, can't go without you. What's
the matter?'
The fact of the matter is, sir" Aller
replied respectfully, II don't want tC
go with you"
1t was a blow, and it landed between
! Halbert's eyes. He loved Allen If ht
ever loved any being on earth, and thI.
/ was the first time that he ever ha(
been thwarted. Not given 10 sentiment
| or pleading, he nursed his agony 81
lently, for Aliens abruptness stunc
him with all the agony of unfllial in
! gratitude. of unrequited love, of treach
cry in a friend-everything 1t paine(
Halbert as lie had never been painet
before. That afternoon he ordered his
horse for a long ride and went out de
| jectedly with load on his shoulders
He wanted to puzzle out the situation
! He had never to plead with any ont
before in his life for what he wanted
and he hated to plead now. 1t nigh
seem unmanly. he feared He wen
out without calling to Allen, and h,
did not return for dinner.
The secretary in the meantime feE
an unhappy sinking of his heart as tn,
hours dragged by and HaIbert did no
return 1t was his custom at least Il
return to dress for the evening, espe
eially If lie meant to dine out, and hi.
continued absence made Allen uneasy
He did not know whether HaIber
cared about his refusal to accompany
him. but he knew that he himself
cared. and he felt he could not ac
quaint his friend with the real reasoI
until he had actually gone
At 0 o'clock Halbert came back-no
exactly on stretcher. but leaning OF
the arm of his valet. He had had {
bad fall somewhere on the Riverside
drive, and he had turned his elbow
badly-sprained it. in fact They haC
actually subjected him to the annoy
nnee Of carrying him to a hospital be
cause he had been too dazed to remon
| strate, and when his mind was eventu
/ Il II,