River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1900-11-08
a Good Way uith Women

watching the OIDeTS play teHbiS
At least i professed 10 be watching
them. AS matter of fact l was day
dreaming. The Dreams may as well
confess it-were about Bob Chalmers
and myself He had paid me marked
attention during the fortnight that he
had been staying in the neighborhood
Some one reused me by slOgging a
ball into the tent. When had thrown
il out and settled down again | noticed
that a couple of men were talking on
the bench just outside. One voice was
dear old Col. Wardell's. The other be
longed to a stranger-the gentleman
who was staying with him, supposed
Just fancy Bob Chalmers coming
down here!" said the stranger. VI
shouldn't have thought there was any
thing at PARKWAY to attract him..
smiled contentedly. He had seemed tc
tind-something,
oh" said the colonel, 81 don'i
know, II he likes a country life, you
see2n
Il shouldn't think il was the least in
his line. He's regular society man
knows all the best people"
'Does he? ! should hardly have
thought-er-"
'Well, you see his wife" His wife
The tent seemed to whirl round me.
lost the conclusion of the sentence;
also the reply. When ] recovered the
visitor was speaking again.
"A niece of Lord Lexington" he
said. "Awfully pretty woman. The
belle of her season. He carried her of
from a regular crowd of fellows, some
how or other Quite love match"
''He always had good way viii
women" remarked the colonel, with ;
laugh.
lie had a way with one woman
knew.
"A jolly good fellow" declared thu
stranger. emphatically 81 can under
stand anyone liking him."
They're nice family" the colone
agreed "Hulloa! They've finished thu
set. You must try game. Not play
Nonsense! You used to hold your own
remember
l heard them walk away and JOIN
in the Babel of merry voices, Som
one came into the tent and asked M
TO make one in the next game, but
pleaded headache. The excuse wa
true. | think; but | wasn't sure abou
the headache or anything. "Hov
could he have been so cruel!" l KEEP
thinking to myself. He had seemed
so frank and open. 1t was part, sup
posed, OF his way" with women.
| decided to go home and avoid meet
ing him until had recovered a little
but before | could carry out my reso
luton l heard his quick step upon TIL
gravel path I set my lips and mad
another resolution. He should no
have the satisfaction of thinking tina
] cared
"Why!" he cried, with his merr.
laugh. there isn't anything wron!
with the ground after all. though
it looked awfully uninteresting till
saw this side of the tent"
I smiled and made room for him.
~ wonder, inquired. "whe Their yo
really think that l believe all you
pretty speeches? Come now. do teI
me-
ION say lHtHi dS II bto
them?" He tossed his cap into col
ner and stretched himself laziiy.
"Oh, dear me, yes! You have a
admirable way with poor. helples
woman. heard some one say so tn
other day, do you know"
He pulled his mustache obviously.
Il should be satisfied If one woma
thought So" He looked down upo
me with a smile. He is big, even whe
he is sitting.
"On.y one?"
"Only one"
''Of course. YOU say that to all c
them 1t is part of the way" II
folded his hands across his knee an
considered the matter.
Would you like me to record a so
emn affirmation upon the subject" h
inquired.
No" smiled at him as gayly a
could. Il won't be made an aceessor
before the fact"
What fact?'
Perjury" He shrugged his shou
ders
You are in a teasing mood" he sut
gested.
Am 1? You don't mind. do you?"
Not a bit!" He laughed. He ha
no business to have such a frank. hol
est laugh, | thought, Indignantly.
should mind very much if you WEI
in earnest, Miss Eve"
More of the way Really. NJ
Chalmers. you are excellent" He re
garded me carefully and grew rattle
grave.
II am afraid he remarked. a
length. 81 have done something to dis
please YOU" | looked at him innocen.
~. Ii hurt me to meet his eyes, bu
did not finch.
The weak spot of man" l pre-
nounced. SIS his vanity He consider
all his doings of interest pleasing {
dispseasing others"
TO his particular friends" he co
rected.
Am | honored by inclusion in thu
category?" Yesterday the questio
would have appeared needless. To-da
it seemed absurd,
at is a matter which requires Nv
persons TO settle. So far as am co
cerned-" He paused and glance
swiftly at me. Possibly YOU won
say it was only part of the way if
finished the sentence?''
studied the tennis car fully
.'Do YOU wish me to finish 2" |
asked. He has the gift of throwing
great dea' Of suggestion into a fe
colorlesS words.
sit is hardly worth While. \ Gel
plimept Is obviously the proper thin
You never fail in your duty on su'
occasions.
DO 7 seem 80 hopelessly insincere
ION the contrary. You seem 50 u
mistakably ia earnest. That is why
consider YOU so splendid" laughed
quite a merry-sounding laugh th
tine. But, oh! was so miserable.
Miss Evel"
Don't try heroics. Mr.. Chalmel
When you look so innocent and
jured-"
Upon my word" he said, with son
hsat, ~ think am"