Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1900-11-30
A BACHELOR
GODDESS.
D The Story OF u Woman Halter an,
How He Was Converted.

"All women are divided into two
ciasses-either designing adventuresses
or simpering dolts. As for me-" quotl
Haibert cynically, give me the first
every time. You can trust to an ad.
ventures to have q little gray matter
Mt least In her Uranium" He was talk.
Ing to his secretary, young Allen, cal.
low youth. almost effeminate, but nev.
ertheless brainy. too bralny. 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 study for one anoth-
er. The hour In which Allen accepted
the position Of private secretary, a
short time before. they found a pleas
ant communion OF tastes and ideas and
a peculiar inexplicable sympathy of
feeling that seemed to have puzzled
both.
Halbert was confirmed bachelor.
He boosted 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 ut moments no
tice. Keep the women away from
mew snarled Halbert at times when
driven by force to crush I'D rather
smoke or sleep" And the little secre-
tary. with his strong, boyish ardor,
kept them far away and comforted
Halbert with his companionabls 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
cigarette. Aud In the matter OF drink
ing, though Allen could mix a punch or
u cocktail with commendable art, he
brought them untasted to Halbert AZ
a kind Of offering to that exalted
wretch.
you should have been a woman, by
CAD" Halbert said once to him. "a
thousand pardOns, Allen, but you
would have made fine looking girl
You've got grace and tact enough for
It, you know. Why, believe me, Allen,
II there were women like you today,
with the brain and all. 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
grew. He liked to slap him on the
back and he said he felt lonesome
what, Allen. | don't know whether to
adopt you as my son, considering the
fact that | shall never have one OF my
own, or whether to let things slide on
as formerly and just double your sal
ary."
Things slid on AZ formerly until Hal
bert announced hunting trip TO Abyss
Binia. He had actually completed plans
for both and was sketchlng out IN his
Imagination the delicious camaraderie
of two In "A tent In the wilds OF Africa
when ALLEN announced his intention to
resign.
you ungratcful beggar, you cant re-
sign" Halbert shouted. "Why, my
boy, cant go without you. What's
the matterT
"rhe fact of the matter IL, SIR" Allen
replied respectfully, II don't want to
20 with you"
II was blow, and 1t landed between
nj A
ever loved any being on earth, and this
was the first time that he ever had
been thwarted. Not given to sentiment
or pleading, he nursed his agony ~
lently, for Aliens abruptness stung
him with all the agony OF unfillal In
gratitude. OF unrequlted love, OF treach-
cry In friend-everything. II pained
Halbert ms he had never been panied
before. That afternoon he ordered his
horse for 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 one
before In his life for what he wanted,
and he hated to plead now. II might
seem unmanly, he feared. He went
out without calling to Allen, and he
did not return for dinner.
The secretary In the mea ntime felt
an unhappy sinking Of his heart IN the
hours dragged by and Halbert did not
return. II was his custom at least to
return TO dress for the evening, espe-
cially II be meant TO dine out. and his
continued absence made Allen uneasy.
lie did not know whether Halbert
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 reason
until he had actually gone.
At 8 o'clock Halbert came back-not
exactly on a stretcher. but leaning on
the arm OF his valet. He had had q
bad fall somewhere on the Riverside
drive, and he had turned his elbow
badly spraIDed IT, In fact. They had
actually subjected him to the annoy
ance Of carrying him TO a hospital be-
cause he had been too dazed 10 remon-
strate, and when his mind was eyentu-
ally clear he demanded removal to his
own rooms.
His valet settled him comfortably on
= divah ana had left the room when
Halbert sank into light slumber. In
few moments Allen came In, white,
haggard. limp with anxiety, and stood
there looking at Halbert with startled
pain In his gaze; then, with a sudden.
uncomfortable impulse, he knelt down
beside tho divan for moment aud.
grasping one Of the sufferers hands In
his own. pressed II 10 his lips with a
sob Of distress and pain.
HaIbert opened his Dyes ana turned
to look at him. He was almost too
dumfounded 10 speak. Allen got up In
confusion, and Halbert kept smiling
and staring at him In riot Of Devil