The suburban citizen., 1900-02-17

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[SSJFt5gF interesting Raw
Il WltN Inns, who had said
- FN little and smiled
much, patroniz.ngly asked, when the
subject seemed nearly exhausted:
"Did you ever hear Of Dick Pol
sues AFFAIR.""
"No, they said in chorus.
"I knew that" he 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 a 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, 'it may
open your eyes bitas to the creature
feminine, and if you want to
hear"
There we're 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 a confirmed flirt.
SO when he settled his attentions on
Kitty, as nice a girl as 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 care rap
for any other; he devoted all his time
and thought to the one. We thought
it would be the affair of a 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 a 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 q 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 all
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 a small
town, you see-considered the affair
settled and the announcement expected
any day, and then they each made de-
termination.
"T'ye studied myself for the last
few months, Dick said to her, till 1
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 oil
that, you would always have my heart.
Kitty, I'm rather a shiftless fellow,
and want q guiding star. With you
to help me l can make something of
myself. It's a poor lot L ask you to
share, but with you can make
name for myself. Will you marry
me?'
Now, Kitty had expected these
words. She knew Dick pretty thor
oughly, and her answer to what she
knew he would say had cost her more
than one sleepless night, but she said
it, though her lips irembled and tears
triciled down her cheeks.
" Dick she said, I've thought
over this for long time, and I am
saying what 1 will say with no quick
tongue. Dick, there is no man 1 like
as we'll as you-perhaps 1 shall never
find one L like as well. I hope not,
Dick, hope not. But am not sure.
do not know myself. You are going
on thirty; you have seen much of life;
you have known many girls you are
becoming settled in your habits, and
you can judge your heart. You know
yourself, and want to know myself.
Give me fYo years, Dick. I'm only