The Republican., 1900-11-29
Couldn't Lose Him
h$%%$%<%@%$*&%*%%%%**%%4<

stayed. l did not want him.
knew that the moment might come
when his presence would be positively
obnoxious, yet l could not get rid of
him. He was well-meaning lin so far
as he could be said to have a meaning),
light-haired long-legged.
He sat on the sofa, and put himself
into 80 distinct attitudes, not one of
which was graceful. | could not exact
ly tell him to go, and anything short of
that he disregarded.
He wore a pink striped waistcoat
and blue tie.
He did not admire me; his idol was in
short frocks and fuzzy hair. Other
boys worship the seasoned belle, but
his taste in enslavers was the only one
peculiar thing about him. l never cared
for the very young. attached to me;
and the very young despairing for an
other is even worse.
He did not even talk of Her I wished
he had l would have sympathized to
the best of my power. Presumably, l
was too antique in his estimation Q
was 2O to take an interest in such
things. He talked of love, to make up
for his silence on the nearer subject.
listened and wearied and took out the
fancy work | kept for the Boy. and
never finished.
He spoke with the superior air of one
instructing the ignorant. l was, l am
afraid, absentminded, and he Ian
guished after awhile.
l offered him sweets, and insulted
him into a ruby blush.
After that he stared sadly at me, as
If he had come for no other purpose
than to feast his eyes for one last time
on my adored features.
He was very like the immortal Toots.
At last the conversation got upon its
legs, and in a ricllety fashion managed
to keep moving.
The marriage question (not the i'm
proper marriage question: seemed to
interest him greatly He did not ask
for my advice, but merely solloquized
at some length. He mentioned the de
STABILITY of early marriages; the i'm
possibility of asking a girl to share ten
shillings a week; the expense of bring
ing up young family; there was the
education of the sons and the portion
of the daughters.
"You would not educate them ?" in
quired, smothering an incipient laugh.
He thought he would let them choose
between an education and an income.
Besides, they might marry"
ITO be sure" l assented. And there
might be grandchildren"
A puzzled look crossed the BOYS
face; he had not thought of the grand
children.
80, that would be all right" he said,
after a short silence.
"A man is only responsible for his
own family. Directly responsible, of
course" Here L threaded a needle.
''But there is no harm in looking at
things from all sides"
However, we had plunged far into
futurity, even for the Boy; he took
another bypath from the same thor
oughfare.
Il think it very wrong for people to
throw obstacles in the way of mar
riage," he remarked. solemnly.
''But, on the other side" then said
1, "it would never do to encourage the
thing too much; if the couple quar-
relied they would lay the blame of
the position on you"
This was evidently a new idea; he
pondered on it some time.
The Man came in, sat down, and
waited.
'People might sometimes interfere
unintentionally,' the Boy said, re-
flectively.
"Ihey might" I agreed hope not
grimly.
The Man looked at the clock and
fidgcted.
'Is that the right time?" he asked
''Two minutes SLOW" said the Boy.
Thanks" said the Man. 81 have to
catch the S:35 train"
My needle would not thread Then
1 said: 80 soon!" and when do you
return?"
81 don't know" he answered. at
depends"
Don't get fever at the Rock" said
the Boy, paternally. 81 have known
such lots of fellows go off like you
and they never come back"
Il hope this will be an exception .
said. 20, would no one take the
Boy away and bury him?)
'Thank YOU" said the Man.
The Fey got up-was ne going?
He merely locked at photograph
over the mantelpiece and sat down
again.
THAT is a nice-looking girl" he re-