The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1901-07-25
y NSCONCED in the depths of
{ her big armchair. a smile
v lighting up her tine old face

a good-looking young fellow of twep.
ty-eight, who, for his part, was consid.
ering the timepiece on the mantel,
whose hands were already we'll past
three o'clock.
"Well, Andrew. do you find my clock
very Interestingly"
In some confusion the young man
stammered an excuse, but she went
Oh:
''Now don't deny it, you naughty fel-
low. You wanted to know If your visit
had lasted long enough for you to take
your departure decently."
'Not at all, aunt. Your guess is quite
wrong, for haven't the slightest in
t<ntion of going yet. But why do you
keep a regular sun-dial like that in
your drawing room?'
perhaps because was born so long
ago that it is and not the clock that
is behind time. But come-instead of
criticising my drawing room. tell me
what you are going to do when you
leave here"
''In the first place. am not going to
leave here for some time; but when I
have wearied you with my presence
until you cannot stand it any longer,
it will be time for me to go to Mrs.
Laton's tea.''
'AIrs. Laton-Pauline Laton?"
''The same"
"Ah, yes; I used to see her some
time ago. I remember her vaguely-a
large woman, dark"
''Sbe is q blonde, aunt"
Indeed? She used to be a brunette.
! And so you are signing at the feet Of
2 Mrs. Laton?"
1--WE are all signing at her feet"
"She must enjoy it."
~ sWell. I rather think she does"
is it funY'
. "Yes. after fashion. We are al
ways the same little circle of friends,
and then, beside Mrs. Laton, there's a
sister, a rather good-looking girl, and
few other young matrons and bache-
elor girls"
"And what do you do besides look at
these women?"
= 1--WE take tea, we gossip and we
& Airt."
sch, ohr'
"But my dear aunt, one must do
something between o'clock and din
Z ner."
Evidently; and flirting is what you
have found to do?'
"It's way to kill time"
81 scarcely know just what you
mean by the term. Explain it to me-"
ooh, impossible. A definition for the
word has long been sought, but 1t has
not yet been found. But, given
young woman tete-a-tete with young
Z man who is not fool. and warrant
you it won't be long before you have
practical demonstration. Filtration
Is a manner of becoming discreetly in
discreet. To know how to flirt is no
common accomplishment. 1t is veri-
table science"
"And Is love science, too?
tNo; it is rather an art"
"And marriage-what is it?'
ooh. that is philosophy"
Indeed? At what age does one at
tain this philosophy"
GAS late as possible"
'It seems to me that at twenty-eight
sAo
"Aunt, auntr' cried Andrew, spring
Ing from his chair, confess that you
are concocting some terrible plot. You
look rs guilty as conspirator."
Mrs. Harmon smiled fine smile and
enjoyed for moment the consterna-
ton in her victims face. Then she
answered, after pause:
eyes, you are right. wish to get
you married"
SIN heavens name, what have done
to you?" gasped the young man. with
comic seriousness; and as the old lady
still smiled, he continued. "See here,
< aunt, I should never have suspected
you Of such thing. You, a woman of
intelligence, superior woman, de-
scending to he~rofe<sf matchmaker:
Its terrible shattering Of my
ideals"
"Come. come, my poor boy, do not
be so cast down. The girl is charm
ing, I can assure you"
"Of course" Andrew burst out. "the
girl is always charming. Oh, l know
her; can see her now; she may not
be exactly pretty, but as you have said,
she is charming. She dresses admira-
bly,, and makes all her own gowns.
She stood at the head of her class In
school, and attends lectures now.
Moreover, she has taken cooking les
sons and can put up preserves. She
plays the piano, she sings, she paints,
and she has tidy fortune in her own
right. Bah! No, thousand times, no!
tion. I know thing or two, aunt,
even If I don't look it, and if marry
shall marry woman who suits me.
But I know girls-they are all alike,
and I know what they are and what
they are worth. There isn't one who
suits me, or can suit me, and I shall
remain bachelor
"And you go to take tea at Mrs. La
TONS" murmured Mrs. Harmon. be-
tween her teeth, while q disturbing
expression came into her clear-seeing
old eyes.
Under this ironical and even in
quisitorial look Andrew lost counten-
ance a little; he could not deny that
to matrimony he preferred flirting
with Mrs. Laton.
He was pulling himself together to
reply, or rather to defend himself,
when the street door bell was heard.
"a caller, eh? Is this your reception
day, aunt, or do you. too. give your
friends tea at five o'clock"
You aFe impertinent, nephew. AT
my age a woman does not give five
O'Clock fiirtations. 1t is not even a
caller. 1 am sure it is my little friend
Rosamond, the charming girl spoke
off