The Banner-Democrat., 1901-09-14


with a crown of snow, Mrs. Harmon
was considering her nephew Andrew
n good-looking young fellow Of TWEEN
ty-eight, who. for his part was consid
ering the timepiece on the mantel
whose hands were already well past
three O'Clock.
well, Andrew. do you find my clock
very interestingY
In some confusion the young man
stammered an excuse, but she went
on:
Now don't deny IT, you naughty fel-
low. You wanted to know IL your visit
had lasted long enough for you to take
your departure decently."
mot at all. aunt. Your guess Is quite
wrong, for haven't the slightest in
tention Of going yet. But why do you
keep regular sun-dial like that in
your drawing roomT
Perhaps because was born so long
ago that 1t 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
lave here"
"In the first place. am not going to
leave here for some time; but when 1
have wearied you with my presence
until you cannot stand 1t any longer,
It will be time for me to go to Mrs.
e., Laton's tea"
MRS. Laton-Pauline Laton?"
"The same"
"Ah, yes; used to see her some
time ago. I remember her yaguely-a
large woman, dark"
'She Is a blonde, aunt"
Indeed? She used to be a brunette.
And so you are signing at the feet Of
Mrs. LatonT
I'VE are all signing at her feet"
"She must enjoy it."
"Well, I rather think she does"
'Is 1t funT
"Yes, after q 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
a few other young matrons and bache-
elor girls"
"And what do you do besides look at
these womenT
I'VE take tea. we gossip and we
flirt."
"Oh. ohv
"But my dear aunt, one must do
something between 8 o'clock and din
uer."
Evidently; and flirting is what you
have found to dor"
"Its a way to kill time"
II scarcely know just what you
mean by the term. Explain it to me- {"
"Oh. impossible. A definition for the
word has long been sought. but II has
not yet been found But. given a
young woman tete-a-tete with a young
man who is not fool, and l warrant
you 1t won't be long before you have
q practical demonstration. Filtration
Is a manner of becoming discreetly in
discreet. To know how to lirt is no
common accomplishment 1t is a veri-
table science"
"And Is love a science, toor'
"No: 1t is rather an art"
sand marriage-what is it?'
"Oh. that is philosophy"
Indeed? At what age does one at
fain this philosophy"
"As late as possible"
''It seems to me that at twenty-eight
Lv
"Aunt, auntr' cried Andrew, spring
Ing from his chair. confess that you
are concocting some terrible plot. You
look as guilty as conspirator."
Mrs. Harmon smiled a fine smile and
enjoyed for a moment the consterna-
tion in her victims face. Then she
answered, after a pause:
"Yes, you are right. wish to get
you married"
"In heavens name, what have done
to your gasped the young man, with
comic seriousness: and as the old lady
still smiled, he continued. "See here,
aunt, should never have suspected
You Of such thing. You, woman of
intelligence, a superior woman, de-
scending to the role of matchmaker!
1t Is terrible shattering of my
ideals"
"Come, come, my poor boy, do not
be SO cast down. The girl Is charm
ing, can assure you"
"Of course" Andrew burst out. "the
girl is always charming Oh, 1 know
her; l 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. a thousand times, no!
i do not want this miracle of perfec-
tion. I know a thing or two, aunt,
even IL don't look 1t, and IL I marry
shall marry a woman who suits me.
But I know girls-they are all alike
and I know what they are and wha,
they are worth. There isn't one who
suits me, or can suit me. and 1 shall
remain a bachelor"
"And you 60 to take tea nj Mrs. La
TOMS" murmured Mrs. Harmon. be
tween her teeth, while q disturbing
expression came into her clear-seein,
old eyes.
Under this ironical and even In
ouisitorfal look Andrew lost counter
ance q little; he could not deny thai
to matrimony he preferred flirting
with Mrs. L,Aton.
He was pulling himself together Il
reply, or rather to defend himself
when thu street door bell was heard.
~ cailsn shi n this yous ssssptiei