Waterbury Democrat., 1901-06-04
The Counter Irritant
COOOOOOOOCO

H lVH an with theories-not purposes; but theories upon essentially femi- nine topics. She reasoned out every thing which puzzled her, and she was more often right than wrong-as is the way of women. She always held that the theory of counter-irritants was sound; and now. having convinced herself that something was wrong with her friend Betty Clinton, she de- sired to set it right, for she loved to unrayel the tangled skeins of love af- fairs.
 Have you seen Tom Renston late ly?" she asked the girl, who was sit- ting with her in her pretty boudoir.
 Not very lately" replied her com panion, in a tone of the most exagger- ated indifference.
 sAhl I thought so," unused Mrs. Dunn-West, there has been a quar- reli"
 Mrs. Dunn West was one of the few women who possess men friends. That is to say, she had plenty of friends, but not one of them would have thought of making love to her;I and she had knack of learning wom- en's troubles as we'll as mems. So. putting the two together, she was a useful member of society, for she possessed a large share of that valu- able adjunct, discretion.
 "Poor Tomi" sighed Mrs. Dunn West. "He is not bad sort of fell low"
 The girls face became stony, but she did not utter word.
 ''I hope he will marry soon," con- tinued Mrs. Dunn-West. "I was speak ing to him about his future-I real ly feel quite a motherly interest in him, you know-and told him what I thought. told him he should give up futtering from blossom to blossom flor Tom is shocking firt, my dear Betty-and settle down into respect able double harness"
 Your advice was very sound" said Betty Clinton, icily, ''and doubtless Mr. Renston will act upon it.''
 Mrs. Dunn-West smiled into her dafntily scented handkerchief.
 From Renston," she thought, syou will owe me something before I've fin ished."
 And what do you think the conceit- ed fellow said?" laughed the diplo- matist.
 I'm sure I don't know" replied Betty T can't imagine he would say anything very original or brilliant"
 "oh, Tom is not either original or brilliant" said Mrs. Dunn-West. But he is simply delightfully."- conceited."
 Miss Clinton felt annoyed. She felt that it was her privilege to run down Tom Renston, but she did not like to hear others do it.
 ssI never thought he was very con- ceited," she said. frigidIy.
 "Oh. but he is, my dear," persisted Mrs. Dunn-West. Simply devoured with it."
 'If you think so," replied Betty, "I wonder you think his remarks worth repeating"
 Mrs. Dunn-West again sought the hid of her handkerchief to conceal smile.
 "Things are going nicely" she thought, land Tom will be here pres ently."
 Its just his coneeit," she said, (which makes him amusing. If you knew him as we'll as do, you would have discovered that I am right"
 Miss Clinton bit her lips to suppress an discriminating outburst. The idea of this woman claiming to know Tom Renston better than she didI It was preposterousl
 "In fact" added Mrs. Dunn-West, "poor Tom has nothing except his con- ceit to carry him through"
 '.I really don't agree with you," in- terposed Betty, hotly.
 "No? Then what do you claim for Tom?' asked Mrs. Dunn-West.
 Betty Clinton was furious with her. self for speaking with feeling, and stiilmore furious with Mrs. Dunn-West dor having trapped her.
 "oh," she said contemptuously, "I claim nothing for Mir. Renston. I do not in the least wish to constitute myself his champion"
 Naturally you don't" replied Mrs. Dunn-West; "of course I would be 10th to speak dispara ging1y of man in whom you felt arw interest"