The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1901-07-18

was considering her nephew Andrew.
a good.looking young fellow of TWEEN
ty-eight, who, for his part, was consid.
ering the tlmepiece on the mantel,
whose hands were already well 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
on;
Now don't deny it, you naughty fell
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 l haven't the slightest in
tention of going yet. But why do you
keep a regular sun-dal like that in
!,Nur drawing room:'
Perhaps because | was born so long
ago that it is l and not the clock that
is behind time. But come-instead of
critlcising 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 |
have wearled you with my presence
until you cannot stand It any longer
it will be time for me to go to Mrs.
Laton's tea"
Mrs. Laton-Pauline Laton?"
"The same"
"Ah. yes; l used to see her some
time ago. | remember her vaguely--a
large woman, dark"
''She is blonde aunt"
Indeed? She used to be brunette.
And so you are signing at the feet of
Mrs. Latonp
1--WE are all signing at her feet
'she must enjoy it."
"Well. 1 rather think she does"
as it fun?"
"Yes, after a fashion. We are al
ways the same little circle of friends,
and then, beside Mrs. Laton, there's a
sister rather good-looking girl, and
a few other young matrons and bache-
elor girls"
And what do you do besides look at
these womeng'
I'VE take tes. we gossip and we
6irt"
"Oh, ohw
But my dear aunt, one must do
something between 5 o'clock and din
ner.'
Evidently; aud flirting is what you
have found to do?'
TITS way to kill time"
Il 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 1t has
not yet been found But, given a
young woman tete-a-tete with q young
man who is not fool, and 1 warrant
you 1t won't be long before you have
a practical demonstration. Filtration
Is manner of becoming discreetly iu-
discreet. TO know how to fiirt is no
common accomplishment 1t is veri-
table science"
And is love a science, too?'
NO; IL is rather an art.'
And marriage-what Is it?"
"On. that is philosophy"
Indeed? At what age does one at
tain this philosophy"
AS late as possible"
1T seems to me that at twenty
-
Aunt, aunt" cried Andrew. spring
ing from his chair. confess that you
are concocting some terrible plot. You
look as guilty as a conspirator"
Mrs. Harmon smiled fine smile and
enjoyed for moment the consterna-
tion in her victims face. Then she
answered, after a pause:
Yes, you are right. / wish to get
you married"
I'm 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, l should never have suspected
you of such thing. You, woman of
intelligence, superior woman, de-
scendlng to the role of matchmaker!
~ is terrible shattering of my
ideals"
Come come, my poor boy, do not
De SO cast down. The girl is charm
ing, | can assure you"
VI course" Andrew burst out, "the
giri Is always charming. Oh, know
her; l can see her now; she may not
pe exactly pretty, but as you have said,
sne Is charming. She dresses admIra.
Diy' ana makes all her own gowns.
one stood at the head of her class in
scnooi' and attends lectures now.
moreover, she has taken cooking les
sons and can put up preserves. she
pays the plano, she sings, she paints.
ana she has tidy fortune in her own
righ'' Ban No, a thousand times. moi
10 not want this miracle of perfec-
uon' 1 know a thing or two amt
even u don't look It, and IL 1 marry
! snail marry woman who suIts mo
nut ! know girls--they are all alike
anu know what they are and what
they are worth. There isn't ono who
SUITS me- or can suit me, ana / shall
remain bachelor"
And you so to take tea AZ Mrs TO-
ton's," murmured Mrs. Harmon no
tween her teeth, while dIsturhing
expression came into her clear. seeing
old eyes. see'ns
Under this ironical and eve, IN
qu'sitorial look Andrew lost counten.
ance little; he could cot deny that
70 matrlmony he preferred iIrtiny
with Mrs. Laton. ''''s
He was pulliug himself together to
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