The St. Johns herald., 1901-03-09
H Good Way uith Women

dreaming. The dreams-l may as well confess it-were about Bob Chalmers and myself. He had paid me marked attention during the fortnight that he had been staying in the neightorhoOd.
 Some one reused me by slogging ball into the tent. When l had thrown it out and settled down again I noticed that a couple of men were talking on the bench just outside. One voice was dear old Col WardelTs. The other be- longed to a stranger-the gentleman who was staying with him, I supposed.
 Just fancy Bob Chalmers coming down here!" said the stranger. "I shouldn't'have thought there was any thing at Faraway to attract him." I smiled contentedly. Re had seemed to find-something.
 ''Oh!" said the colonel, "I don't know. If he likes country life, you set? ?"
 'T shouldn't think it was the least in his line. He's 8 regular society man, knows all the best people"
 ''Does he? I should hardly have thought-er-"
 Well you see his wife" His wife! The tent seemed to whirl round me. lest the conclusion of the sentence; also the reply. When recovered the visitor was speaking again.
 "A niece of Lord Hevington," he said. "AwfuIIy pretty woman. The belle of her season. He carried her off from regular crowd of fellows. some how or other. Quite love match"
 "He always had good way with 'women," remarked the colonel, with laugh.
 He had "way" with one woman I knew.
 "A jolly good fellow" declared the stranger, emphatically. ''I can under stand anyone liking him."
 heard them walk away and join in the Babel of merry voices. Some one came into the tent and asked me to make one in the next game, but I ! plaa6ed a headache. The excuse was true, think; but I wasn't sure about the headache or anything. How could he have been So cruel!" l. kept ? thinking to myself. He had seemed so frank and open. It was part, I sup posed, of his Sway" with women.
 Idecided to go home and avoid meet, ing him until had recovered little, but before I could carry out my reso- lution I heard his quick step upon the gravel path. I set my lips and made another resolution. He should not have the satisfaction of thinking that l cared.
 'Why!" he cried, with his merry laugh. there isn't anything wrcng with the ground after all. thought 1t looked awfully uninteresting till l saw this side of the tent"
 smiled and made room for him.
 'I.wonder," inquired, whether you really think that I believe all your pretty speeches? Come now, do tell me"
 Don't I say them as if mean them?" He tossed his cap into a cor ner and stretched himself lazi.y.
 ''oh. dgar me, yes! You have an admirable way with poor, helpless woman. l beard some one say so the other day, do you know"
 He pulled his mustache dubiously.
 ''I should be satisfied if ore woman thought so." He looked down upon me with smile. He is big, even when he is sitting.
 'onty one?"
 '0nly one" l
 'of course. you say that to all of them. It is part of the way" He i folded his hands across his knee and ] considered the matter.
 Would you like me to record a sol emn affirmation upon the subject?" he | inquired.
 More of the 'way!' Really. MT. !! Chalmers. you are excellent" He re- garded me carefully and grew rather grave.
 "I am afraid" he remarked. at length, "I have done something 10 dis please you" looked at him innocent ly. It hurt me 10 meet his eyes, but did not finch.
 The weak spot of man." I pro nounced. lis his vanity. He considers al his doings of interest-pleasing CT 1 isp.easing-to others"
 ITO his particular friends" he cor rected.
 Am honored by inclusion in that | category?" Yesterday the question would have appeared needless. To-day it seemed absurd
 Tt is matter which requires two persons to settle. So far as am con- cerned-" He paused and glanced swiftly at me. "Possihly you would say it was only part of the way if I finished the sentence?"
 studied the tennis carefully.
 He rose hastily to find wandering ball. l was glad to see him throw it so savagely. It was a little consola- tion to hurt his vanity.
 ''You re-impossib,e-this even ing" he remarked. with his usual good humor, when he had returned. "I am sorry. because-do you know I was thinking %aat I am myself for once?"
 You are not bit like yourself" he contradicted.
 Really! Am I such a simple self that you have learned all about me m few days acquaintance ?" asked. scornfuly.
 Il didn't mean that. of course" he said, slowly. No doubt there are more 2 charms 10 discover, impossible as ii seems" l bowed mockinsly. "Rutone infers from the known 10 tbe m known"
 ''Supposing there is a known to ip- fer from" I suggested. He looked a, me in astonishment.