The St. Johns herald., 1901-04-06
Couldn't Lose Him
T%%+4%$&4<%*+%%%<%%%&+%&%

THE BOY came at 7:30 p. n. ant
 stayed. I did not want him. l knew that the moment might come when his presence would be positively obnoxious, yet I could not get rid ot him. He was well-meaning Gin so far as lie could be said to have meaning), light-haired, long-legged.
 He sat on the sofa, and put himself into 32 distinct attitudes not one of which was graceful. l could not exact ly tell him to go, and anything short of that he disregarded. i He wore pink striped waistcoat and blue tie. He did not admire me; his idol was in short frocl.s and fuzzy hair. Other boys worship the seasoned belle, but his taste in enslavers was the only one peculiar thing about him. never cared for the very young attached to me; and the very young despairing for an- other is even worse.
 lie did not even talk of Her. I wished he had. I would have sympathized to the best of my power. Presumably, was too antique in his estimation q was 27) to take an interest in such things. He talked of love, to make up for his silence on the nearer subject. 1 listened and wearied and took out the fancy work I kept for the Boy, and never finished.
 He spoke with the superior air of one instrueting the ignorant. Twas, am afraid, absent-minded, and he Ian guished after awhile.
 1 offered him sweets, and insulted him into ruby blush. z 1 After that he stared sadly at me, as if he had come for no other purpose than to feast his eyes for one last time On my adored features.
 He was very like the immortal Toots.
 At last the conversation got upon it's legs. and in a rickety fashion managed to iseep moving.
 The marriage question (not the inn proper marriage question: seemed to interes; him greatly. He did not ask for my advice, but merely soliloquized at some length. He mentioned the de- s;rabiiity of early marriages; the inn possibility of asking girl to share ten shiii:ngs a week; the expense of bring ing up a young family; there was the education of the sons and the portion of the daughters.
 You would not educate them?" in quired, smothering an incipient laugh.
 He thought he would let them choose between an education and an income Besides, they might marry"
 '"To be sure," l assented. And there might be grandchildren"
 A puzzled look crossed the Boys face; he had not thought of the grand children.
 70, that would be all right" he said, after short silence.
 "A man is only responsible for his own family. Directly responsible, of course" Here I threaded needle "But there is no harm in looking at things from all sides"
 However, we had plunged far into futurity, even for the Boy; he took another bypath from the same thor oughfare.
 Il think it very wrong for people to throw obstacles in the way of mar riage," he remarked. solemnly.
 But, on the other side" then said I, 'it would never do to encourage the thing too much; if the couple quar- reled they would lay the blame of the position on you"
 This was evidently new idea; he pondered on it some time. Tyts Man came in, sat down, and waited.
 People might sometimes interkere unin tentionslly," the Boy said, re- flectively.
 "1hey might" agreed hope not grimly.
 The Man looked at the clock and fdgeted.
 "Is that the right time?' he asked
 1.-Two minutes slow," said the Boy.
 Thanks" said the Man. 'I have to catch the 8:35 train"
 My needle would not thread. Then said: "So soon!" and "When do you return?"
 q done know" he answered, Ut depends"
 Don't get fever at the Rock" said the Boy. paternally. 'I have known such lots of fellows go off like you and they never come back"
 "I hope thIs will be an exception" I said. co, would no one take the Boy away and bury him?)
 Thank you" said the Man.
 The Boy got up-was ne going?
 He merely looked at photograph over the mantelpiece and sat down again.
 I wish he would go-the Boy I mean; o! I wished. Could one be dip lomatic?
 ''I wonder" said. 'T wonder could you post letter for me?"
 With the greatest pleasure" said the Boy. "For the country?"
 "Yes. for the country"
 co! my evil star.)
 70! that's all right" he said. ''I need not run with it." Then, in an explanatory tone: "Yon see the next post out is to-morrow morning. Any tine till ten will do''
 My heart sank. The Man who had looked CD hopefully turned to the front iS.-iece once more