The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-22
CARRIED Mem. CON.
IFroIn The King.l

From The King
you see. Mr.. Spencer, I want to
know exactly what men think about
things, and i hoped perhaps that as
that as you know
I understand perfectly. Miss Ashton.
As am old enough to be your father,
you thought that my point of view,
though moss grown, might be interest
ing. This is an age in which a digni-
fed Importance is allowed even to the
modern antique. AS a modern antique,
let me place myself entirely at your dis
posal''
"Of course. If you are going to be
horrid''--
Pray don't run away. Miss Ashton;
this is to be a perfectly calm delibera-
ton between youth and age Nothing
} ruffles the surface Of debate SO rapidly
as the least hint Of Impotence. If you
would allow me to smoke-thankss very
much. am now all attention.
oh if you are going TO be formal
and polite, Mr.. Spencer, it makes every
Let me apologize at once for my po-
likeness and my stupidity. Now, sup
pose l begin this discussion instead of
you
How can you. when you don't even
1--WE are sitting cuite in the shade,
Miss Ashton except as a defensive
weapon, that parasol'--
IF you are going to be tiresome, I
shall 80 in
wei, / might just start the subject
perhaps and if you found me wander
ing from the point you might gently I'm
Cannot you see that am really ser
ious. Mr.. Spencer"
4 am sure you are, so will begin at
once. You appeal to my ripe experience
I am fOrty-three The vicar will confirm
this, he christened me. You, I think,
are eighteen. 1 beg your pardon, nine
teen last June. You are staying mere
or ia of
is highly to be esteemed. You and L
both agree that the opinion OF the
estimable person is valueless on all
practical questions You therefore come
to me. A younger man would feel fiat
tered, while I merely gather that IN
your opinion, 1 am not estimable
Thank you, yes: that is a very COM
Portable way of putting it,
your encourag cement, Miss Ashton,
is gratifying. Let me see, where was 4 +?
All yes being nineteen. feminine and
perplexed you want advice This seems
to narrow the topics to two only, say
either a frock or a love affair. Now
adays the man milliner is doubtless a
parsonage but
"Oh. it isn't a frock. Mr.. Spencer"
Il feel so immensely relieved, though
it would have been undeniably hatterlng
if it had been frock; however, we VIII
take it for granted, then, that II - a
love affair Now think, Miss Ashton,
that it is your turn"
sOh. Wen, you see. you can perhaps
hardly-at least / mean
mo, I see I have not brought you
to the point of huency yet, so 1 will
continue. For the purpose OF this dis
cussion, let us roughly divide love at
fairs into two groups-the first in which
both parties are equally convinced
What they are convinced OF would be
a little tedious to specify Let me, how
ever. refer you to any third volume or
any novel Of the early Victorian PERIOD
The more recent works are not always
orthodox. The second group comprises
tel ono
Of the two partieS--
Have you ever met Fred Norman,
Mr.. Spencer"
so it is Fred Norman. is it? Dear
me. Met him2 Yes, of course have
His place is only five miles Off
Yes, / know: he was at the Ander-
sons garden party-Oh, and lots of other
ne j. a comedy youth. and it is a
pretty property"
How stupid men are. You all think
that because a man is young and good
About three thousand acres of the
best meadow land. I believe"
Il wish you would not interrupt me,
Mr.. Spencer: you all think that the
whole sex must worship him.
Pardon me, / never mentioned Wor-
ship, or even limited at love. To arrive
at sound conclusion from discussion
such as this, it is necessary to duly mar
shall the facts. Kindly let me resume,
Miss Ashton. The basis of our discus
sion is now youth, good looks and three
thousand acres, principally meadow
land
MIR. Spencer, I hate you I wonder
whether you were ever in love yourself
Miss Ashton, let me reassure you
am a man with a past AT -FOUR years OF
age / made matrimonial overtures to my
nurse: the good woman still lives, and
my life is Swallowed by this youthful
indiscretion. But come. we are wander
ing from our moutons and the pasture
land. Our problem now is a one-sided
love affair, in which Fred Norman is
heartbrOken, while you are ScathleSS-
Had it been otherwise, / should never
have been consulted, / am sure.
Mr.. Spencer, how clever Of you to-
Let us confine ourselves to facts,
please, Miss Ashton, and do remember
that the property is three thousand acres
in ring fence.
ooh. bother the acres, Well, Mr..
Norman wants me to let him know by
what train I am going back to town
on Wednesday. Now, do you think he
would bel mean if / did, should I be-
You see, no girl in these days likes to
be thought absurdly prudish, does
she2'
Let me put it to you in this way.
Miss Ashton We will agree that you
don't particularly care for Fred Nor
man. Somewhere, lurking in a quiet
corner, you, no doubt. have a girlish
ideal. Let me suggest, perhaps, a hero
with raven locks and a sweeping mus
tache, who bites his neither lip, and
ular strides
please do be serious, Mr.. Spencer"
well now. I viii really be quite Sc
rious, Miss Ashton. Suppose some day
that you meet this ideal, would you
quite like to tell him that you wrote to
young Norman about your train2-as
the strong probability is that. if you do,
he viii be your fellow traveller"
Thank you very much, Mr.. Spencer.
You can be so nice, when you like.
am going in now to n AXE myself pretty
| for lunch. I wonder where the others
/ have been all the morning..
! It was more than an hour past mid