Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-02-16
ARMS AND Fflk FMflk WQMa&


"Does Herr Jack wish Gretchen al,
ways to be sad"
"Certainly not, but sometimes your
| Joy is Irritating. You are sad all day;
| then some strangers come. and you are
all smiles. Your smiles do not come In
my direction as often as should like. -
well, then. look at me-" said Gret-
cher.
The smile would have dazzled an an
chorite. let alone q man who didn't
know whether he loved her for GER
tain, but who was willing to give odds
that he did.
"Gretchenw | cried. starting toward
her.
But. with q low laugh, she disap-
peared behind the door. Gretchen was
woman. AS man must have bis to-
bacco. so must q woman have her CO.
auetry. 1t was rather unfair Of Gret-
chen after what had promised. 1t
was like getting one in cage and then
Offering sweetmeats at a safe distance.
1t now became question Of analysis.
So l went to the river and sat down In
the grass. A gentle wind was stirring
the leaves. and the SunbeamS. 6ltering
through the boughs. fell upon the
ground in golden snowfakes. What
was Gretchen to me that should grow
Jealous Of her smiles? The night be-
fore could have sworn that | loved
her; now was not so sure. A week
ago all the sunshine in the world had
come from Phyllis face; now shadow
had come between. oh. ! knew the
symptoms! They were not new to ME.
They had visited me some five years
back and had clung to me with the te-
nacity Of Il creditor to man with ex-
pectationS When a man arrives at
that point where he wants the society
Of one woman all to himself. the mat.
ter assumes serious proportions. And
q man likes to fall in love with one wO.
man and continue to love her all his
days 1t Is more romantic. 1t annoys
him to face the fact that he is about to
fall in love with another. In my case
l felt that there was some eXtenuation.
Gretchen looked like Phyllis. When
saw Gretchen in the garden and then
went to my room and gazed upon the
likeness Of Phyllis. was much like
the bachelor Heine tells about dod-
dered.
The red squirrel In the branches
above me looked wise. He was won.
dering how long before the green burs
would parch and give him their brown
chestnuts. | was contemplating a
metaphysical bur. wanted to re-
main true to Phyllis. though there
wasn't any sense in my doing so. Had
Gretchen resembled any one but Phyl-
lis never should have been in such
predicament. | should have gone
away the day after my arrival. Here
l was going into my second week. My
assistant in London was probably wor-
rying. having heard nothing from me
during that time. AS matters stood
1t was evident that ! could not be true
either to Phyllis or Gretchen since |
did not know positively which | loved.
l knew that loved one. So much was
gained. wanted to throw up coin.
heads for Phyllis, tails for Gretchen.
but | couldn't bring myself to gamble
on the matter.
A steamer came along then, putting
Importantly. sending wash almost ut
my feet. followed it with my eye
till it became lost around the bend.
Over there was Austria and beyond
the orient. new world to me.
IF l could see them together" l
mused aloud.
The squirrel cooked his head to one
side as If to ask. Austria and Tur-
key?"
No" said l. looking around fo- an
other stick. phyllis and Gretchen If
could see them together. you know.
could tell positively then which !
love- AS it is. I'm In doubt Do you
understand?
The squirrel ran out to the end Of
the limb and sat down. 1t was an act
Of deliberation.
well. why don't you answerT'
! was startled to my feet by the
laughter which followed my question.
A few yards behind me stood Gret-
chen.
Cant you find better confidant"
she asked.
Yes, hut she will not be my conf
dant." said l. wondered how much
she had heard of the one sided dia-
logue. "W'ill you answer tho question
-