The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-12-31
AN ATMOSPHERE OF SOAP

OF the four raised voices in the library
only one was speaking in the big mans
defense. But that one was holding its
own fairly well until somebody, a man,
spoke out in bitter cold condemnation:
And he carries with him eternally an
atmosphere Of scented SOAP"
1t was then that the thin, wiry voiae
first made itself heard. striking across
the silence of dumb CONSERVATION.
He is a dentist and has to wash his
hands hundred times a day."
mo matter" retorted the gentleman
of the opposition. "a man may washuhis
hands 500 times a day without turning
himself into perfumery shop Il
Against such arguments even the thin
voice hesitated about ninging missile.
Womanlike, she changed her ground and
a clamor of tongues filled the room.
That night the big man went to call
on the girl with t..e thin voice. tShe
smelt the soap in the hall.
1t would never he necessary for him
to send up card. Every one is familiar
with his favorite brand, and it is loud
enough to make itself heard on the sixth
! floor No wonder he has never married.
Imagine any woman consenting to share
Such an atmosphere.
Then they laughed, even that other one
who had tried to defend him in the be-
ginning. And the gentleman who led
the opposition had turned deliberately
and looked at her. The girls cheeks
famed anew at the remembrance and
this time their fire was wholly righteous
Indignation. For her part she much pre-
ferred scented hands to unsavcry man
ners. She opened the parlor door with
a sting of recklessness in her mental at
titude.
What is wrong?" he asked as soon as
they had shaken hands.
Il have been thinking" she answered
with rather savage determination.
The big man smiled upon her, lazily
genial. 1T appears to have been dis
turbing experience" he commented at
length.
1t always isl she replied as she turned
to look at him. He sat in the full light.
calm of brow and lip, with that ever
present suggestion Of broad tolerance
and scented soap. The girl shrank lit
tie into the shadow.
If it is a fair question. what We're
those troublesome thoughts?"
II don't imagine l could manage
more than one. l never venture into the
plural with thought l was thinking
what sharp contrasts our reals strike
with our ideals. We are never what We
imagine we are or would like to be-"
why, l don't know he studied the
outline of her head with satisfied eyes.
Aren't you what you would like to
be-" he questioned dreamiIy.
Il? l was not thinking of myself
so it 10 who am falling so far short,"
he remarked good naturedly. Don't take
~ i-rn Inv
manner that it was one of US
But 1 didn't mean-@
He smiled encouragingly. go on
Il didn't mean that you fell short of
my-I meant that you probably fell far
short of your own Ideals +"
He paused moment to enjoy her deli
cious confusion. ''Whatedo you fancy
my ideal would be like?'' he asked with
large compOsure.
"Oh, big and strong and sensible and
way above anything little or foolish"
And l am none of these good things?'
oh yes you are. You are al of them
The big man thought a moment. Then
where does the sharp contrast come in?'
he asked.
Il don't know she stammered. Then
with a plucky resolve not to give over
the game, answered. AT any rate, you
don't mean to be foppish-if you really
appear to be"
If l am?" It never occurred to him
to be angry; her bushes We're too tempt
ing.
about the perfumery, you know"
But l do not use perfume"
But you do" She paused to pull her
pluck together. You do use scented
soap that is outlandish. 1t smells to
heaven"
The mans large composure wilted
He started up and looked around for his
hat.
Il" he began miserably-"I had nc
! idea that it was noticeable"
The girl with the thin voice got be-
! tween him and the door.
you mustn't CO." she pleaded with DIS
| tressed eyes. You mustn't go like that
! we've been friends too long"
His composure came back in part.
am only going to rinse my hands at the
first fountain"
Don't co. she insisted II hk'
scented soap"
But I do not" he returned brlskly
Good heavens, why didn't you tell M
about it sooner. Think of the horrible
half-hours 1 have inflicted upon YOU"