The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-10-18
LESSON IN REJECTING.
BY w. H.

NOGulug, ludLkS.
"Nothing?"
"Im on my way uptown"
my word for it, Scott, you make an idiot
Of yourself about that wife of yours"
Scott laughed good-naturedly.
"When a mans as happy as l am, old fel-
low, he can afford to be idiotic."
"As you like. This is pretty fair Old Chick
asaw."
II dare say. Honestly, Boston, 1 don't
think it's decent for a man to kiss the
woman he loves with whisky on his
breath"
Possibly. AS I am not expecting to do
any kissing, l will enjoy my cocktail"
We'll, l wouldn't exchange pleasures"
Tastes differ. How long were you in love
before you made up your mind toto ac-
knowledge it,"
Not long. And I'll tell you this: After
you have once said L love her to yourself,
it will never be long before you are saying
i love you to somebody else"
Not unless l feel pretty safe, 1 guess"
Under any circumstances. Even if you
are dead sure of being rejected. Uncertain
ty is ruin. 1t will break down your con-
stitution. 1t will break down your business
quicker than all the trusts and corners in
the United States"
Boston smiled sourly as the two men
moved away. He had caught sight of his re-
Election in the pier-glass opposite. Hanged
if | don't look hipped," he said to himself.
"Ill be facing a flank movement of univer-
sal specifics and c~ure-alls if my friends get
pushed aside the decanter and lighted a
cigar. We'll if q rejection will help the
cause, it is easily obtained. 1 guess six
words will settle it." Half an hour later
he looked at his watch, lighted another
cigar and went out briskiy.
As he neared his destination Boston
walked faster, holding his head rather high
and swinging his cane buoyantly. A shrewd
old business man who met him wondered
if that tine-looking young fellows affairs
were in bad shape. He looks mortgaged up
to the last cent" he muttered. However,
the spurious blitheness passed counter with
Bridget.
Sure, sir, and she'd be down already, I'm
thinking, if she knew you were here" she
volunteered, as she ushered him into the
parlor.
Boston moved restlessly about the room.
His hands We're cold and he looked at his
watch frequently. The odor of that last
cigar seemed to have saturated his clothes.
Tobacco was about as disgusting as whisky
on the breath when He interrupted him
self with a sarcastic smile. LAS a rule, l
believe, it is not considered good form to
kiss the woman who rejects you" 1t was
unfortunate that ever the thought of kiss
ing her should have come to him just then.
1t made him nervous. He took out his
handkerchief and wiped his mustache care
fully. The next instant he flushed hotly.
What a fool he was. There was no per-
fume on the handkerchief, anyway. He had
always detested such foppery in men. Curse
it all! Since he was a man, he might as
we'll act like one. He sat down in an easy
chair opposite the door and forced himself
to take a natural attitude. Resting his
twirling his mustache thoughtfully, he felt
be rejected-nothing more. In the next
five minutes Boston Mathews looked at his
watch only ten times.
His attitude deceived the girl, and she
greeted him easily.
81 was unwilling to keep you waiting, but
/ was writing a letter for mother, and 1
trusted to you being so much at home here
as not to feel annoyed" she exclaimed.
eve have been friends a long time,
haven't we?"
He stood near her and spoke quietly, but
that uneasy right hand worked nervously
at his much-enduring mustache.
Eyes, indeed. Won't you have a seat?"
"No, thank you" He took out his watch.
"Why, are you in a hurry?"
mo, at least. No; that is. I'm in no
hurry. 1 just wished to have a few quiet
words with you. 1t is what most friendships
between men and women come to, l expect.
The truth is, Alice, / came here this even
ing to-to"-he paused and looked search
ingly into her frank, wide-opened eyes, etc
be rejected" he finished, desperately.
A subtle change came over her face.
What was it? In the passing of a breath.
she had placed a thousand miles between
them. The strong hand that caressed1 the
mustache Numbered about its work. Bos-
ton waited a moment to steady himself.
1T is a rejection, isn't it," he asked,
quietly.
Certainly" her lip curled.
"Thank you" But he was no longer nerv-
Gus. A dumb anger took possession of him.
"You have managed to hurt me pretty
badly. For the sake of the man who is to
come after me, I should like to offer a few
remarks. May II?
why, of course"
First, then. when a man tells a woman
that he loves her he pays her the most ear.
nest compliment manhood is capable Of.
The least she can do, whether she appre-
ciates it or not, is to receive it in a wom-
anly way. Second, you need not look out
the window mean that you shall hear
this. To be scornful and curt in the pres
ence of another's pain is never admirable.
But when that pain is caused by the yearn-
ing of a love that will not be set aside-a
love which your own hand has fostered; to
be scornful then betrays the inter worth
lessness of your womanhood."
Alice bit her lip, and, turning abruptly,
walked to the window. Boston followed
her and stood with his hands thrust into
his trousers pockets, staring moodily at
the tossing flowers. L suppose | ought to
apologize for my harshness. Maybe l will
be sorry for it some da.'."
Probably you had better postpone"
Alice began. Then her s%elf-control gave
way and she burst into merry laughter.
ooh, don't look so savage" she cried, catch
ing her breath. Il don't mean to be un-