Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1901-07-25
7 T.
BY BARRY PAIN.

Il Mr. Herbert Packer habil lally spoke
of women as the fair sex. He had nc
vices and on the other side of the
counter was quite useful man. When
he came out into the world, his CON
versation on the subject of tact made
some men dislike him. but it won him
tna respect of others-Ernest Tags.
for instance.
One evening he happened TO say that
Packer was his idea of the typical
ladies' man. Nonsense, my boy" said
Packer. But, all the same, a few min
utes later Tags was seated in Pack
er's club. and Packer was ordering two
glasses Of sherry as if it were of no
importance.
Coming back again" said Packer
With a pleased smile. ito what you
were saying just now. its not the
case. of course: but. if l might put the
question, I should like to ask you what
made you say l was a typical ladies'
MANI"
We'll, Mr. Packer" said Tags, Il
don't know how to put il in different
words. There is a style. Some have
it; some, on the other hand, have not.
You've got il, and l think the ladies
mostly know"
AS to there being style" said
! Packer. there is an art in making one
self agreeable 10 the female sex and in
conducting oneself in society in the cor
rect way. SO far as that goes, perhaps
take rather more trouble than most
men TO avoid mistakes. 1t may be that
| nave had more opportunities for prac-
tice and rather more experience than
some. But ! should he very sorry tc
be vain enough TO think there was any
more in it than that
There's good deal more said
Tags. with conviction. "Many a time
when with ladies' I've wished YOU were
there TO give me hint or two. Now,
last Saturday was case in point. l
should very much like to know what
you would have done in a similar case.
We'll, my advice is quite Al your dis
posal if you really want it. | have
sometimes been able TO get out of lit
tie difficulty in way that people have
spoken kindly Of
Then I'll tell you. on Saturday aft
ernoon took a lady friend, who for
reasons shall be nameless, to the thea
ter, paying, of course"
"Of course" said Packer slipping his
fire water.
Coming out, ! said, You must per-
nit me to offer you some refreshment.'
That's the usual thing, l think
well, yes said Packer critically.
Not absolutely essential
Not essential? l rather wish I'd
known that / knew l was pretty
: short, but it was only after she'd ac-
cepted that l found | was down to ten
pence. However, l took her to the
nearest teashop and hoped for the best
The place was fun, and we found two
seats at table where there was an old
gent sitting and reading the evening
paper He'd got nothing but a cup of
tea. and | thought he would be going
directly. As a matter of fact. he sat
US out and we were there some time
too. ! said l didn't want anything.
thought ii best TO be on the safe side
But that was no good. The lady in
question is what would be called a fine
woman, and she explained that she had
cut her dinner rather short in order to
be in plenty Of time at-well at the
place where we were TO meet. As a
rule. l like to see a girl have a healthy
appetite. But this time-I don't want
to go into any details. but when she
had had all she wanted and the wait
resS put the slip down on the table Il
was nearer IS pence than a shilling |
kept up the conversation as well as l
could. seeing that all the time l was
thinking what the deuce / was TO do.
Now, what would you have done?"
Il can't say ii would have embarrass-
ed me at ALL said Packer. Il should
simply have said: My dear Miss So
and-so, | have been so entranced with
your charming society that have ac-
tually forgotten to send off an impor-
tant telegram. Would you kindly ex-
cuse me for two minutesT She would
make some polite answer. and l should
raise my hat and 20 out
Il see. And then you'd do bunk?"
Mr.. Packer was panied by the sug-
gestion 4 don't think that would be
the gentlemanly thing to do. What
would it lead to when you met the girl
again? No: l should go off at once to
the nearest pawnbroker and make some
little arrangement-in fact, pawn my
watch"
THAT had occurred to me. l couldn't
have put it in that well chosen way to
tie girl. but l might have made some
sort Of excuse"
Then why didn't you DO it? It was
obviously the right thing"
You see I had parted with ms
watch temporarily TO get the theater
tickets"
well. a man Of tile world should ne
never at a loss. You might have PUT
your hand in your pocket and eXclaim-
81 that you had had your purse stolen