The Sauk Centre herald., 1901-01-10


that you were looking very hand
someY
"Oh," said 1, somewhat disconnected,
'that would be rather embarrassing"
Il do not doubt it."
"And then it would not be true. The
duty we men owe to beautiful wom-
an is constantly to keep telling her of
It,"
"And the duty we women owe to
fine looking man? rogue Of dimple
in her cheeks.
rs it to explicitly believe all he says
regarding your beauty?" l answered,
evading the question. "a man may
tell a woman that she Is beautiful, but
a woman may not tell man that he is
fine looking-that is, in public"
''The terms are not fair"
THAT may be true. but they make
the wheels Of the social organization
run smoother. For instance If met
strange woman and she told me that
was handsome l shouldn't be able to
speak again the whole evening. On the
other hand, a beautiful woman after
you say that you are delighted to meet
her expects the very next remark to
concern her good looks"
Your insight Is truly remarkable"
she said, the dimple continuing its elu-
sive maneuvers. Hush, here comes
Garment
And our voices grew faint in the
swell of melody. Mrs. Wentworth was
entranced. Her daughter was fondly
gazing at the back of her fiance's head.
Phyllis had turned her face from me to
the stage. AS for myself, was not
particularly interested in the cigarette
that the hour had arrived. l patted
my gloves for a moment, then drew a
long breath.
"Phyllisv' said 1. There was a qua
yer in my voice. Perhaps I had not
spoken loud enough. "Phyllis" said
again.
She turned quickly and gave me an
inquiring and at the same time nerv-
GUS glance. what is it?"
81 want to tell you something have
never dared to tell you till now," said
earnestly. The voice on the stage
scared heavenward. Il love you. Will
you be my wife,"
All, me! Where were those dropping
eyelids. that flush, that shy, sweet
glance, of which had so often dreamt?
Phyllis was frowning.
"Jack, / have been afraid Of this"
she said. 81 am so sorry, but it cannot
be-"
"Oh. do not say that now," cried,
crushing my gloves. "Wait awhile.
Perhaps you may learn to love me-"
"Jack. l have always been frank to
you because l like you. Do you sup
pose it will take me five years to find
out what my heart says to any man?
No. Had loved you should not have
asked you to wait. l should have said
yes. do not love you in the way you
wish. Indeed 1 like you better than
any man l know, but that is all l can
offer you. l should be unkind If held
out any false hopes. l have often
asked myself why l do not love you,
but there is something lacking in you,
something l cannot define. Some other
woman will find what have failed to
find in you to love-"
l was twisting my gloves out Of all
recognition. There was a singing in
my ears which did not come from the
stage.
a man in this world whom l shall love
and who will love me. We may never
meet. Then he shall be an ideal to
me and l to him. You believe you
love me, but the love you offer is not
complete"
"Not complete?" l echoed.
"No. 1t would be if returned it.
Do you understand? There is in this
world woman you will truly love and
who will return your love in it's full
ness. Will you meet? That is in the
hands of your destinies. Shall l meet
my ideal? Wyo knows? But till l do
l shall remain an old maid
1 nodded wearily. A dissertation on
afinities seemed ill timed.
"And now," she said, this beautiful
friendship Of ours must come to an
end" And there were tears in her
eyes.
YES" said l, twisting and untwist-
ing the shreds Of my gloves. 1t SEEM
ed as though the world had slipped
from under my feet and l was whirl-
ing into nothingness. my heart is
very heavy"
"Jack, if you talk like that" hastily,
you will have me crying before all
these people"
Unfortunately Ethel turned and saw
the tears in her cousins eyes. mercy.
what is the matter?' she asked.
Jack has been telling me a very
pathetic story" said Phyllis. with a
pity in her eyes.
Yes; something that happened to-
night" said I. staring at the pro-
gramme. but seeing nothing. nothing.
well" said Ethel. this is not the
place for them," turning her eyes to
the stage again.
The concluding acts of the opera
were a jangle Of chords and discords,
and the hum Of voices was like the
murmur Of a faroff sea. My eyes re-
mained fixed upon the stage. 1t was
like looking through broken kaleido-
scope. wanted to be alone, alone
with my pipe. l was glad when we