Waterbury Democrat., 1901-09-23
The Boy and the Elan @p By J. n. JONES
THE Bow came at 7:ao D. m. and
By J. n. JONES


 as he could be said to have a mean ing), light-haired, fong-legged.
 He sat on the sofa, and put himself into 32 distinct attitudes, not one of which was graceful. I could not ex- actly tell him to go, and anything short of that he disregarded.
 He wore pink-striped waistcoat and a blue tie.
 He did not admire me; his idol was in short frocks ana fuzzy hair. Other boys worship the seasoned belle, but his taste in enslavers was the only peculiar thing about him. l never cared for the very young attached to me; and the very young despairing for another is even worse.
 He did not even talk of Her. wished he had. I could have sympathized to the best in my power. Presumably l was too antique in his estimation q was 27) to take an interest in such things. He talked of love to make up for his silence on the nearer subject. I listened and wearied, and took out the fancy work I kept for the Boy, and never finished.
 He spoke with the superior air of one instructing the ignorant. I was, I am afraid, absent-minded, and he languished after awhile.
 I offered him sweets and insulted him into ruby blush.
 After that he stared sadly at me, as if he had come for no other pur- post than to feast his eyes for one last time on my adored features.
 Ha .t.a1 Toots.
 its legs, and, in rickety fashion, managed to keep moving.
 The marriage question (not the inn proper marriage question: seemed to interest him greatly. He did not ask for my advice, but merely solilo- quized at some length. He mentioned the desirability of early marriages; the impossibility of asking girl to share ten shillings a week; the ex- pense of bringing up a young family; there was the education of the sons and the portion for the daughters.
 "You would not educate them?" I inquired, smothering an incipient laugh.
 He thought he would let them choose between an education and an income. Besides, they might marry" "To be sure," I assented. And. there might be grandchildren"
 A puzzled look came across the Boys face; he had not thought of the grandchildren.
 70, that would be all right" he said, after a short silence.
 "A man is only responsible for his own family. Directly responsible, of course" Here I threaded a needle. ''But there is no harm in looking at things from all sides.''
 However, we had plunged too far into futurity even for the Boy; he took another bypath from the same thoroughfare.
 Il think it very wrong for people to throw obs tacles in the way of marriage" he remarked, solemnly.
 But on the other side," then said I, ''it would never do to encorage the thing too much; if the couple quar- reied they would lay the blame of the position on you"
 This was evidently a new idea; he pondered on it some time
 The Man came in, sat down, and waited.
 People might sometimes interfere unintentionally," the Boy said, re- fectively.
 "They might" agreed - hope not grimly.
 The Man looked at the clock and fdgeted.
 ''Is that the right timer" he asked.
 1.-Two minutes slow" said the Boy.
 Thanks said the Man. ''I have to catch the s:35 train.''
 My needle would not thread. Then I said: ''So soon!" and ''When do you return?'
 ''I don't know," he answered. "It depends"
 Don't get fever at the Rock," said the Boy, paternally. sI have known such lots of fellows to go off like you, and they never come back''
 ''I hope this will be an exception" said. co, would no one take the Boy away and bury him?)
 ''Thank you" said the Man.
 The Boy got up-was he going?
 He merely looked at the photo graph over the mantel piece and sat down again.
 That is nice-looking girl" he re- marked. Some people think appear ance everything. Now I notice care. fully how girl acts to everybody, and learn her all round, then make up my mind."
 Does it take long?" I inquired (with polite interest, I hope; how longed to stick my crewel-needle into him).
 "Is" (the Boys mind had wan. dered).
 "To learn her all round?''
 Not very long. Of course, it de. psnds-''
 The Man who had been staring al the ceiling began to hunt savagely through six months' old magazine
 (Ting-ting-tin - ting ting - ting-ting-ting)
 I wished he would go-the Boy, mean; O. I wished. Could one be diplomatic?
 ''I wonder I said, CT wonder could you post letter for me?"
 with great pleasure, said the Boy. For the country?"
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