The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-02-07

I gardcd me carefully and grew rather
| grave" ] am afraid" he remarked at
length. 81 have done something to dis
| please you" looked at him innocent-
| ly. II hurt me to meet his eyes, but I
| did not ilinch.
"The weak spot of man." pro-
nounced. "is his vanity. lie considers
| all his doings of interest-pleasing or
| displeasing-to others"
"To his particular friends he COR
| rected.
Am | honored by inclusion in that
| category" Yesterday the question
would have appeared needless. Today
| 1t seemed absurd.
1T is matter which requires two
persons to settle. So far as am con-
| cerned--." lie paused and glanced
| swiftly at me. Possibly you would
say IL was only part of the way IT
[ finished the sentencc?"
| studied the tennis carefully.
do you wish me To- finish it?" he
| asked. He had the gift of throwing
n great deal of suggestion into a few
colorless words.
"It is hardly worth while. \ compli-
ment is obviously the proper thing.
You never fail in your duty on such
| occasions.
'Do | seem So hopclcssly insinCere?"
"On the contrary. You seem so m
| mistakably in earnest. That is why
/ consider you so splcndid!' l laughed
quite Il merry sounding laugh this
time. But, oh! | was 80 miserable.
Miss Evc!"
Don't try heroics. Mr.. Chalmers.
When you look SO innocent and in
jurCd---"
Upon my word" he said, with some
heat. II think l am"
DO you? l am 50 sorry. Shall I
pretend to believe it all?" asked.
| I'm rather good at pretend myself,
! think. OF course, ] can't do ii so
well as you. but
He rose hastily TO find "A wandering
ball. | was glad to See him throw 1t
so savagely. 1t was Il little consola-
ton to hurt his vanity.
You are--impossible-thi evening"
he remarked, with his usual good hu-
| NOR, when he had returned.
81 am sorry, because-do you know
was thinking that l am myself for
| oncC?"
|
he contradicted.
| Really! Am l such 81 simple self
| that you have learnt all about me
| in a few days acquaintance" asked,
I scornfully.
| II didn't mean that, of course he
| said. slowly. NO doubt there are
more charms to discover impossible as
| it seems" bowed mockingly. but
"one infers from the known to the un-
known"
"SuppUsinG there is known to in
| fer from" ] suggested. lie looked NJ
! me in astonishment.
| "Do you mean to say that, after our
pleasant fortnight 81 raised my eye
| brows. "Of course, ] speak only for
myself.
| II concede the pleasant, | said,
with a smile tlat was not intended TO
look genuine.
DO you mean that we haven't
shown most Of our real selves? That
we have just played a play"'
You know we have" | said with an
air of frankness. 1T has been great
| fun. | really have enjoyed it inn
mensely. But ] am not such a prac-
ticed actor as you. and ! am getting
a little tired of pretending" He drew
his breath sharply. 1t had occurred
to me that perhaps he really had cared
a little.
II do not understand he said
surely you don't mean--you can't
mean--that you have merely been pre-
tending to be good friends with me?'
"Of course not" I said lightly
| Were excellent friends, | hope. But
friendship has certain limits" The
night before he had held my hand even
| So tightly in the dusk, and when We
parted he tried to--he almost--Oh
well, I'll tell the truth. He kissed me
rs it absolutely impossible fol
! friendship to grow" He touched my
hand, and | drew II sharply away.
1T depends upon persons and cir
Gums tanccs, of course" replied cold.
ly.
In our case and circumstances
My heart beat furiously that he shouli
dare tn 50 so far. l would draw him
a little further. decided. SO / looked
at my shoes and said nothing. "Eve,
Pretty little Eve?" I turned and
laughed up at him.
1T is SO silly--whcn neither of II;
is the least in earnest" he stare,
at me in apparent bewildermcnt.
DO YOU mean" he said sterny
that you have no thought for me he,
ynnd mere friendship? If So you arc
the most heartleSs--" I drew mysel