The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1902-03-21
safe, subject to flirt with. But

species Of tame cat!' l lnterposed,
ironically.
"'Tame cat is not the expression |
should have used," she answered.
"But since you put it into my mouth,
it will serve to convey my meaning.
GIRLS like you too we'll en- bon camarade
even to be attracted by you en- anna
teur You are the amusing and enter
tanning friend of them all, and that is
why you will never be the accepted
lover of any one of them"
II am glad to hear it, said, with
dignity; "for, as told you, never do
mean to marry, and l should be sorry
to disturb any girls peace vf mind"
snake yourself quite easy she an
swered, confidently. You never will
This time l actually did laugh aloud.
l could not restrain my hilarity. l,
for whom so many canaries' hearts
were even then huttering desperately
in their little bosoms.
"You are amused?' she SAID.
IL cannot help it," | answered.
"You think have madta hai sho,!'
You have not exactly plnked the
bull,' / replied.
"On the contrary" she pers sted,
Il believe have pini>ed the bull, as
you express it, and in the very center" !"
Again l laughed. Her delusion
grew more and more amusing.
But l am right" she declared.
mo girl will ever marry YOU
"Quite so--because shall never
ask her,
because she would not have you if
you did,
Her absurd, and must add illman-
nered, insistence nettled me.
eff wanted wife, said, Il need
90 no farther than this drawing room
to obtain one
1t was truly, but rashly, spoken in
the irritation of the moment
"Do you mean Ethel Or Amy" in
qnired Mrs. Lowenstein, supcrciliously.
This was downright insulting. Amy,
Ethel's sister, was a kid of a schoolgirl
just rising fourteen.
Ethel, of course" l retorted.
She gave little, incredulous laugh.
"You think she would not accept
me?' l demanded.
"It is not a matter of thins; | know
it," she replied. with "'superior' cock
sureness too riling for words.
I'VE will sce,' | said.
"What, will you ask hel? Surely it
would be unfair on Ethel to do that,
merely for :he purpose of settling this
comparatively immaterial point"
"As she is certain % refuse | re-
torted, sarcas.ically, "no harm will be
done
"To be sure" sh, said. YES. That
is quite true"
The woman drove me quite mad. So
mad that l did ask E.h,l that very
night.
Ethel replied: "Oh, Mr.. Vaneson,
please-plcasc don't. like you ever
so much rs 4 friend, but no: in that
way. Oh, no. l do hope you will
never mention the subject again"
So Ethel actually reflsed mc-mc!
What can have been her reason? Some
one must have "got at" her, for in her
heart, she must have loved me. 1t
could not have been otherwise.
When l babe Mrs Lowcnstein good
night, feeling very much incensed and
insulted, the woman whispered smiling:
" Y You need not tell me- Ethel has re-
fused, you as | knew she would"
"rherc are other girls in the world
besides Ethel,' muttcrcd
EYES," she said, in low voice,
'many others. But they are not for
you, MIR. Vaneson. Take my advic.
Spare yourself and them the pain of
needless refusals. Or, if you must Sc
cure wife, ask some gool, unattrac-
tive girl who is not likely to have
other offers, and then possibly
Thanks for your kind advicc,' l
her, curtly.
I left the Phipsons' laughing to my
self savagely.
Next day, which was Tuesday, l
proposed to Lily Cartwright.
Lily said
"Oh! Mr.. Vaneson, please say
no more This is quite impossible. !
like and esteem you as a friend, but l
can never marry you-never!
This girl must have gone mad. To
refuse me-ME, if you please.
When | reached home | surveyed
myself in the glass. Her refusal was
| simply could not
understand it.
On the Thursday | proposed to
Janet Fairbairns.
Janet said:
"Oh no, no! | should like you to
be my brother, butt
Psha Her brother! Another girl
gone demented! 1t was too pitiable
for words.
On the Friday asked Nellie Damp
Ter.
"You surprise and pain me, Mr..
Naneson," SAID Nellie. 1T can never