Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-09-27
Humorous department.
Simpkins Doubted.

SimpkinS was not the sort or 1el-
low to be suspected Of having love
affairs on hands. He did not mingle
much in society, but was simply one
of the boys, being good deal OF an
athlete and equally expert at pulling
an oar or kicking a football.
It was, accordingly, considerable OF
a surprise which he sprung on his
friends at the club the other evening
when, after a period of unusual Sill
ence on his part, he broke out with the
remark, apropos of nothing that had
been said:
well, they're all the same, anyway,
these women. You can't depend on any
of them. I don't believe they know
what it Is to be animated with ordina-
ry heart and conscience"
Everybody was perfectly dumfound-
ed and no one ventured remark. -
II met a young lady at Mrs. Browns >
ball last February" continued Simp-
kins, "who quite fascinated me. She
invited me to call, and did so. kept
on calling, at proper and decorous in
tervals, and was beginning to think
that my visits were not altogether un-
welcome"
Here Simpkins paused and smiled un-
pleasantly. Perhaps he was thinking
of one of the calls, or perhaps how sim
Die of him to imagine the young lady
cared for him. Then he continued:
Finally, all Of sudden, about two
weeks or less ago, my rings at the door
bell met no response. This happened
two or three times before I began to
suspect what the trouble was. Then
it dawned upon me that my company
was not wanted, and that the edict
evidently was that when I called no
one should answer the bell.
lone day I met her on the street and
she stopped, smiling, and asked me
when was coming down to see her.
"Hm!" And Simpkins said this to
himself, almost under his breath
asked me when was coming to see
her. And smiled!
"Of course, I was polite" he contin-
ued. Her mother was with her, and
did not let them know I suspected any
thing. But told them I was very busy
and didn't think I would be able TO
come for sometime. And I don't think
I will.
"I might just mention, perhaps,
though it is calculated to fatter my
vanity, that the last time I called-ali
nv visits were in the evenlng-tne
drawing room curtains had not been
drawn, and I saw her quite plainly Sit
ting in a chair. There were several
others there, and they seemed to me
ENJOYING themselves immensely. MY
ring met the usual response-Wh1ch was
no response at all-and the merriment
increased. 7 suppose she was telling
them the joke that was on me"
This was all that Simpkins volun-
teered, and no one pressed him to en-
ter more deeply into painful subject.
Everybody admitted that the girl was
obviously heartless, and that Simpkins
had good grounds for his indictment.
It was several evenings after this be-
fore Simpkins again came around to
the club. When he did come he SEEM
ed more like his old self again, and we
remarked that he was getting over his
bitterness nicely. We did not say any
thing to him about it, though, fearfui
of opening the sore afresh.
= S,,oca1f hrO,1pht the
subject.
Boys, the jokes on me-" said he
when he had got seated. Il happened
around near the house yesterday after
noon, and I couldn't help going few
steps out of the way, just to walk past
it. Thought if I could only see her
looking out of the window I could have
the satisfaction of bowling frigidly and
walking straight past.
well. when I got opposite the door
I noticed a card pinned just above the
bell, and as nobody was near, was
tempted to read it. Had noticed a card,
too, when had called in the evening,
but YOU know I am bit short-sighted,
and 1t never occurred to me to try to
read what it said"
Simpkins paused and laughed.
"Well, what about the card?" one Of
US asked.
knock" said Simpkins.-Public Led
ger.