The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1902-01-25
SWAPPING Condolences.

"I'll never be even civil to a man
again." murmured the brown-eyed
girl.
The blue-eyed girl shrugged her
shoulders incredulously. "Have your
unsophisticated affections been trihed
with ?"
"It is worse than that. A man I
don't even like thinks I am in love
with him."
''Did you give him cause"
Indeed, l did not. Only con-
ceited prig could have mistaken my
conduct. You know, I have just re-
turned from Cousin Mans cottage.
There was bachelor next door.
don't know how long he has been a
bachelor, but long enough to be ut
terly selfish and uninteresting. He
ran in every day, and I told Nam S
husband that it was better to be lone
ly than to be bored. Then in some
unexplainable way I got it into my
head that he had been in love with
Cousin Nan, and was still true to her
memory"
"You-a Chicago girl, and think
ing that? You are queer" comment
ed the blue-eyed girl.
II know it, but it made him inter-
esting. His stupid expression SEEM
ed soulful, and when he shook hands
with Cousin Nan 1 fancied that 1
could see a wistful expression, and
when he kissed her children 1 felt
sure that only strong will was keep
ing back his tears. 1 thought him so
noble, so accomplishing, and I tried
to enter into all his moods. 1t wasn't t
very thrilling, but as there were no
other men around, l thought it would
not hurt me to be good to him and
cheer him up as much as 1 could.
We rode and walked together in SYM
pathetic silence, and l felt sure that
he understood, for he told Tom that
I was such restful girl. One even
ing we stood on the porch, and 1
thought of the years of loneliness be-
fore him, and my heart ached. Pick
ing up his hand, Iheld it for a second
against my cheek, said Good night,
very abruptly and went into the
house"
mo wonder he thought that you
were in love-" interrupted the blue
eyed girl.
Nonsense If man picked up
a girls hand she wouldn't think that
he was in love-she would know that
he was simply affected by the moon
or something that he had eaten for
dinner"
"Of course, he proposed?"
Hardly. This story isn't in any
story book. He was frightened to
death and never called again. 1
found out afterward that he had never
been in love with anyone except him
self-conceited prig p
The blue-eyed girl looked thought
full. IF you want to be awfully
popular I'll tell you how if you will
promise never to breathe it."
':Tll promise anything"
'Well, will tell you my own ex-
perience. Last summer there was
only one eligible man at the summer
resort, and I knew that my chances
for good time were slim, for the
other girls were younger and very
attractive. Then some one who did
not know told that man that the man
1 was engaged to had died, and since
that time l had been Indifferent to
men. 1t was better to have him
think that than to know the real un-
romantic truth, so dropped several
remarks which would confirm his
opinion. He hadn't even looked at
me before, but after that he began
studying my face, and he thought it
so wonderful the way l hid my true
feelings, for though my heart was
broken, only a very close observer
would have guessed it. To make a
long story short, he decided that I
was safe for summer girl, and he
showered his attentions on me, and 1
accepted them with an Understand
you air. 1t worked so beautifully
that 1 now have six men trying to
make me forget some deep, unknown
sorrow, for they all feel sure that 1
can't fall in love-
''But do you think any of them
will propose ?"
II hope not. 1 don't want to have
good thing spoiled"
Then the blue eyed girl began look
ing over her engagement book for
the week.