Gardnerville record. (Gardnerville, Nev.) 1898-1902, 1902-01-03
Becoming Serious
BY BARRY PAIN.

ing.
IT'S terrible thing for an unmar'
ried girl to grow old" she continued.
lone isn't always as old as one
looks" | observed. And it appeared
that it was not the right thing. 1t Is
too wearisome to say the right thing te
Elsa-she asks for 1t too much. and is
used to II too much. Besides. know
her too well.
Yes" she said bitterly. "when Eve
lost my self respect and broken my
heart I'm right to come to you. You're
so sweetly sympathetic, A palmist il
London refused to beliye I was more
than twenty-three."
Those palmists earn their money
As for self respect, | don't think you
ever had much. As for heart ] know
you never had any. I've no sympathy
with you. and believe you ought to be
doing a turn of penal seryltude. Lott
of conyicts have less on their con
science. | gather you're In Il mess
again. and from regard for your family
Ill give you good advice
''of course, you don't understand M
in the last. Nobody ever has under
stood me properly. II had ever comf
across ole man who understood Inc !
would have married him. Never mina
looks or age or position or money
wonld have married him just bccaus,
he understood me-"
Il expect that leaked out. Well. Il
the men misunderstood you. you've
only yourself To thank"
IF you could only imagine how thai
vulgar chaif Jars me mt present. An6
it's so silly, too-almost every man I've
met would have been glad TO marry
me. | was sayine-I've not really beeI
what seemed to he. I've been thought
frivolous, and heartless. and capricious
and vain"
We'll. at this period Of our acqualnt
anee, you're not going To tell me thai
you're not just exactly that"
I'm not at all like that. I've hat
the appearance of Ii sometimes to pee
pie who have not known the circuni
stances. The only thing ] could T'. a.,
myself of would be slight frivolity. Bul
nll the time the frivolous me hasn't
been the real me- You understand
Not in the least"
We'll. YOU WILL because the real INT
Is coming out now. I'm becoming serl
Gus. Perhaps it's because I'm growing
so old Anyhow. | can see all the foil,
and emptiness of the city way of living
now. went to-
One moment; when you went on
your dandellon hunt the other after
noon all 10y your lone self where die
you meet him.
lie never came. Aud | didn't want
him either"
Seems to have been bit too mucl
rof-Nell. which one was ltY'
"Ayuseote."
4 thought il was the talented for
cigner-the man with the fiddle. Your
bit difficult 10 follow-so rapid. y,
It's Aynseote. Is It? Well. you're play
ing with fire there"
She looked pleased. Really Whai
do you meani'
We'll. he's moody begGar AT tht
best Of times: reckless too. Mind. IL h,
does ii he'll do II decently. May pos
sibly take his gun out alone hefon
breakfast and manage a fatal accident
In getting over stle. Nobody vii
know except him and you-and me-
You can't mean thati'
aIfss th,. Hind nf fl,ipH fhnt hos hon
pcned."
I've never had II man actually Kill
himself for me I've had three leav,
the country, but that was ALL
You seem 10 rather like the Idea"
"How can you say such horrible and
unjust things? | wouldn't have ii hap.
pen for anything IN the world. Still II
is only natural To be pleased at n com.
plment aud that would be a real com.
pliment. \ man doesn't kill himself
for nothing. But it won't be-
probably not 1t doesn't happen
once IN thousand times that man
goes that length. Still. of course, Ayns.
cote but we won't discuss It,"
She reflected. for n minute or two
'I'll forgive him tonight after dinner.
she said. III II really Is II good excuse
But do hate men"
Later in the day Aynscote sought me
out. He looked sufficiently sheepish
Look here, | say, | wish you'd do mt
a good turn. The fact of the ease is
that I've been unlucky enough To offenc
your cousin
IL congratulate you. Keep II up"
Don't he an idiot. I'm pretty seri.
Gus"
Good heavens. Is everybody he.
coming seriousT'
what do you mean? 1t was all
through my not knowing my way about
this Internal country. II you could jl~i
say word for me TO her and tell hel
that. Never mind the details. It's the
absolute truth | missed my road"
suppose | did. would you do some
thing for me-
Anything YOU like"
Very well then. Tell her yourself
faiipht nftAr ,IiupaP-- Sbp'll listpu II