The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-04

The American girl may be called the new
Eve of a special race of the distah order.
Her Adam is selected by preference from
the English peerage.
She can dance all night. ride, walk, swim.
play and firt all day, without dimming the
brilliancy of her coloring or dulling the
edge of her wit. Enhancing her piquant
beauty by perfect costumes, she invariably
contrives to interest the other sex by the
charm of her manner. Take her for all in
all, she is a smart angel. No other col
lection OF words can express Miss Jona-
than.
This description in the abstract is the
characterization of Matty Herman in the
concrete. She was typical American girl.
and as attractive a specimen as could be
found Her beauty great her charm
of manner greater, her astucity of charac-
ter greatest of all. A very April was she
for smiles and tears, and unexpected
changes of temperament. Like bee' she
could sting-with glances and words; ike
bee she could make honey-the honey OF
conversation and charm. These two quail
ties she exercised impartially, and by loss
ing men between such extremes In shuttle
cock fashion she managed to secure
horde of distracted lovers.
At Newport, Mrs. Scheveningen took upon
herself to read Matty lecture. This ma
tron was thirty-five years of age, expert
enced in social observances and In the IN
tricacies of the masculine character. she
had not experimental with Mr.. Schevenin-
gems heart fifteen years before without
knowing something of the organ. Her learn
ing instructed her how far she could ad-
vance into the enemy's camp without cut
h. informal
ton she impaired to Matty. The maid
wise in the conceit of twenty years, ala
not take kindly to the instruction
Its not that L mind your flirting" said
Mrs Seheveningen.> frankly; there's no
harm in that, though it is playing with
fire. Men can look after themselves, and
their hearts are tough enough where their
vanity is concerned. But If you mean bust
ness you must be careful. Now, there's
Silas Winter, who"
81 don't want to marry him." interrupted
Matty. pursuing up her lips; hes dude.
/ don't like dudes, they're so dreadfully
like women. How can you advise me to
marry such a creature?"
He is rich, you wretched girl. and you
have no money"
..I have enough to live on replied Matty.
carelessly. "You don't suppose I'd marry
your Winter creature for a homer"
"You must marry for something"
''Then I'll marry for love-"
sentiment" groaned Mrs. Scheveningen,
lifting her hands; ''and your face is your
fortune You ought to marry a rich man."
do you call Silas Winter a MANI" said
Matty, scornfully. 81 don't"
MY dear, he is rich, and he loves you
There's always two TO a bargain re-
Joined Miss Herman, calmly. I'm not
rich. and don't love him. When 1 marry
continued she, with increasing color, I'm
marry a man."
Mrs. Scheveningen arose from her chair,
and approaching Matty. tapped the tell-tale
cheek. Then she kissed her visitor warmly.
and began to ask questions.
What is his name. dear?" asked the ED
erly lady, insinuatingly. who have you
in your minds eyer"
For answer, Matty led her questioner to
a table, and pointed TO silver-framed por-
trait, full length. OF a young man.
II have that person in D>y minds eye"
said she, with a roguish glance.
N.Y. calculated Mrs. Scheveningen. TAX
ing stock of the photograph. Its your
cousin
Its my cousin, Leonard Conway, of The
Firs, Kent England" asserted Matty, nod
ding her head. I'm in love with him.
Hasn't he a noble brow? Isn't his figure
like that of the Dying Gladiator? Do you
think he and Silas belong to the same spe-
cies? | don't. Or else the monkey has not
yet merged in the man. Silas is only the
missing link so far
After she had digested these enthusiasms,
Mrs. Scheveningen returned to her seat.
and entered protest against them.
'.Matty Herman, you can't be in love with
man whom you've never SEEN"
why not: There's no law against it,"
He may be fool"
mot with that brow
mo doubt he has a bad temper"
with that mouth, impossible"
Every likely he isn't marrying man.
Matty looked at her piquant face in the
mirror. was satisfied with the reflection,
and smiled
so long as he isn't married. that's all
right" said she touching little curl on
her forehead She was a young lady with
an excellent opinion of her charms.
You conceited little thing" laughed Mrs
Scheveningen, do you think you can make
him fall in love with your
iii try, anyhow That is, if like him.
All your objections are fair enough.
shouldn't fall in love with phantom. but
as / am going over to England this fall I'll
my phantom in the flesh. If 1 find him
desirable I'll see IL he is a st. Anthony,
which he isn't with those eyes"
Mrs Scheveningen began to laugh Some
thing struck her excessively ridiculous
but what it Matte could not conceive
and she was curious accordingly. She
shook her friend in pretended anger, then
kissed and coaxed her. and used innurer-
able arts to learn the cause of such laugh
ter. In the end Mrs. Scheveningen wiped
her eyes of their merry tears and produced
a letter. This she shook at Matty in play
full warning.