Abilene weekly reflector., 1902-07-17
The PERFECT FOOL.

There wasn't more attractive gin
1t Mrs. Van Alstine's house party than
the Bachelor Girl herself. 1t IL true
that this was her first meeting with
the other members Of the party, but
then she was Mrs. Van Alstlne's cou-
sin, and Mrs. Van Alstine, as every one
who was any one at all knew, had
enough blue-Mooded ancestry to stock
Z whole chapter Of Colonial Danes.
So the women admired the Bachelor
Girl for her family position and be-
cause she was so perfectly charming
and always said the most delightful
things to them and about them, and
then she didn't seem to care rap
about the three eligible men who were
present for the Christmas gayety.
But her Indifference to his attrac-
tons didn't have the least effect upon
the Perfect Fool. He followed her
about, lay In wait for her In the con-
servatory, loitered in the halls, and
was always getting In her way at tho
skating pond. He tried to talk to her
on all occasions, although as conver.
satlonalist he was not a shining mark.
But the Bachelor Girl only enveloped
herself In an atmosphere calculated to
produce grip in any one who ventured
within Its radius. The fact that she
did these things and snubbed him un.
merclfully every time she got chance
only made the Perfect Fool sigh the
more. Which Is the way Of Perfect
Fools.
Now, when the Perfect Fool saw the
Bachelor Girl promenading the veran.
da after dinner, alone, he made his
way to her, and, after the manner Of
his kind, said things which be wouldn't
care to have repeated on the floor Of
the Stock Exchange, when In the full
ness Of time he succeeds in papa's bus.
mess. Still, he didn't say things DIFF.
ferent from what Perfect Fools and
others always do say under like con-
ditions. He told her the kind Of story
that even a Bachelor Girl hears occa.
sionally. 1t was about love, and faith,
and lifetime devotion, and star Of ex.
istence, and other things which even
Perfect Fool may tell passably well.
And the Bachelor Girl was such q
good listener.
"You are sure,' she said, that you
love me?'
Absolutely" said the Perfect Fool.
"And you couldn't live without meT'
Don't ask me to try" pleaded tho
Perfect Fool In agonlzed tones.
"And you want to marry mer
with all my heart"
do you know that I haven't .
penny, that even the gown wear isa
present from my cousin?" 2
II care not" the Perfect Fool pro.
tested, II love you for yourself. Tell
me you will marry mer'
Certainly notw The Bachelor Girl
drew back, and her eyes were full Of
scorn. when I marry, II ever do,
intend to marry a man."
"A wha-a-at"
"A man. I am not surprised that
you wonder. l know there are but
Few specimens extant."
"But I-ah-er-tell me, in what have
offended" The Perfect Fool groaned
n agony.
II may as well tell you. am, a.
you know, Mrs. Van Alstine's cousin,
Ind haven't penny. am having a
holiday now. AT other times | work
hard with my own hands. operate
| telegraph instrument from 1o o'clock
loon until II o'clock midnight in a
Broadway office building, and I have
)een doing this for years"
But" persisted the Perfect Fool,
you are yourself, and 1t DOESN'T
"But 1t does.' said the Bachelor
9irl Zone night last summer, when
had finished work and was standing
m the postoffice crossing waiting for
he Broadway car, person came
llong, and, throwing an arm about me,
addressed me in endearing terms"
IA man." gasped the Perfect Fool.
NO" said the Bachelor Girl, ut was
iou."-New York World.
Printers Truck Farm,