Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-02-02
THE PROOF OF
THE PUDDING.

or. at least, always since | stopped let
ting mamma form my opinions for me-
said a distinctly pleasing feminine
voice behind him.
Cotton turned casually around from
the desk by the wall. where he was
writing his usual grist Of Sunday let
ters, not so much because the hotel
stationery is both excellent and mex
pensive, as because his own room was
lonely, to see who the speaker might
be. The great room was filled with
small tables drinking and chatting
while the walters moved silently
about, well groomed products Of the
tipping system. The table a few feet
from Colton's elbow was now occupied
by wholly charming girl and young
man who Cotton instantly decided was
unworthy of her. In the first place he
was touch too good lolling, and in
the second place his clothes fitted his
figure too well, SO Cotton thought, for
a man evidently in his senior year in
Divinity.
Cotton turned back to his desk, not
to write, but to listen.
I'm glad to hear you say So" the
student said, continuing the convesa-
tion begun before entering the room
I've found lots of girls, up-to-date
girls, too, who didn't agree with me-
But what will you have to drink?"
Lemonade" said the girl.
"Oh, try a cocktail" urged her COM
panion.
mo, thank you" she answered, with
that peculiar half laugh those who
know women are aware is the express
ion of finality.
Cotton mentally scored one for the
girl, while her companion, calling a
waiter, ordered lemonade and a
Scotch.
Yes" the man continued, 81 have
always said that it was unjust and silly
in a country so universally respect
full to women as ours, to deny girl the
opportunity of making chance ac-
quaintances. say during a long, tire
some railway trip, or something of that
sort. If a girl is coming alone from
Cleveland to New York on a Pullman
car, and il there is young man near
her, evidently a gentleman and of her
social position, why on earth isn't it all
right for her to accept his offers to
make her more comfortable and to pass
away the dismal time of the journey in
conversation pleasant for both of them?
can see no harm in it."
Nor l." said the girl. 81 have al
ways thought that, as | told you. If
one has common sense, such things
can be managed all right. The trouble
is, girls put our theory into practice
too young, when they don't know the
world, and get scared into primness."
Now, if they'd only wait till they
are grown up and sensible like YOU"
said the man, with what Cotton de-
cided was undue effusivcness, "how
much more delightful time they could
have, with something of the freedom
in getting fresh viewpoints from
strangers man enjoys"
Cotton stole another look at the girl
Yes, she was decidedly charming. He
began to wish he were hypnotist and
could make the man ask her on what
day and train she would return to
Cleveland. Just then she glanced at
him. He turned back quickly. Could
it be possible? No, he told himself;
on the train, perhaps, but not here
while her caller was with her; it was
nr11u Of in limo n
into what was not there. AS the dram
atist said, there is limit to all vanity,
even that of a Harvard man.
Again. haven't you been forced to
wait alone sometimes for a long while
in place where it was not wholly
pleasant for a girl to be without an
escort?" continued the young womans
companion. Such situations are bound
to occur. Now. wouldn't it be much
more pleasant for you if a nice man,
perhaps seing your embarrassing po-
sition, spoke to you to feel free to ac
cept his friendliness in the spirit in
tended, and to chat with him to pass
away the tedious waltz"
Il should feel quite free to talk
with him" said the girl, "if he behaved
himself"
And if he didn't you girls have al
ways way of artistically turning us
down" said her companion, with a
worldly singer" $50 Cotton mentally
tagged his laugh,
Rather" said the girl.
But III tell you what makes me an
cry the man went on. THAT is to
have a girl, when she has met a man
in this fashion and found him perfectly
presentable. introduce him to her
friends as Mr. So-and-So, whom | met
at the beach or otherwise invent a lie
TO cover up what needs no covering.
Even from worldly point of view, ly-
ing is to be INDUCED in as rarely as
possible. Besides a girl, though she
needn't go out of her way to stick up
for her principle, shouldn't back down
from II when, when