Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-04-18

never was much good at guessing.
well" l answered indifferently,
"just as you please. Count them If you
like. All l meant was that none of
them mattered so much as at this
time"
Positively your last chance, ladies
and gentlemen she cried gaily
l assented in my most dignifed mar
ner. Phyllis laughed. l do wish she
would take me seriously once in
while.
"Why do you keep on proposing 10
me like this!' she asked me.
l shrugged my shoulders.
"'Some men there are love not a
gaping pig; others are troubled If they
behold cat" quoted. "Are you
answered.?
THAT is no answer, thou urfeeling
man."
IF you must have it," replied flip
PANTY, IL suppose it's my form of di-
version. My hobby, If you will. We
all have our hobbies, more or less, you
know"
Phyllis frOwned. / liked that frown
immensely. Then she looked at me
quickly when l was not expecting it.
"You appear to be enjoying your
SELF" she complained.
Me-" l queried in mock innocence.
oh l protest; really, I'm not"
Phyllis frowned again.
II know it," agreed 81 ought to
be. Seventeen times ought TO be pro-
ductive of more than it has shown so
far. l wonder" l concluded dreamily
to myself, II wonder if eighteen will
do it,"
you haven't been answered for sew
enteen yet" SAND Phyllis.
NO" said I, "nor for any Of the
other sixteen, either
Now, there was Darcy Graham"
said Phyllis, inconsequently. HE
asked me to marry him nineteen times
and swore eternal devotion each time
whether 1 would have him or no.
There's man for you!"
And then went and married Kitty
Mcpherson" said l, almost to myself
"No," corrected Phyllis; kitty mar.
ried him"
willie Atkinson came next" ven,
tured.
''He only ran up thirteen" said Phyl-
lis.
(Which accounts for his failure"
suggested.
Phyllis paid no attention to my re-
mark.
Il think the little fellow from the
bank whom met in the summer came
after that?" she murmured interrOga-
lively.
Surely you don't count him" I
questioned in surprise. "Why, you told
me yourself that he only lasted till the
second round"
"He would probably have stayed
longer If you hadn't come down that
Sunday" said Phyllis, in n vexed way.
You always do turn up at the most
inOppOrtune moment"
Had I only known you didn't want
me" began.
II can't remember who was next"
interrupted Phyllis, quickly; do you
know?"
Il think" said refiectively, 81 added
about two to my own score that day.
always liked you in white, you know
"Three," corrected Phyllis, consulting
her tablets.
Hold your head that way again."
I said. What long cyelashes you
have" Phyllis deliberately turned the
other way. Hold it round,' l com.
manded. II want to look ut it." Phyl-
lis held it round. Phyllis likes to be
commanded at times. "a rather pretty
mouth, too said I, gravcly; "and
your color is also very fair yet. One
would never guess you were getting
up in years."
''I'm not!' denied Phyllis. with Ger.
tain assumption Of dignity; Pm only
twenty.three."
you don't show it," responded gal
lantly. Were asked to make
guess, should say sweet sixteen
and"
quite So" said Phyllis, dryly.
How awful it must be to be laid on
the shelf" remarked sympathetically.
"I'm not" asserted Phyllis, indg-
nantly.
1.-THE very ideaw I murmured in a
surprised way. II never even insn-
uated such thing. But you KNOW"
l concluded dismally, you haven't had
a proposal in three weeks"
II have" insisted Phyllis; II had one
just tonight"
"Oh, but that doesn't count" said I.
"YOu told me SO yourself. These are
only sort Of trial heats, to keep You in
form, you know"
ooh" shifted Phyllis.
Besides" added, II need material
for my stories
"What a risk you are willing TO run
for the sake of MATERIAL" said Phyl-
lis.
Yes" replied suavely. "but IL Is
necessary that one make some sacri-
fees for the sake of art
Suppose though, 1 were to accept
you some tlme?' queried Phyllis in an
awful tone.
II would have n new climax for the
next one said l. indifferently.
had expected Phyllis to be affected;
instead. she burst out laughing. That's
the trouble with Phyllis; she never will
take me seriously.
YOU'RE goose she complimented
me.