The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1903-06-04
WIEN PHYLLIS TOOK ME
SERIOUSLY.


ishment.
Seventeen questioned. "Seyen-
teen what"
'Why, the score, you silly" she re-
sponded dcmurely. "some one has to
keep track OF It,"
That's the trouble with Phyllis. II
her sense Of humor were not so highly
developed, I'm sure l would have had
her ages ago. She never will take me
seriously.
Bother the score" l cried desperate.
ly. Anyhow, Ven not count the other
sixteen times"
But l would very much rather"
Phyllis was staring into the fire.
didn't know just what she meant.
never was much good at guessing.
"Wen," answered indifferently,
"lust as you please. Count them IL you
like. All l meant was that none Of
them mattcred so much as at this
time"
Positively your last chance, ladies
and gentlemen" she cried gaily.
I assented in my most dignifed man.
ner, Phyllis laughed. l do wish she
would take me seriously once in a
while.
why do you keep on proposing to
me like this?" she asked me.
/ shrugged my shoulders.
"'Some men there are love not a
gaping pig; others are troubled if they
behold a cat" 1 quoted, Are you
answered.
THAT is no answer, thou unfeellng
man"
III you must have IT," replied Zip
PANTY, II suppose it's my form Of di.
version. My hobby, II you viii. We
all have our hobbies, more or less, you
know"
Phyllis frowned. I 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 querled in mock innocence.
"Oh, protest; really, I'm not"
Phyllis frowned again.
81 know it," agreed. 81 ought to
be- Seventeen times ought to be pro-
ductive OF more than It has shown so
far I wonder" l concluded dreamily
to myself, 81 wonder If eighteen will
do it,"
''You haven't been answered for sew.
cnteen yet" eaind Phyllis.
"No," said l, 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 l would have him or no.
There's a man for you"'
"And then went and married Kitty
Mcpherson" said l. almost to myself.
'No," corrected Phyllis; kitty mar.
rled him."
"Wllle Atkinson came next" I ven
tured.
HE only ran up thirteen" said PhyI-
lis.
(which accounts for his failure" /
suggested,
Phyllis paid no attention to my re-
mark.
81 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." !
questioned in surprise. ''Why, you told
me yourself that he only lasted till the
second round"
HE would probably have stayed
longer IL you haun't come down that
Sunday" said Phyllis, in a vexed way
"You always do turn up at the most
inOpportune moment"
"Had only known you didn't want
me-" I began.
II can't remember who was next, "
interrupted Phyllis, quickly; do you
know
II think" said rehectively. 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.
/ said. "What long eyelashes YOU
have" Phyllis deliberately turned the
other way. Hold It round" 1 com
manded. Il want to look at It," Phyl
Ifs held It round Phyllis likes to be
commanded ut times. "A rather pretty
mouth, too said l, gravely; "and
your color is also very FAIR yet. One