The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-11-04


\ uuu Y scrap Of paper which I had
o w Q utilized to make a dia-
4 " 4 gram of the neighborhood
~O~ to show her the relative
position Of our respective homes, that
is to say, of her home and the little
house which I had bought and fur
|luished in the somewhat wild hope that
she might one day by becoming its
mistress convert it into my home. On
that occasion she had treated the dia-
gram fippantly by guiding my hand TO
make nought in the area which stood
for my front garden, and her mischier-
ons look conveyed to me that the
6eypher was meant to represent the
Sum of my worldly goods.
Accordingly, I responded with great
independence by making big cross
the symbol which believe is popular
" supposed to denote kiss-on either
side Of the little square which in my
amateur drawing stood for the front
door.
She resented this because she said
had played out of turn. She there
. upon drew the correct figure for 4
game that she termed noushts and
crosses and instructed me how to play
in accordance with rule. The figure
was very simple, merely two perpen-
dicular strokes crossed by two horizon
tai ones, and there was no skill re-
quired, it seemed. One merely put
nought or a cross into one Of the lit
tie spaces and did ones level best to
get three in row, which counted one
point. It was very childish pastime.
and yet after that day l found myself
playing it with her at every opportu-
nifty; and it had at least the merit,
like mediocre music in a drawing
room, Of affording cover for conversa-
t1on.
'.I don't think" she said one day. in
Z an interval which I spent sharpening
her pencil, "that I'm eXacting; but one
naturally expects something out OF
life. either love or money, and you
can't give me either
"At least" said, in low voice. Il
Z give you 1--we"
'tNo; that's where you make the mis-
take. You think that in loving me
you give me love. But you don't
not an emotion even! Cross out love"'
'I shall do nothing of the kind" l
responded. Indignantly.
"As for money" she pursued. Il
dor't think, I don't really think that
400 a year or so is the height of my
ambition. Put nought for money"
81 Decline" I said. "for I can at
least look to the future with tOlerable
. certainty"
"Its no good looking too far ahead"
E& said; you must remember we've
to love in the present
You're right" l said. mildly, "and
not much consolation to me at the
sent moment to reflect that you'll
kftainly be sorry some day that
you've let such a chance slip"
She paused, looked hard 1T me, and
f. esumed.
ITO put the matter in q nutshell.
really have nothing to offer me.
hing, that is 10 say. except mar
fge. and don't think that Of itself
Efficiently attractive"
4 II might suggest" I ventured. that
you are scarcely in position to judge.
Now If you would allow me to play
the part Of devoted husband to you for
a year, at the end of that time you
might really be able to give an opin-
ion on the subject"
She shook her head and put nought
, into the middle of new diagram.
and I responded belligerently with q
cross underneath.
Gas regards the money" I said, "you
can't expect me to make fortune
without ever having had an opportu-
nifty"
No" she admitted.
"But you seem to expect me to make
you love me without any opportunity
at all. You haven't given me much
opportunity" I said. regretfully.
That depends" she said. upon
what You call opportunity"
"Well," I remarked. Il think Miss
Arnold gave me pretty good oppor-
tunity the night Of the dance when
sat out with her in the conservatory
Miss Arnold? she asked: quickly.
"What Miss Arnold? Do you mean
Jessie Arnold? Oh. always said she
vas a most atrociouS flirt"'
II don't know her Christian narlc,"
said vaguely. Il called her darling
and I don't suppose it's any Miss Ar
mold that you know
Jessie Arnold she said. solemn
Iy. would be the last. mind. I say
the very last girl to make wife for q
poor man."
"Oh! no; the Miss Arnold I mean
told me she understood economic
housekeeping thoroughly"
"Jessie's mean," she said. earnestly.
"and she'll never give you anything
but a cold luncheon. Her way OF
economizing will be to starve you"
whether one succumbs to starva-
tion or broken heart" l observed,
darkly. sit will be all the same g
hundred years hence"
"And in the meantime you've always
~~ok ,ho bouSo sbo said fbo.,obJfullv