Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-12-29
FAIR OR DARK

didn't, or you wouldn't look so cross
and streaky this morning"
Lady Margaret, whose temper some
times matched her hair, was lolling in
her own particular arm chair beside
the fire Raising lack-luster eyes from
the pages of the Morning Post, she
treated her sister Celia to a CLASSY
stare.
Gross and streaky?p she repeated,
slowly. well, suppose it takes a
fair woman to look beaming by II
o'clock in the morning"
Celia, on tiptoe before the fireplace
smiled at her own pink and white re-
Election In the mirror.
when a man does not propose"
she announced, apparently addressing
the coal box, lit is invariably the wom-
ans fault. Why did you manage so
badly?"
Silence.
Either" proceeded Celia, "either
you snubbed him atrociOusly, or you
encouraged him indecently. Which
was it?'
Still silence.
Celia. though delighted with her
own eloquence, felt she had missed the
bulrs-eye.
Twisting round on the fender STOOL
she faced her sister.
Margaret" in a tragic whisper,
Margaret, were you mad enough to
laugh at him."
The Morning Post rustled impa-
tiently.
You think you know everything,
Celia but you don't"
But l mean to-" replied the other,
significantly, land good intentions
count for something. It's no use quib-
bling" she went on, you did or said
something to gag Godfrey Pelham.
What was itY'
Lady Margaret gave a mirthless
laugh.
"Oh, he proposed, right enough" she
said.
The blue china eyes opened wider.
Proposed, did he? Then why on
earth"
Then Lady Margaret dropped the
Morning Post.
Cecilia" she asked, "you admire
dark men, don't your
The whilom inquisitor blushed
Most awfully." she murmured.
''but what of thatY
Nothing, only 1 don't; and last
night L"
Good heavens gasped Celia, Il be-
Iieve you told him So"
Silence.
Margaret (sternly). | give you up.
You tell that peacock of a Godfrey
that you don't admire him. and then
weep inside the Morning Post because
he didn't propose"
"Oh, dear" moaned the culprit, 81
only said how queer it felt to find my
self accepting him when I'd loathed
dark men all my life"
And, pray, what did he say?" in
CURED Celia, with the air of the kind
keeper to the prize imbecile.
"He-he jumped up. turned blacker
than ever, and said since he was per-
sonally repugnant to me he would re
tract his unfortunate proposal"
HIN" said Celia, il scornful pity,
u should think you and Sidney Rendle
had better marry each other
sidney Rendle? Why?"
"Why not? He's almost an Albino;
fair enough to please even you, i'm
agine, and he loves dark women"
How do you know?"
He told me So
Told you So When? Last night?"
Yes: he was quite charming to me
I'LL we went out to find a glow-worm,
and then-then 1 thought he was going
TO, but-but-'
But he didn't" supplied Lady Mar
garet. Drying her eyes, she sat up.
when young man doesn't pro
nose" she quoted. lit is invariably the
woman's fault. Why did yon manage
so badly!
1T was not my fault" cried Celia.
81 neither snubbed nor encouraged
him. | didn't laugh at him nor cen
sure his appearance. 1t was he who
I'd. all of a sudden and without any
warning. that he had an aversion to
fair women oh, it was awful" and
&c in. too produced her handkerchief.
And what did you say?'
u? l said it was a pity he hadn't
told me so before. and that 1 hated
AIbinos myself, and glow-worms. and
balls. and
IF YOU please, my lady. Sir Godfrey
Pelham is in the drawing room and
begs you viii see him for one mo-
ment"
The maid addressed Lady Margaret,
who. after hasty interview with the
mirror, glanced interrogatively at her
sister
"YeS, OF course" cried Celia. 'go at
once. but don't forget to rave about
his Spanish profile" she called out as
Margaret fitted down the stairs.
"A note for you. my lady" said the
maid, re-entering. and Celia, glancins
at the salver. saw the wellknown
handwriting.
"k'air lady" she read. you interrupt
ed me last night in the middle of an
important sentence. misunderstood
ing is costly. so | write TO put one fact
beyond its reach As l tried TO tel
you. / always felt an aversion TO fair
women until l met you. Since Their
| am indifferent to all women. fair OF
dark. excepting one. In spite OF hei
repulsion to fair men. the expression
of which drove me last night 10 supper
and despair. hereby entreat that on,
to marry me. At least we shall b,
well matched. Is that a dark saying
Please send me fair answer-Yours
Sidney Rendle."
"P. ST. will die If you wish. wha
can a lover say more7''