The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-07-29
Like Bobby Paddingson." Polly

ed with disgust. "He is just like
some fool horses that would take any
hedge, if it was brick wall-and al
ways land on their feet. There is
a divine Providence that protects
Bobby"
Pm very sure you're very uncom-
plimentary." said Polly. "And, be-
sides, Bobby Paddington landed right
in the ice cold water this time. re-
fuSed him-as hard as l could"
l looked down at the demure little
bundle of fur beside me, with one
curl and nose sticking out of the
big collar.
did you do it for my sake, Polly?"
l asked softly.
NO." said Polly, "for Bobby's. He
needed the lesson. His conceit was
something atrocious. Besides, l had
made sort of wager with Kitty Car
ter" Polly stopped.
"Well?" 1 suggested.
ooh, well-that l could-that ne
should mean-Oh, don't you un-
derstand, Mr.. Heavyfeather-by
twelve o'clock. l finished refusing
him at five minutes of, while you
were waltzing with"
as waltzing?"
ooh, l had only to keep one eye
and an ear on Bobby--and not my
heart" said Polly sweetly.
l melted beneath Polly's smile, as
the snow beneath the sun.
Polly" said /, tell me how you
managed the mental sugges lion in
Bcbby's casa-how you managed it,
anyhow"
81 began by telling him that the
jam was in the closet, but that the
door was locked"
Il do1't understand" said I.
81 told him." said Polly, that l
never intended to marry, never!"
l jerked the reins so suddenly that
Marc Antony threatened to stand up
on his hind legs.
What did you tell him that for?"
I exclaimed.
Bobby would hate to think any
body who was in the matrimonial
market had entangled him." explain
ed Polly. HE likes to think he is
pursuing somebody who doesn't waat
him. That's the funny thing about
most men. They always want the
girl who they think doesn't want
them, and thereby lay the foundation
for the divorce court proceedings
right there in the parlor where the
proposal is going on. 1t is nearly
always safe to begin making man
propose to you by telling him you are
unattainable. 1t is like telling small
boy that there is jelly, cake in the
pantry, but that it's locked up. He
Immediately begins to look for the
pantry key"
Polly" said I, gazing down upon
that small bundle of fur with real awe
in my eyes, ARE you sure you aren't
reincarnation of Plato-or Socra-
tes-or somebody? For an unreason-
able little person you can reason bet
ter"
ooh, it didn't come naturally"
laughed Polly. TITS the result Of
well, you might say long experience"
l WINGED. l was searching my
memory; and somewhere, at some
time, it slowly occurred to me, Polly
had positively vowed to me conf
dentially that she never intended to
marry.
"Oh, I see," l remarked, as the
light dawned on me, you always say
that, just as you say, Charmed to
meet YOU when you're introduced,
Come again. when man leaves the
house, or Pardon me-, when you
step on his toes"
"No-o-o," said Polly, "you wouldn't
dare tell timid man that the PAN
try door was locked. He might take
you literally and go away frightened
or discouraged. And l told you that
l didn't treat them all alike by any
means"
WELL" I remarked, Tipping Marc
Antony quite unnecessarily, what
did you do next as regards Bobby"
Il don't remember. Let me see
oh, yes. I believe l pointed out to
him why wouldn't marry, but what
perfectly charming wife somebody
was missing; and how entirely ideal
marriage between two sympatS tic
souls could be made, and how awful
it would be if man should marry
the wrong girl; and"
leaned over and looked Polly
squarely in the face.
did you say all those things, Polly
Lee?" I demanded.
Look Quit" cried Polly. That's
the second time you've almost driven
into a snowdrift.'
Polly Lee" l repeated, did you
say all those things?"
why of course not. silly!" said
Polly, turning pink. Il only suggest
ed them. My words were quite
well. he never would remember the
words, anyhow, SO they don't count"
well, what does count anyway?"