Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1904-09-14

'Just as you please. Count them
, Of them mattered so much as thi
time
I Positively your last chance, ladie
3 and gentlemen" she cried gayly.
l assented in my most dignified mar
? ner. Phyllis laughed. l do wish sh
would take me seriously once ii
awhile.
"Why do you keep on proposing t
me like this:" she asked me.
l shruggee. my shoulders.
IF you must have it," I replies
dippantly, Il suppose it's my littl
form Of divcrsion-my hobby, If yol
will. We all have our hobbies more o.
less, you know"
Phyllis frowned. like that frOwr
immensely. Then she looked ut Inc
quickly when was not expecting It,
you appear to be enjoying your
SELF" she complained.
"Me?' l queried in mock innocence
ooh, protest. Really I'm not"
Phyllis frowned again.
"Well, then, you ought TO be-"
Il know" | agreed; II ought to be.
Seven times ought to be productive Of
! more than ii has shown so far. /
wonder" l concluded dreamily to my
selfN"I wonder If eight will do 1t"
"You haven't been answered for
seven yet" said Phyllis.
mo-" said |, NOR for any Of the
other six either"
"Now, there was Darcy Graham
said Phyllis inconsequentially He
asked me to marry him nineteen times
and swore eternal devotion each time
whether would have him or no.
There's man for YOU
And then went and married Kitty
Macpherson" said almost to myself.
NO" corrected Phyllis. kitty mar
ried him."
willie Atkinson came next" ven
tured.
HE only ran up to thirteen said
Phyllis.
(Which accounts for his failure"
suggested.
IL think the little fellow from the
bank whom | met in the summer came
after that:" she murmured nterroga-
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 Ion
ger If you hadn't come down that Sun
day." said Phyllis in a vexed way.
"You always do turn up at the most
inOppOrtune moments
Had only known you didn't want
me- began.
Il can't remember who was next"
said Phyllis quickly. "Do you known
81 think" said / refectively, Il add
ed about two TO my own score that |
day always liked you In white. you
know"
"Onc," said Phyllis, consulting her
tablets.
Hold your head that way again." l
said. "What long cyelashes you have"
Phyllis deliberately turned the other
way.
"IIold it round" commanded. II
want to look at ~
Phyllis held 1t round. Phyllis likes to
be commanded at times, only fellows
got to know when to do it.
"a rather pretty mouth, too" said I
gravely, land your color Is also very
fair yet. One would never guess you
were getting up in years.
''Pm not" denied Phyllis, with a GER
tain assumption of dignity. I'm only
twenty three"
"You don't show It," responded gal
lantly. "Were Easked to make guess
should say sweet sixteen and'"-
"Quite So" said Phyllis dryly.
How awful ii must be to be laid on
the shelf" I remarked sympathetically.
I'm not.' asserted Phyllis indig-
nantly.
"The very ideav' l murmured in
sort Of way. II never even
nsinuated such thing. But you
KNOW" | concluded dlsmally. you
haven't had Il proposal In three weeks"
81 have" insisted Phyllis. 81 had
me just tonight"
ooh. but that doesn't count" said l.
You told me so yourself. These are
,nly sort of trial heats to keep you in
orm, you know"
"Ohw shifted Phyllis.
Besides" added, II need material
or my Stories
"What risk you are willing to run
or the sake of material" said Phyllis.
at Is necessary that one make some I
acrifices for the sake of art" I ex-
lained. c
Suppose though. ! were to accept r
on some timer queried Phyllis in an
wful tone.
II would have new climax for the
ext one" said /. I natter myself /
aid 1t indifferently.
/ had expected Phyllis to be affect :
i. Instead she burst out laughing 4
hats the trouble with Phyllis. She \
ever will take me seriously.
you're a goose" she cOmplimented
he.
Jaw, thanks" I murmured. 80
God Of YOU"
Phyllis regarded me gravely. Now,
Is IN odd thing, but whenever Phyllis
'oks at fellow just like that he feels
,rt of funny all over, you know.
on't just know what it Is. think 1t
ust be what they call personal mag
etism.
Jack" she said. you have some
'ay hairs"
Its not polite Of you to remind me
It," said.
"And your complexion isn't as good
1t used to be-" she continued. BE