The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-03-16
Dull JACK DALTON

1t would have been difficult TO
find two people more entirely unlike,
both by nature and training, than
this plain, practical Jack Dalton
and that learned exponent of the
higher culture, Miss Beatrice Har.
court.
She had been to one of the lead
Ing woman's colleges, had taken
honors and was Phi. B. And
throughout the society of this par
tcular city the fame of Miss Har-
courts intellectually had gone
forth.
The good ladies always invited
her among the very first to meet
their "lions," and she always sus-
tained their judgment Of her.
All the young men who diG not
regard themselves as particularly
we'll equipped mentally had po-
lite way. of avoiding Miss Harcourt.
Not that she had ever been actually
known to crush anybody OF to talk
over anybody's head. But they con-
suited among themselves and de-
cided that you can never tell what
these intellectual women will take
4 notion to do call of sudden"
Jack Dalton was introduced to
her at the Merediths' one evening,
and, as every one said, it was just
like his hard headedness after be-
ing warned to take fancy to her.
"You beat any one I ever saw,
Jack" said Fred Merriman. sT be-
~lieve you've taken q liking to Bea-
trice Harcourt. You've been talk
ing to her for fully twenty min
utes." 81.
"Why, yes; she's rather nice
girl, l think" said Jack.
"Nice enough, to be sure" replied
Fred, "but she's so darned intel
lectual, you know-goes in for sci
eence and philosophy and all that"
"Well, that's all right, isn't it?
There's no harm in 9 woman's being
smart if she wants to, is there?"
"No, but how on earth can you
talk to herp
"Like I talk to any other girl, of
course"
"But she's not like any other girl,
I tell YOU"
"Well, I'm sure I didn't find her
80 very different. Indeed, rather
like her. She says I may call, and
I'm going to do So"
"Well, I pity you if you do. You
will be bored to death. She'll talk
elective affinity, the sympathetic
philosophy and general science till
you can't rest"
'Do you call there?"
"Why, of course not-not T."
"Then how do you know she talks
these things?"
"Why, everybody says So"
s'Oh, everybody is too poor a
witness. You know, Fred, in bust
ness you look for individual author
ity for statement and then weigh
the individual"
'Thats all right, Jack; it's lust
like your hard headedness. Go on
and first thing you know you'll land
iup against a stump"
ooh, well, my plow is sharp and
my ribs are strong, and it wont
much matter" And Jack laughed
las he passed on.
! But he was not done with those
who feared for his safety at Miss
EHarcouEt's hands. That very night
his sister--for be had a sister-took
him to task,
j"Oh, Jack, Jack, you foolish boyp
she said. 81 saw you talking a long
time this evening with Beatrice
IHarcourt. You dear old Ounce,
what could you find to talk about?"
ooh, we had q great converse
Hion," said Jack.
eeWhH Jack, what do you know
fhat could possibly interest her? She
is so very intellectual
'eShe seemed to be interested in
what I said"
Seemed, yes, seemed. Seeming
and being are two differe1s .lings.
What were you saying to her?" ,
"We were talking about the tariff
and sheep and different sorts of
wool and's-
ooh, Jack, Jack!" broke in his
sister. @Talking sheep to Miss Har-
court! Horror Of horrorsl'' A
"Why she seemed to enjoy it, I'm
sure, and asked questions by the
dozen"
You poor, foolish boy, she was
making fun Of you right to your
face and laughing in her sleeve all
the while, and you. didn't have the
eyes to SEQ it,"
t.No, I don't think she was maxi
ing fun Of me. She was very ear