Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-02-16
A STORM AVERTED.
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She was quite right. Jane
was not only in the garden physically,
bat was also entirely absorbed in it,
mentally. At all events, it was not I'M
Ill l had ventured on my third salu-
tation that she condescended to be-
come conscious of my presence.
Il wonder you are not ashamed of
YOURSELF" she began encouragingly.
1T sometimes surprises me-" l ad-
United.
Jane glared. She had a particularly
demoralizing glare.
1T is a good thing you are able TO
see what cause there is for it," she
said.
"Ah" said 1. Shows there's not so
much the matter with me, after all.'
after all what?
well, of course, there have been
times"-I grew refective-'that Hen
ley Affair, for instance. 1t was, per-
haps. hardly fair to the girl"
Jane was upon me at once.
what grip she demanded
"Oh, nothing. 1 beg your pardon.
Thinking aloud, you know. Bad habit.
Must break myself of it."
Jane did not follow my lead. My at
tempt to create a diversion was fail
ure
Il hate men who think they know
everything" she observed, shifting a
marguerite abstractedIy and looking at
nothing in particular.
I N oy,.aa1 ID Mat
able animal"
1T seems to me that the very things
they think they know are the things
that anybody who does know could
tell them they don't know"
l rested my head on my hand for a
moment or two.
Give it up" l said finally
Jane was really quite angry. Her
cheeks were flushed like wild rose
petals. She looked so entirely kissable
/ had difficulty in restraining myself,
but concluded that it would not be
safe.
Besides we had broken off our en-
gagement the day before.
what do you mean?" she demand
ed.
Sorry! Thought it was a riddle, you
know" 1 smiled at Jane vacuously.
Jane stamped her foot. She was
wearing very dainty shoes, l noticed
mo one can call me unreasonable"
she began.
Il wouldn't advise them to-" said /.
"But''-Jane continued taking no no.
tice of my remark-''in this instance
consider your conduct outrageous
Here she threw out her arms in a
manner too graceful to be believed I'M
less seen, and apparently appealed to
all the visible universe-including two
rocks and tortoise shell Gator sup
port
upon my word, don't know what
you mean," 1 began, when light
dawned upon me. Unless you hap
pened to see the Times yesterday
morning"
1 felt very nervous.
Il did see the Times" said Jane,
with all the severe dignity of which
she was capable.
1t occurs to me that it is astonishing
how dignifed she can look for so small
person.
But you always have the Tele-
graph l objected feebly.
mfr. Timmins, who lives at the
Gooseberry Bushes, was good enough
TO send me his copy of the Times last
night. thinking l might be interested
to see your letter. And said Jane.
freezingly, Il was"
l registered internally vow to
wiring Mr. Timmins' neck. and burn
the Gooseberry Bushes at the first
available opportunity.
Jane was continuing.
What do you know about The lack
of the governing instinct in womenT
What do you know about women, in
deed? Or about governing. for the
matter of that?"
l was dumb.
'.What do you mean by saying that
all history proves women to be abso-
luteIy a failure as rulers? What dc
YOU know about history? or about rul-
ers? or about anything except tennis
And what about Queen Elizabeth? and
CLEOPATRA? and Mrs. Fawcett? and that
Assyrian woman? and ever so many OF
them?"
Jane paused for lack of breath.
| smiled a rather unsuccessful smile
and began to explain. I am good al
explanations AS matter of fact,
was very proud of that letter. 1t was
full of close and careful reasoning, and
had given me no end of trouble &c
write. That was why wanted 10 put
my name to 1t. thinking Jane would
never see 1t.
But no matter.
After about an hour and a half OF
careaul evasion and prevarication
succeeded in averting James anger.
She apologized prettily. in the man
ner calculated TO do the most good.
How silly of me not to see that II
was Just q satire, and not meant seri
ously st ALL" she said.
There was an interval for refresh
ments.
And you believe women can govern
after aIlf" she observed again.
1 hedged a bit. Some women can
1t was the most could bring myself
TO admit.
lust wait until we are married.
said Jane, playfully. land you'll dis
cover one of them
went home thoughtfully -Blacl
and White.