The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1905-02-01

| can put mp preserves. She plays the
piano. she sings. she paints. and she has
a tidy fortune in her own right Bah!
No. thousand times. no! do not
want this miracle of perfection. l
know a thing or two, aunt, even II I
don't look 1t, and II I marry ! shall
marry q woman who suits me. But l
know girls-they are all alike. and l
know what they are and what they are
worth. There isn't one who suits me,
or can suit me, and I shall remain
bachelor"
"And you 60 to take tea at Mrs. La
TONS" murmured Mrs. Harmon be-
tween her teeth, while disturbing ex-
preston came into her clear-seeing old
eyes.
Under this ironical and even inquisi-
torial look Andrew lost countenance a
little; he could not deny that to matri-
mony he preferred flirting with Mrs.
I.aton.
He was pulling himself together to
reply, or rather to defend himself, when
the street door bell was heard.
"a caller. Ell? Is this your reception
day. aunt, or do you, too. give your
friends tea at 5 o'clock?"
"You are impertinent, nephew. At
my age a woman does not give 5 o'clock
flirtations. 1t Is not even n caller. l
am sure 1t is my little friend Rosamond.
the charming girl spoke Of"
II shall flee, then"
do you not wish even to see herw
"Never! Or, II you insist, shall so
into this little ante-room and look at
her through the crack of the door. That
Is the only concession l shall make"
and the young man stepped quickly
into the next room as the opposite door
opened to admit the visitor: through
the slit Andrew could make out the
graceful silhouette Of young girl.
How do you do, Mrs. Harn;on?"
said the girl. as she entered the room.
II have brought back the little books
on the orphan asylum that you lent
mamma. May I stay a moment with
you?"
She continued to keep her back to-
ward Andrew. and he, now beginning
to get tired of the game, had about con.
cluded that she must be frightful y
ugly.
"Sit down here, dear, beside me-"
and Mrs. Harmon easily contrived to
place the girl just opposite the small
room; and the young man, approaching
his eye to the crack. was struck by the
pretty face he beheld.
"Well, Rosamond. what are you do
ing nowadays? Are you going out
much?'
mo. very little. l had a card for
Mrs. LatOns tea this afternoon, but |
wrote her was i'll. You will not be-
tray me. will you:" and she laughed n
merry laugh, that set Andrews heart
to vibrating.
"Do you not care for such affairs ?"
asked Mrs. Harmon.
Surely, Mrs. Harmon, you do not
think 1t would be amusing to spend an
hour or two watching Mrs. Laton's fir
tations with no ona to talk to but the
insipid wrna , and stupid men Of her
SCI ~
So8 aEe g. ere, my child"
Severe ell With woman like
Hrs f.eaaa ! II. not think one can be
tass saneh NO.
iDssinotiyely Mrs. Harmon raised her
eyes to the door that concealed An
drew, and, under preteXt Of arranging
the portiere, she crossed the room, and,
as she rearranged the drapery. Wills
pered to her nephew
ITS nearly 5-you'n be late for your
tea"
But her warning was unheeded; An
drew did not bulge. AS for the girl by
the fire, she was still full of her idea.
"Do you know Mrs. Laton, Mrs. Har-
mon?" she asked.
Eyes. yes" the old lady hastered to
reply. and to turn the conversation she
went on But you are wrong to de-
clare that all men are stupid. There
ore some who are quite sensible"
Sensible? Well, don't know them.
! do not mean that they are all stupid,
but they think themselves so superior
that they are wearisome. They are
vain. insufferable bores. with their blase
airs and their idea that they are irresls-
>Uble because they can flirt with Mrs.
Eaton, who has blcached hair. smears
paint on her face as If it were a palette,
and whose brains are good for nothing
but to devise outrageous gowns"
Again Mrs. Harmon cast an uneasy
glance toward the little room, in which
Andrew was fast waxing angry. He
would have liked to strange this girl,
whose superb health and triumphant
beauty irritated him.
"And when will you get married, my
| dear?" suggested Mrs. Harmon, again
throwlngsherself into the breach.
II shall never marry"
Indeed? Why noti"
"Why notT repeated Rosamond, a
shadow Of melancholy coming over her
face that Andrew admired In spite Of
himself. Because l am little fool
l. y \