Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1905-07-21

ly, because l shan't tell you Natu1-
ally, when l saw the impression you
were creating had to say out loud
you were a valedictorian, as much for
my own benefit as hers. 1t was a sort
of excuse for you"
And did it satisfy herr" I asked,
admiring the way she spoke of herself
in the third person.
1T was consolation" she admitted.
Il shouldn't have thought Venus
stood in need of consolation with
Adonis at her feet, not to speak of
other admirers"
!, You seem to think" she said, pout-
ing, that I couldn't win love if 1
tried, or even if l didn't try"
IF one tries" l said sententiously,
lone can get most things one wants."
But of course you wouldn't fall into
the trap" she asked merrily.
Leave me out, please. We settled
that question long ago.
"Oh, I'm fairly satisfied with my
progress since then" she returned
airily.
Her assurance was really amusing.
You're quite welcome to my scalp
when you get it." l returned, smiling.
"Oh, no." she said, shaking her head,
its too clever a one for me to know
what to do with You are so clever"
she went on, wistfully looking at me.
Il didn't understand your last speech
at the debate at all. You'll explain it
to me some day. won't your"
She drew near, and the wistful look
became coaxing.
I'm not clever!" l declared, feeling
flattered by her appreciation. I'm
only a logged sort of an individual"
well, perhaps I'll have a try on my
own account" she said, throwing her
self into chair, ''only you must give
me facilities"
What am l to do?" asked her.
'You mustn't use long words when
don't know the meaning of, and which
only confuse me, and you must unbend
little and meet me on my own
ground. And you mustn't wear a blue
tie even if you have got blue eyes, be-,
cause l like red tie with a nice
brown skin. And if you come to see
me tomorrow I'll tell you if you've got
the right color"
When 1 got home l looked in the
glass with sudden dislike for my blue
tie. | bought a scarlet one, feeling
sure she was right | should never
have thought of it myself; but then
women understand these things so
much better than men-she has such
taste l shaved myself carefully next
day, criticising my sunburn, and won
dering if she really meant | had a nice
brown skin. The bright-colored tie, SO
different from my usual sober tints,
raised me in my own estimation, and
| sailed forth with a feeling of assur-
ance born of it,
1t was still early, and / found her
in the study arranging some flowers.
My spirits were dashed by her recep-
ton of me.
You don't mean to say you really
walked through the town in that tie?"
she asked.
Eyes, l did," l said, feeling worried.
Don't you like it? 1 thought you told
me to get red tie."
Eyes, but never thought you would
for my telling" she returned. what
ever made you do that?"
Goodness knows!" responded.
Then l laughed awkwardly. Il think
can give you reason, such as it is.
1t has just dawned on me. I'm like all
the rest, l suppose. love youl"
"Oh," she said, with complacent
little smile, that was in the pro-
gramme l mapped out for you"
"And you'll love me, too, won't
your I said, coming up to her and
leaning my hand on the back of her
chair as l put the momentous ques-
ton.
"Oh, MOI she said, looking down.
I'm not going to love you. That
wasn't in my programme at all"
Couldn't you include it." l said, "by
special desire?''
Whose desire?" she asked quickly.
Mine"
81 don't believe she said, tracing
pattern on the tablecloth, that you
really do love me-"
'Tll try to prove" | said, "only you
must give me facilities"
What do you call facilities?"
WELL" l said, putting my. arm
around her waist, this would be one"
II don't mind giving you that
one" she said hesitatingly.
tits quite sufficient" l declared, ito
encourage me to take the rest. San
Francisco Bulletin.