The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1905-07-12

KNOWS you are ValedlCIOrldn, lnouSh
I'm sure I've told scores of people"
| rubbed my nose ruefully. | am
forced to admit it Is distinctly of the
forced to admit it is distinctly of the
Wellingtonian order.
'It was nice of you to trouble to tell
people," l said obviously. I'm sure
you meant it kindly. But whatever
made you do that?"
"Oh, felt bound to say something
in your defence. At that garden party
yesterday, as you were walking past,
girl | know said Who Is that
awk-' Perhaps I'd better not tell you
what she thought of you," she added,
isterrupting herself. 1T might hurt
your feelings"
laughed.
mo Tell me-"
"'That awkward, plain looking man,
who is going about as if he thought
all the women were in love with
him?"
| roared.
did she think that out loud?" l
asked. Il believe can guess who the
girl was"
mo, you can't guess" she said cross
| ly, because | shan't tell you. Natur-
ally, when | saw the impression you
were creating l had to say out loud
you were valedictorian, as much for
my own benefit as hers. 1t was sort
Of excuse for you"
"And did it satisfy her?" l asked,
admiring the way she spoke of herself
in the third person.
ut was consolation" she admitted.
81 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 couldn't win love If l
tried, or even if | didn't try"
IF one tries" | said sententiously,
"one 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," returned, smiling.
"Oh, no." she said, shaking her head,
its too clever 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 you?"
She drew near, and the wistful look
became coaXing.
'Tm not clever!" l declared, feeling
fattered by her appreciation. I'm
only dogged sort of an individual"
well, perhaps I'll have try on my
own account" she said, throwing her
self into a chair, "only you must give
me facilities"
What am l to do?" | asked her.
"You mustn't use long words which
l 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 I like a red tie with nice
brown skin. And if you come to see
me tomorrow I'll tell you if you've got
the right color"
When l got home l looked in the
glass with sudden dislike for my blue
tie. / bought scarlet one, feeling
sure she was right. l should never
have thought of it myself; but then
women understand these things so
much better than men-she has such
taste. | shaved myself carefully next
day, criticising my sunburn, and Won
dering if she really meant had nice
brown skin. The bright-colored tie, so
different from my usual sober tints,
raised me in my own estimation, and
| sailed forth with feeling of assur-
ance born of it.
1t was still early, and l found her
in the study arranging some flowers.
Ny 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, did," l said, feeling worried
Don't you like it? thought you told
me to get a red tie"
Eyes, but never thought you would
! for my telling" she returned. what
t ever made you do that?"
Goodness knows!" l responded
Then laughed awkwardly. Il think
. can give you reason, such as it is
; 1t has just dawned on me. I'm like al
| the rest, suppose. love you!"
"Oh," she said, with a complacen
,. little smile, that was in the pro
e gramme I mapped out for you"
: "And you'll love me, too, won
;, your" I said, coming up to her ant
leaning my hand on the back Of he