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

that | thought personally | should 90
much better by merely maintaining
friendly interest in her. Besides,
always knew that if ever l did fall in
love it would be with quite another
sort of a girl-some one who would De
much more prepared to render me
homage than to expect it as her own
due, which was Miss Courtenay's way
Of going through life. Still, in spite OF
her many airs and .graces, which rather
amused me than otherwise, we re-
NAMED good friends on the Whole, and
/ | am sure l gave her no possible ex-
cuse for thinking that l was one OF her
latest victims, fer the simple reason
that had not in any sense succumbed
to her destinations, and never pre-
tended to disguise the fact.
l had known her now for quite
long time. | should say it was about
six months from our first meeting. AT
our last meeting, which had been the
day before yesterday, had introduced
4 great friend of mine to her-Bertie
Beauclere. He was a tall, handsome
| fellow-no brains, certainly, but still
the sort of type that l felt pretty sure
would appeal to her. She really did
| seem to take an ardent fancy to him,
which was another proof that my esti-
nation of her character was fairly
correct one. l judged her to be friv-
olous and shallow girl to be taken
with superficial show rather than
woman to love a man for his sterling
worth, which is really the only kind OF
woman l should ever feel inclined to
love myself, for l don't set much store
by blue eyes and pink and white
skin 1t Is the beauty of the heart
and mind that appeal to me far more.
l think, as a matter of fact, that
there are good many men like my
self, so that, when she used to enlarge
to me sometimes upon her conquests,
avariably discounted half she said. l
EsN't believe she had a 1.-THE of the
saccess she made out Here was l, for
one, quite unscathed. 1t was really
astonishing to me to see the way Beau
clere made up to her, and l began to
think there might be something in her
charm after all. But then, eff she be
not fair to me, what care l how fair
she be?"
All the same, | felt vexed | had in
troduced BERTHE to her. / didn't want
to see her make a fool of my best
friend. l didn't want to see her make
fool of herself, either, and the way
she encouraged his idiotic compliments
was revelation to me. / had taken
1t for granted that she was a coquette,
but l had never actually seen her in
the role. before, and didn't know now
these things were done until then, and
learned a good lesson that afternoon.
BERTHE fetched and carried for her like
a dog, and the other men seemed to
go down like ninepins, too. had
really meant to look after her little
myself, but l realized my forethought
was quite superfuous.
The next day thought l would call
ON her and have quiet chat. l found
her in what she was pleased to term
her study" Not having left school
long, she kept up an amiable fiction
for the benefit of a fond mother and
a doting father. l suppose that she
did a few hours daily practising and
reading within its sacred four walls.
l always liked to find her in the
study. For one thing, it showed, if
not serious bent of mind, at least
an effort in the right direction; and,
for another, her family never ventured
to disturb her there. She said it inter-
rupted her train of thought.
l sat down and, after having helped
her with difficult problem-the same
problem, | was fain to observe, which
had tackled for her last time-I began
to talk.
You and Beauclere seemed to hit it
off pretty well. l always thought he
liked a bit of bluestocking- fact,
preferred brains to beauty"
You don't think me clever, then?"
she asked.
Il didn't say that exactly. l think
you are clever in your own way"
But you think my beauty is in ex-
cess of my brains?"
1--WE won't say beauty" l deprecated
"That is a word only applicable to
Greek goddesses. But you're certainly
sweetly pretty"
"Oh," she said, with her eyes down.
"you think me pretty, them"
81 wasn't giving you my personal
opinion" l replied guardedly, ''but
what seems to be the generally accept
ed one"
81 don't know so much about that, .
she said, with toss of her head. Mr..
Beauclere thinks me quite beautiful
and clever.
''Beauclere's an asst" / said hastily.
And then, feeling frightened at the
ominous silence which ensued, en-
larged my sentence by adding: why,
he went down without degree!"
Perhaps he didn't want one I'd
sooner have straight nose than a
degree any day." she retorted scorn-
fully. "And scarcely anyone here
knows you are valedictorian, though
I'm sure I've told scores of people,
/ rubbed my nose ruefully. | am
lOTC6u W duIIlll IL ID ulSlluCLly OI the
forced to admit it is distinctly Of the
Wellingtonian order.
1T was nice of you to trouble to tell
people," | said obviously. I'm sure
you meant it kindly. But whatever
made you do that?"
'sOh. | felt bound to say something
in your defence. At that garden party
yesterday, as you we're walking past,
a girl I 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 al il he thought
all the women we're in love with
him?'v
roared.
did she think that out ioud? |
ASKED ST hnliava I oa,. ottacc n, ~, II, /,