Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-01-30

piano. she sings. she paints, and she has
a tidy fortune in her own right. Bah!
No, a thousand times. no! l do not
want this miracle Of perfection. l
know a thing or two. aunt, even If l
don't look it, and II l marry l shall
marry a woman who suits me. But l
know glrls-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 shall remain a
bachelor"
And you go to take tea at Mrs. La
TONS" murmured Mrs. Harmon be-
tween her teeth, while a disturbing ex
preston came into her clear seeing old
eyes.
Under this ironical and even inquisi
tOrial look Andrew lost cOuntenance
little; he could not deny that to matri-
mony he preferred flirting with Mrs.
LatOn.
He was pulling himself together to
reply. or rather to defend himself, when
the street door bell was heard.
"A caller, eh! 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 n woman does not give 5 o'clock
tlirtations. 1t is not even a caller.
am sure it is my little friend Rosamond,
the charming girl spoke Of
II shall flee. then"
"Do you not wish even to see herr"
Never. Or. if you insist, shall go
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. Harnon?"
said the girl, as she entered the room.
Il have brought back the little books
on the orphan asylum that you lent
mamma. May | stay 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 contrved 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.
.hn l.
ing nowadays? Are you going out
much:"
mo, very little had card for
Mrs. LatOn's tea this afternoon. but
wrote her l was i'll. You will not be-
tray me. will you:" and she laughed a
to vibrating.
do you not care for such affairs 2"
asked Mrs. Harmon.
Surely, Mrs. Harmon, you do not
think it would be amusing to spend an
hour or two watching Mrs. Laton's flir-
insipid women and stupid men Of her
set?"
You are severe. my child"
Severe? Well, with a woman like
Mrs. Laton I do not think one can be
too much So"
Instinctively 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, whis-
pered to her nephew
Its nearly 5-you'll 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.
Yes, yes" the old lady fastened to
reply, and to turn the conversation she
went on But you are wrong to de-
clare that all men are stupid There
are some who are quite sensible"
Sensible? Well. don't know them.
I do not mean that they are all stupid,
tut they think themselves so superior
that they are wearisome. They are
vain. insufferable bores, with their blase
I'LL = anu tleii iutu tIlit tHeN are 1rreSlS
tjble because they can flirt with Mrs.
Taton, who has bleached hair, smears
paint on her face as If it We're n 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
throwing herself into the breach.
Il shall never marry
Indeed? Why not:'
why not?" repeated Rosamond. a
shadow Of melancholy coming over her
face that Andrew admired In spite of
himself. Because l am a little fool
who cannot do as the rest do. would
wish to love my husband and to have
him love me. l would wish to marry a
man whom l should single from among
the rest for his goodness and intelli-
gence. l would wish to have q conf