The Washington herald., 1906-11-25
THE NEW ART OF
NEAR LOVE MAKING"
BY HELEN ROWLAND.
BY HELEN ROWLAND.

I'VE haven't any handy guidebooks to
the art" pleaded the bacAelor. nor any
theories, nor"
/ 1t isn't theories you need" remarked
/ the widow warmly. Its practice Every
man was perfect lover in the days of
/ the Louis, when it was considered bad
form to talk TO lady for half an hour
without making love to her, and every
woman knew what it meant TO be made
/ love to"
But" protested the bachelor. IF we
should try that we'd never get beyond
the first woman in these days. Shed pin
us down to a proposal or a breach Of
promise. once tried courting a la
| Heloise and Abelard," he added remi-
/ nlscently.
"You." The widow looked incredulOus-
When I was very young" explained
the bachelor apOlogeucany. we all try
| it once"
And how did the courting end. Mr..
| Travers?" asked the widow coldly
In court" replied the bachelor briefly
| "Well, at least" declared the widow
obstinately, you had the delightful SEN
1 sation Of real pursuit"
'It was nothing to the sensation Of the
suit sighed the bachelor.
The widow rose abruptly and gazed out
OF the window through a transparent
medium composed Of the bachelors head
and body.
IT'S getting very chilly" she remarked
| irrelevantly.
i know il" said the bachelor. noting
her .frigid lips, but keeping his chair
quite uncOnCernedly.
Must you hurry?' asked the widow
with polite solicitation.
4 suppose must" agreed the bachelor
reluctantly, IF you say so; but Rex looks
so comfortable it's a shame to
''Oh. he can stay" said the widow
sweetly.
That's the way with a woman" COM
planned the bachelor. "She is always sigh
ing for love and devotion; but It's in
variabIy the ungratefuI dog who ignores
her and stands off at a distance and let's
himself be adored whom she treats with
the greatest consideration and who gets
his way with her every time. The un-
lucky fellow who comes TO her on his
knees
7 hadn't noticed any rubbed spots on
your knees" interrupted the widow,
Eluncing at the bachelors carefully
creased trousers WitheTingly.
You know what 1 mean.' grumbied the
bachelor
The widow sat down again and became
suddenly interested in sorting the bonb0ns
in the box on her lap.
I know what you say" she corrected
but I don't know what you think"
I think Of you" protested the bachelor
fervenuy, AL the time"
The widow continued sorting bOnbOns
without raising her lashes, but a faint
tinge Of pink stole up to her little ears
You're the sweetest woman In the
world" declared the bachelor, rising and
coming over beside her.
"Oh, d0r't-don't. BIIlyr' implored the
widow, leaning over the bonbon box so far
that the bachelor could not see her face.
and placing a violet cream beside a stuffed
date with elaborate care
Don't what?" asked the bachelor in
astOnishment.
Don't say it, unless you really mean
it."
You know I do cried the bachelor.
catching her hands in his with a firm
clasp. and this is the last-the very last
time / am going TO ask you Now. viii
you-or VIII you nOt?" he finished, deter
miEedly holding her fingers and wrists
The widow rose so suddenly that the
box CT bonbons fell to the floor. and the
scattered sweets rolled to the uttermost
parts of the room
"Win I-what?" she asked. looking
straight into the bachelors face with
disconcerung directness.
''Win you-er-marry me?" asked the
bachelor. startled into cOherency.
AT last" cried the widow softly
DO you know" she said five minutes
later. as she Strengthened her rUfled POM
padour in front Of the mirror over the
library mantelpiece. that that's the first
time you ever really proposed to me, Billy /
Travers2'
IT'S the first time I ever really pro-
posed to anybody" declared the bachelor. |
4 told you I'd never get beyond the |
first"
But the widow apparently did not even
hear him.
4 think" she said, catching his arm |
and pulling him over beside her in front /
Of the mantel mirror. that We'll make a |
very nice looking couple