Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-09-21

the way Of paying attention 10 young
women. A very little attention y.
your part Is apt to mean great deai
to girl-and still more to her mann
ma"
"But why should it," asked Duncan
in unfeigned establishment. why
should ordinary social courtesy on my
part mean more than the same tnins
means in the case of any other young
manT
II don't know that l can tell you'
she answered. "At least / don't know
that l can make you understand.
II sincerely wish you would Try. 1
certainly do not want to- He hesl'
tated and did not complete the SEN
'tence.
"Oh, I know all that. I know what
you mean, because 1t Is what mean.
tell you that If you pay more tnan
lust little and very casual atten'
ton to any girl, the girl and, worse
still, all her elderly female reiatiVes
are likely to misconstrue your motives
You are in serious danger OF breaking
some tender hearts and winning for
yourself the reputation of being that
most detestable thing-a male flirt.'
"But really, Mrs. Hallam." interrupt
ed the .perplexed young man. Il don't
understand. I have not called more
than twice upon any one girl, and
"Well, don't. That's all I've got 10
say"
Duncan went away puzzled. He had
Intended to be very shrewd and cir
eumspect in this matter. He had In
tended by calling once or twice upon
each of several young women to de-
prive the calls he intended to make
upon Barbara Of any look OF signin-
eance. and now before he had even
begun to cultivate acquaintance with
Barbara he found his small prepare
tory callings the subject of curiosity
and gossip.
He was resolved not to be baked OF
his purpose, however. He saw No rea-
son to permit that. He would 90 that
very evening to see Barbara, and he
would repeat the visit from time to
time until q fuller acquaintance with
the girl should cure him Of his fascina-
t,on- sAcouaintance must do that, he
was persuaded.
Barbara Verne was not accustomed
to receive visits from young men. She
was almost too young, for one thing, or
nt least she had been almost too young
until about this time. Moreover, her
life was unusually secluded. She de-
voted all her time to her exacting house
hold duties. Except that she attended
church once each Sunday, she was new
err seen in any public place or any
where else outside of her aunt's house
or the house Of her single friend, Mrs.
Richards, retiring matron, who mel
tier received company nor went OUT
anywhere. These two-the young girl
and the middle aged matron-were
somewhat moro than intimate In their
affection, but apart from this one
friend Barbara visited nobody. Inc
Young women Of the town did not
think of her, therefore, as one OF them
selves at all. They regarded her rather
as a child than as young woman
though II they had troubled to think
about The matter they would have re-
membered that she was as old as some
of themselves.
When Gullford Duncan made MS
first call upon Barbara, therefore, tnat
Young person was very greatly aston
ished, but she was In no way emDar-
raised. 1t was her nature to meet all
circumstances and all events frankly
and to do with conscientious faithful'
ness whatsoever she conceived to be
her duty. So when Guilford Duncan
called upon her she promptly put away
her surprise and walked into the par
lor and greeted her visitor not without
some lingering trace Of surprise at tho
honor done her, but with no touch OF
foolish embarrassment In her manner.
Barbara was simply her own sweet,
natural self, and when Duncan went
away after his call the glamour OF her
personality was more strongly upon
him than ever.
"She, at least" he thought as ne
walked toward the levee, twill not mis-
construe my call, as Mrs. Hallam sug'
gests. She Is too wOmanly, too sim
cere, too genuine, for that. / shall
call again very soon, though, now that
l think of it, she forgot to ask me to
do so. Never mind. I'll manufacture
some excuse-oh, by JOve, have It!
The Coterie' Is to give fancy dress
dance a week from tonight. I'll invite
her to go. l wonder II she will ac'
cept. hope so, but even II she doesn't
the invitation will give me ample ex'
cuse for calling. I'll do 1t tomorrow