The Delta independent., 1906-01-19
AStorysWolnanIs Eanity
lOriginal.1

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boys and girls are coming Of age! But
of course to enjoy youth we should
have the facilities for doing 30. was
at that age a member of 2 large fam
fly, and my fathers home was In the
country. In summer and during the
winter holidays we children, growing up
into manhood and wOmanhoOd, always
had a house full Of our young friends.
When came home from college in
my senior year for the winter holidays
my sister told me that she had Invited
her especial friend, Mary lockwood,
for my particular benefit, Sisters at
that age wish TO be. but are not,
matchmakers. Nothing could be de-
vised so well calculated to drive two
young people Of opposite sex apart as
to tell them that they are intended for
each other. Mary Lockwood and |
quarreled from the first. She soon be-
gan to say sharp things to me, and |
retorted by indinerentiy drawling out
compliments that were palpably iron
ical. In our games would choose her
on my side, then sneer at her play.
She was very bright and poured out
number OF witty sayings that tended
to make me laughingstock. But the
most vengeful thing she did during her
| stay was to step deliberately under the
| mistletoe when l was nearest 10 her.
thus daring me to kiss her. Egged on
by the others. who were all well aware
OF our feud. stepped up to her, took
| her in my arms, and in the scufiie that
ensued she bit my cheek.
got my revenge in this wise: When
the furniture was cleared for dance
l stepped up to her and asked her TO
dance with me. believed she would
refuse. and she did. before the Assem-
blcd company. Here was something
that I could notice. From that time
forward l paid no attention to her
whatever. This cast dnmper on our
festivities, and my sister begged me
to apologize to Mary. but when asked
for what l should ask pardon she had
no reply. Matters went on from bad to
worse till We dispersed. When Mar
Lockwood departed che left me note
apologixing for having refused to dance
with me in my own home. II she bad
given me this before she went We
might have parted friends.
After graduation ! studied my pro
Observation-Disclosures the city In the
| neighborhood OF which we lived and
from which our friends had come to
visit us. A very select set OF young
people got together for semiweskly
dances, and Mary lockwood was
among them. was delighted when
friend Of mine asked me to join the
rug Beaters,- as they called them
selves. and consented. heard nothing
more Of the matter till spring. then
learned that Mary Lockwood had
"blackba1led, me-s.lE ~; ~ - M
began to feeliwhat 1t IS to have the
enmity OF woman. Till 1 I.learned Of
this serious overt act I did not con-
ssder our quarrel Of any importance.
move where she could stab me My
most intimate friends were members
of the Rug Beaters.' and would not
join any other club. so my winters
amusement was spoiled. a
6. One day while was listening to I
lecture at the medical school OH nerve
structures the professor said :i.'Wonen
are especially subject to nerve tension.
Men fight each other for many differ
ent causes; women quarrel from nerv-
ous strain aud are more apt to have
paroxysms of anger with those they
like than those to whom they are in
different" was surprised that q
physician should not know what I
knew by actual experience.
One evening at ball I saw my
enemy among the throng. had never
seen her before In ball dress and
was surprised at her queenly appear
anee. 1 noticed. however. that there
was n sad look in her eyes. 1t quite dis-
armed my just Indignation at her hav-
ing injured me-. could not conceive
OF a man thus doing SO, and the wo-
mun's act seemed to me all the baser
that she had been my sisters guest.
Nevertheless pltied her. While was
studying her, face she turned toward
me. She looked away at once and with
nm expression much the same rs had
been used to when we were together.
]. determined TO tell her what 1 thought
OF her keeping me out Of the Rug
Beaters" and, going up to her, bade her
good evening. was received about as
I had expected and. giving her my arm.l
took her out Of the throng.. Seated in
q coZyl nook unobserved. l spoke to-
her OF my sisters Introducing us and
her g,od Intentions. In doing SO. Then
pictured how the matter might have
| turned out had we not begun useless
and harmful quarrel. 1 spoke regret
fully Of my own shortcomings and was
about to enter upon informing her that
knew she had' turned an enemy in
my path to injare me when--her head
was turned from me 80 could not
zee her face--I felt her hand laid on
mine. Bending forward, saw tears
ln her. eyes. .ssa s3l sasesia
could not DOW. repeat the steps by Z