The Washington herald., 1906-11-11

hectively and squinted through it at the
widow.
You've got powder on your nose! he
remarked disapprovingly.
The widow snatched up diaphanous
lace handkerchief and began rubbing her
nose
Have I got too much on?" she asked
anx.ously.
Any" replied the bachelor, with dig
niied scorn. "is too much-in a mans
eyes"
The widow laughed and stopped rubbing
her nose
But it isn't in his eyes" she pro-
tested, If it is put on so artisticaIly that
he doesn't see it. Getting it on straight
is such an art" and the widow sighed
Black art, you mean" exclaimed the
bachelor disgustedly. ~ made-up woman
is like paste jewelry and imitation bric-a-
brac She looks cheap and unsubstanual
and as though she wouldn't wear well.
Even granting that you aren't half good
enough for US"
What"
And that you don't come up to our
standards
ne NluUE dropped leE GilDIOlutI5 ut1f
and sat up with blazing eyes.
You flatter yourself, Mr. Travers,
No. I dOnt!" retOrted the bachelor
Its you who fiatter us. when you think
IL necessary TO plaster over your defects
and put additions on your figures ana
rouge on your cheeks and fTills on your
manners As a matter of fact, he added
decisively, "A mans ideal Is natural
woman with q natural complexion and
natural hair and natural ways and nat
ural self-respect."
The widow sighed and took up her en-
brOideTy hoop again
Il used to think so. too, she said sad
y.
The bachelor lifted his eyebrows in
qUiringly.
Before I discovered" she explained.
that IL was just as often a woman with
butter-colOred hair and a tailor made rig
Ure and u past and manufactured
bloom OF health. The truth Is, she con-
ClUded. stabbing her needle very carefully
into the center of an unhealthy looking
green silk rose, that no TWO men admire
tho same woman, and no one man ad-
mires the same thing in two women.
Now. there's Miss Cunning. who wears
sweater and says damn and is per
tectly natural and self-respeCting and
No man gets ecstatic over bad imita-
ton Of himself expostUlated the bache-
lor.
Then why" said the widow. laying
down her needle and nxing the bachelor
with glittering eye, do you spend so
much time on the golf links, and out driv-
ing and hunting and walking with hero
Because explained the bachelor
meekly, she sometimes hits the ball, and
she can sit in her saddle without being
faI hsv ch,1 l.. 4G
nor call a 'hOof paw. But, he added
fervently, I'D take my hat and run If
she asked me to spend my life with her. "
oh. WE'LL the widow tossed her head
Independently. she won't. Miss Cunning
can take care Of herself"
That's just it," pursued the bachelor.
The very fact that she can take care Of
herself and get across cutters alone and
pick up things for herself and handle her
own horse and beat me at golf and tennis.
takes away that gratifying sense OF pro-
tection-'
And superiority" interposed the
widow, softly
THAT a man likes TO feel toward a
woman concluded the bachelor, ignoring
her. Muscle and biceps and a 32-inch
waist" he added. "are refreshing but i'm
time they get on your nerves. It may not
be immoral for dear little thing TO say
damn, but il affects a man Just as ii
would to hear a canary bird squawking
like a parrot. When a chap is going for
q walk cross country he may pick out the
girl with the stride and the strong back,
who can leap a fence and help herself over
pUddles TO accompany him, but when he
is ready for a walk TO the altar he natur-
ally prefers somebody who understands
the art Of leaning gently on the masculine
arm and who hasn't any rough edges,
Or
sharp points of view suggested the
widow.
Or opinions on the equality OF the
sexes added the bachelor.
or on politics"
'OT the higher life"
"Or on anything but the latest way to
curl her hair and make over a hat fin
ished the widow. Isn't it funny" she
added thoughtfully twisting Il French knot
into the center Of the sickIy green rose
how many men idealize foor'
The bachelor started.
Il beg your pardon. he stdmmered
All a woman has got to know in order
10 wear a halo went on the widow
calmly fastening the French knot with a
jerk Of her needle, lis how to keep it or
straight. All man demands Of her is the
negative virtues and the knowledge OF
how not TO do things; how not to think
how not to argue, how not TO nag. how
not TO theOrizc, how not to be athletic
how not to spend money, how not TO take
care Of herself, hw not"
You've got your ideas into a French
knott broke in the bachelor desperate
". You're all tangled IN in the thread
of your argument. Il isn't how not tc
do things but how 10 do them that is
important 10 a woman. II isn't what she
does but how she does il that matters
She may commit highway murder OF
low down burglary and If she does il ir
a ruffied skirt and q picture hat any mar
will forgive her. Her morals may be a.
crooked and dark as "a lane at midnight
but II her manners are smooth and gen
tie and guileless and tender she can de
ceive the cleverest man alive into believ
ing her q nun. 1t isn't what she SAYS bu
how she says it that counts. There ar,
some women who could read your dealt
warrant or repeat the multiplication tabl
in such a COnfding voice and with sucl
a tender glance that you would want L
take them in your arms and thank then
for IT, IL isn't what woman wears bu
how she wears il: it's not her beauty no
her talents nor her frocks that make he
fascinating, but her ways, the little ear
marks OF femininity that God put on ev
cry creature born to wear petticoats: an;
If she's got those she may be a Lucreti
Borgia or a Bloody Mary at heart; sh
may be brown or yellow or pale green
she may be old or young, big or little
stupid or clever, and stiIl wear a beauti
ful halo. The trouble" he added, fickin
the end Of his cigar. thOUghtfully, is no
with mans ideal but with woman's deal
She holds all the cards. but she play
them badly. When a tWO-SpOt Of flatter
would win her point she deals a cha