Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-05-19

| cna1r TO read IT, he IS what you
would call a fine man, with such
strong shoulders and lovely brown
hair with little tips of gray, like sill
yer dust, on it. 1 was Just thinking
how nice he looked sitting there, and
what a firm nose and mouth he had.
when suddenly he glanced up and
said, abruptly: so your hero is
young and handsome-a real Apollo.
You admire handsome men?"
| "Oh, no." 1 said. Il admire strong
men, not that sort at all But L
thought it was the usual thing in
! books"
| 1 didn't say any more till the whole
of the sheets had been read. 1t took
some time, for L scribble awfully when
1 try to write fast And then 1 asked
him what he thought was the matter
with it. 1 told him that the editor
said it was too crude, and he agreed.
l was offended, and 1 expect he
saw it, for he went OF as quickly as
possible to explain what he meant
He said a great deal, but as far as
l can remember the meaning of it all
was that l had had no experience of
getting engaged and that sort of
thing and that the tale showed this
weakness. He said 1 had much to
| L
l ought to try to improve.
Did you ever hear anything so silly?
How could 1 gain experience in a day
or two? Who was there to help me?
1 told Mr.. Kingswell what l thought
of his idea OF course it would be
useful, but impracticable.
1 always knew he was a fine chum.
l had known him for ever SO many
years, but L think he was just a trump
for what he suggested. 1t was that
he should be my lover for fort
night, so that 1 might see how a man
would act if he loved somebody.
Since he didn't mind the trouble, l
was of course perfectly willing, and
soon after we had arranged it he left
But no sooner had Mr.. Kingswen
gone than 1 began to feel wretched.
1t was about his last book. l read
it. There was such a nice girl in it,
about like me l should think. l won
dered if she pretended to be his very
dear friend while re wrote the book
1t wasn't nice idea somehow.
Next day Mr.. KingsweE wrote me-
a little note asking me to go skating
with him that afternoon on the lake.
1 went, and did enjoy myself i'm
mensely. He looked after me and
talked so nicely IndC was SOTTS
when he had to go back to dinner.
Dad was laughing when he met US in
the hall. 1 didn't see why, for 1
| hadn't told hin about our plan, and
l didn't seem to want to; but sud
denly he kissed me and went off in
hurry, which | thought was rather
funny of him.
had always felt a wee bit jealous
,Jxr
dad and not particularly me; but now
when l knew his visits were really
mine it was delightful. l had a love
ly time and the days just few by
The fortnight began to draw to the
end. 1 counted the days as they
passed. I couldn't help thinking how
| should miss a lover For he was a
splendid actor; anyone would think
he really meant it.
remember once we went for a
walk-dad, Mr.. Kingswell and L
when one of those harum- scarum
Graham boys dashed up on his BIZ
cycle just as we were crossing the
road l can't tell how it happened,
but the next minute Mr.. Kingswell was
lifting me up all covered with road
dust whilst dad was anxiously en-
treating me to tell him if 1 were hurt.
1 wasn't, and said so; and really it
was a good thing dad had turned TO
speak to the boy, for it took my
lover quite a long time to realize
there was nothing the matter. He
kept on holding me as if he would
never let me go and l distinctly heard
him murmur: Thank God for that,
NV darling" when / said l was all
right, exactly as if it really mattered
to him
At length the last day came and Mr..
Kingswell did not appear till the even
ing after dinner. Dad had gone to his
study; he wouldn't let me go with
him, but said 1 had to amuse myself
till he came back. l took my violin
and tried to play-but couldn't, 1 was
too lonely. So 1 just cuddled up on
the big settle and tried not to cry.
Some one came in. l thought it was
dad until I looked up and saw-Mr.
Kingswell.
He looked so stern, l wondered what
was the matter till l remembered the
fortnight was really over now, and of
course he would go back to being just
dads friend" l didn't know there
was such a difference wished 1 had
never learned. Everything seemed
miserable now; and really our expert
ment would not be of much use, for l
vowed l would never write about Mr..
Kingswell in a book would Just re-
member him myself
/, OF course the right thing for me to