The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-07-08

thought, with q good deal OF
- tact. He began by calling
not upon Barbara. but upon three or
four other young women-a thing he
had never doue before. He thought In
this way 10 make his cali upon Bar.
bara. when II should come, an incon.
spicuons event To his surprise. his
entrance thus into society created
something Of o nutter among The wo-
men folk. especially the married wo.
mea who bad marriageablc daughters
or who were mntchmakingly interested
IN other young women not their dauah.
ters: for Gullford Duncan, the moment
be was thought OF as social factor
and matrimonial possibility, was seen
10 be the best catch" IN the little city,
the most desirable young man In the
town. He was young and distinctly
handsome. Ha was man OF educa.
tion, culture and superior intelligence.
His manners were easy. polished and
very winning. Especially he treated
women with certain chlvalric defer.
ence that pleased them even more
than they knew. Captain VIII Hal.
lam's wife, who was the social leader
Of the city, Aaid TO him one day,
"you must be careful what you do In
the way Of paying attention to young
women. A very little attention on
Jour part % apt 70 mean q great deal
10 q girl-and still more TO her nam.
ma" .
aBut why should iti' asked Duncan
In unfsigned aaStonlshment why
should ordinary social courtesy on my
part mean mora than the same thing
means in the case OF any other young
manY,
II don't know that I can tell you."
she answered. at least don't know
that can make you understand"
Il sincerely wish you would try. 1
certainly do not want to- lie hesl.
tated and did not complete the sen.
tence.
"oh. l know all that | know what
you mean. because II ls what mean.
I tell you that II you pay more than
Just little and q very casual atten-
tlon to any girl. the girl and. worse
atill. oil her elderly female relatives
are likely TO rnlsconstrue your motives.
You are In serious danger OF breaking
some tender hearts and winning for
yourself the reputation OF being that
most detestable thlng-a male dirt"
'fsut really, Mrs. Hailam," interrupt
ed the perplexed young man. ~ don't
understand. / have not called more
than twice upon any one girl, and
swell. don't. That's all I've got to
say"
Duncan went away puzzled. He had
intended to be very shrewd and cir
suInspect In this matter. He had in,
tended by calling once or twice upon
each OF several young women to de.
prlve the calls he intended to make
upon Barbara OF any look OF slgnlil.
canoe, and now before he had even
begun to cultivate acquaintance with
Barbara he found his small prepara-
tory calllngs 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 go that
very evening to see Barbara. and ne
would repeat the visit from time to
time until fuller acquaintance with
The girl should cure him of his fasclna-
ton.. Acquaintance 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
ait 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
er seen In any public place or any
where else outside Of her aunt's house
or the house Of her single friend, Mrs,
Richards, d retiring tnatron, who nei-
ther received company nor went out
anywhere. These two-the young girl
and the middle aged matron--were
somewhat more than intimate IN their
affection, but apart from this one
friend Barbara visited nobody. The
young women Of the town did not
think 81 Her, therefore, as one Of them
selves at all They regarded her rather
as n child than as q young woman,
though II they had troubled to think
about the matter they would have re-
rnembered that she. was as old as some