The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-11-23
MANS IDEAL AND WOMANS DEAL.

alive into believing her a nun. 1t isn't
what she saws but how she says It
that counts. There are some women
who could read your death warrant,
or repeat the multiplication table in
such a confding voice and with such
a tender glance that you would take
them in your arms Inc thank them Tor
IL. IL isn't what a woman but
haw she wears IL; It's not her beauty
nor her talents nor Ger frocks that
make her fascinating. but her ways
the little earmarks OF femininity that
God put on every ~creature born TO wear
petticoats; and IL she's got those she
MAJ be q Lucretia Borgfa or a Bloody
| Mary az heart: she may be brown or
yellow or pale or green: she may De
old or young. big or little, stupid or
clever, and still e a beautiful halo
The trouble" he added. Ticking the
| end OF his cigar thoughtfully. lis not
| with a mans ideal but with a oman'
deal. She holds all the cards but she
| plays them badly. When a two-spot
| OF fattery would win ner point, she
deals a chap the queen OF arguments;
when the FIVE OF smiles would AXE
| the trick for her, she plays the deuce
of a pout- When the ace OF sympathy
or the ten OF tact would put the whole
game OF love into her hands. she
thinks ii is time to be funny and
filings a man the joker"
The widow laid her work on the Ia
bic beside her. folded her hands In
her lap and smiled at the bachelor
sweetly. =
That's just what | said" she re-
marked gently.
What you said?"
The widow nodded and rubbed her
hos reminiscently with the end of
her handkerchief.
Yes" she replied, lit isn't putting
powder on your nose or or
your cheeks or perfume on you petit
coats or a broad A on your accent
that shocks a man, but putting them on
Enthusiastically. 1t isn't the things you
do. but the things you overdo that
offend the masculine taste. It's the
'~Overdone' woman that a man hates
the woman who Is over-dresSed or
overly made-up. or overly cordial, or
overly flattering, or overly clever, or
overly good, or overly anything. He
doesn't want TO see how the wheels go
around at the toilet table or in a wo-
mans head or her heart; and it's the
subtle, elusive little thing that he
doesn't notice until he steps on her
and finds her looking up adoringly at
him under his nose that he idealiZes.'
And marries,' added the bachelor
| conclusively.
>, And then forgets," sighed the wild.
, ow, while he goes off to amuse him
! self with the obvious person with pc.
| roxide hair and n straight-front fig
ure. l don't know" she added tenta.
lively, that it's much fun being al
o ideal woman
"Who said you were?" demanded tn,
bachelor suddenly.
The widow started and turned pinl
!, to her chin.
"Oh-nobody-that IS, ~several-peo
pie, Mr.. Travers."
Had you refued them!" asked tn,
r bachelor thoughtfully.
! The widow blushed a deeper pini
and bent ove her pale green rose 8
b low that the bachelor could not Sc
, her eyes.
v "Why-that isl don't see VIVA
Il that has to do with it"
1T has everything got to do witt
.r 1t feplled the DdcnelOr positively.
And you haven't told me yet" con
tinued the widow. suddenly changing
the subject, who o consider tn
ideal woman"
Don't you know" asked the bachelo
d insinuatingly.
n The widow shook her head withou
J. lifting her eyes.
We'll. then. she is-Dut so many G
them have told you"
you haven't" persisted the widow
a The bachelor sighed and rose TO gC
, THE ideal woman he said as h
a slipped OF his gloves, "is-the woma
g. you can't get. Is that the fireligh
r. playing on your pompadour?" he adde
a looking down upon the widow throug
# h~aIf-crossed eyes. do you know
m fer a moment thought IL was a halo.