The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1906-10-25

suffering from one. Of those minor :
ailments which seem only to- ar
fiict the victims of matrimony.
It was our crucial whisky-and-
soda, and we were talking as man to
man. We had been telling each other
that we were both rather black
guards really, but deuced fine fell
lows Notwithstanding, and we were
consequently in a fine glow of self
satisfaction.
Zone thing I've forgotten to say to
| you," he remarked. ut really Is
serious
Serious for whom?" 1 asked.
He paused, and then, dramatical-
ly, For her." he said.
| I dropped the poker into the fen
der with crash. For her!' l re-
peated What are you driving at?"
perhaps 1 ought not to have
preached the subject" he faltered.
"You haven't" said I.
Its not fair to her." he jerked
out. "And yet It's all due to that
odious trick you have of talking to
every woman you meet as If she were
the only one of her sex in the world"
81 don't think they find that par
ticularly odious," said I.
but lookers-on do" said he. AND
1t Is a bit rough on 'em, you know,
old chap. Of course we who under
stand you know it's only your way,
but girls-innocent, young, unsoph-
isticated-'
I rose also Good night" I said
abruptly, offering my hand.
''I'll tell you her name, then," said
he. Its little Miss Kerrison-if you
must know"
"Oh," said I, rather disappointed.
II know-the girl who is so awfully
conscious of her profile"
"My wifes cousin he said stiffly.
"And you mean to say that foolish
chit is in love with me?"
"Oh, come! Well, l suppose so.
But confound your complacency.
anyhow"
Poor thing!" murmured. Poor,
silly thing! Pretty, too! Well what
would you advise me to do about
it,"
He shrugged his shoulders. Il
don't presume to advise at ALL" he
replied.
BEST way, I suppose, would be to
put her out Of her misery at once"
said l.
There are worse girls than Nina
Kerrison," he said.
But do you think they would suit
me better?" 1 asked him.
NO." said he. You are not so
bad"
"You overwhelm me-" I observed,
with those touching tokens of your
approval"
And then we talked of other mat
ters.
But somehow 1 could not get the
| image of Nina KerrisOn out Of my
mind 1t was not a very distinct i'm
age, for 1 had never troubled to con-
slider Nina already thought of her
as Nina-very critically. l seemed to
remember that we had bored one an
other consumedly whenever we had
been thrown together. Yet now this
weak, susceptible maid who wOr-
SHIPPED me, as it appeared, from afar,
passionately, hopelessly, had sudden
ly become the most interesting wom-
an in the world.
I had had not the least intention
OF going to the Chambers dance the
following evening, but now l deter
mined to go after all, since Miss Ker
rison was bound to be there, and 1t
were best to get this painful bust
ness over at once.
In the conservatory I made out
dim, rounded form in filmy white.
and came face to face with Nina Ker-
rison She sat there motionless, her
hands in her lap, as If awaiting her
fate in the person of myself.
"All alone?" I said, lightly
Il prefer to be alone" she said
hastily, and rose as If to go.
But I understood what an infinity
of meaning the studied curtness of
her words would have fain conceal
ed, and I whispered, please dont
forsake me- II came here to look
Tor you"
"Why?" she asked. A most awk-
ward question!
"Why?" I repeated slowly, to gain
time. ooh, because those people in
there bore me. And you-you never
do that, Miss Kerrison."
"Well, it is something to be a har-
Dor of refuge" she remarked.
THANK you. Then, by the way, is it
really true, this time, that l am to
congratulate yOu?"
"On my good fortune in finding
you here, do you mean? Why, GER
tainly." I said.
~ did not mean that" she replied.
"I meant hat-that-well, the
usual rumor is out concerning you"
"Indeed!" I exclaimed. But which
of the usual rumors do you refer
to-"
There is only one-isn't there