The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1907-07-25
Love AS A
SIDE DISH

passes?" I demanded reproachfully,
STOPPING to pick up Kitty's fan as
Clement Carter disappeared into the
house.
Il didn't" declared Kitty, indig
nantly.
"You luttered," I retorted. "And
that's the same thing"
Kitty sat up straight and gazed at
in CONSERVATION.
"The insult" she declared furiousIy,
which you have offered toto my
sex! Just as if I were an old maid!"
she added with true feminine paradox.
aren't old maids OF your sex?" l
asked in gentle surprise.
They're the only ones who lutter,"
asserted Kitty, positively.
mot at ALL" I retorted. "I've known
plenty of widows who changed color
and their conversation at the mere en-.
trance of a man upon the scene; and
dozens Of debutantes who became
%tongue-tied or tremulous the moment
a decentlooking chap appeared in the
drawing room. Even most married
women,"I added, "lose their poise and
the point Of their remarks at sight
of the approach of a masculine crea
ture. It doesn't seem to be a matter
Of a woman's age or her condition,
but"
"Of the Importance she accords to
men," broke in Kitty scathingly.
There are individuals of both sexes"
she added witheringly, "who are too
easily impressed by the opposite six"
"Not at ALL" I objected. g"
knew a schoolboy so insignificant and
homely and inconsequential that he
didn't scorn girls. You see, to men,
woman is a sidedish, a mere incident,
while to a woman, man represents the
whole menu Of social existence, the
piece de resistance, the Alpha and
Omega, the beginning and the end"
"Of course" proceeded Kitty, ignor-
ing my thrust, there are plenty of
women who overrate men and
and look at them through magnifying
glasses"
"And who 'huttter'" 1 put in hastily.
dC CQelr mere presence.
But" she continued coldly, they
are women who don't know them"
"What?"
"Old maids" returned Kitty, 'and
widows whose husbands have been
dead a long time and young girls
who have no brothers to help them
get a true perspective on the mascu-
line creature. And there are other
women 81 abnormally self-conscious
and vain that they can't be their nat
ural selves in the presence of any
man."
tits awfully fattering," l began en-
Enthusiastically, ito think that we can
be so agitating-"
ooh, it isn't the man that really agi-
tates the" retorted Kitty.
NO" rejoined promptly, "it's the
set of their skirts, or the tilt of their
hats. or the curl of their hair, or the
thought of whether there is any pow
der On their noses, or of what they
shall say to be scintillating, Or
isn't this the seventh Waltz" ask
ed Kitty suddenly, rising and looking
earnestly at her program. II must
go. Mr.. Carter must be looking for
me-
ooh, no." I retorted, II just saw him
come out with the Tredway girl. Are
you going to 'futter' again, Kitty"
For Kitty had sat down with a sud
den exclamation and was %nervously
pulling the remains of her fan to
shreds.
"The idea," she exclaimed indg-
nantly, "of accusing me of-of any
thing like that. Only unpopular wom-
en- 'futter.'" Kitty flung out the word
scornfully.
"They' are unpopular because they
do futter," I contended calmly, light
ing another cigarette.
"Df course" I said, relenting a lit
tie, there are plenty of women who
do take men as a side dish; but they
are either those who are born with a
mission or those who are like your
self. Kitty"
"What?" Kitty looked up suspi-
ciously.
Who have SO many side Dishes"
I explained, "and r so constantly in
the company of men that they lose
that W of the sex"
SSH" cried Kitty, as a dark form
emerged from the vines and passed so
nea us that he swept Kitty's rufles.
There he goes!"
"The devil!" I calculated.
INC. Clement Carter" corrected
Kitty.
kitty" I exclaimed reproachfully,
you're tearing that fan to pieces"
Kitty dropped the bauble nervously.
"There!" I exclaimed, picking up
the scraps, "you were futtering."
II wasn't"
"And at the near sight of him!" I
looked my disgust.
"Oh, no." declared Kitty hastily,
mot at the sight Of him. It was for
fear he might catch sight of me, Mr..
Curtis"
"What?"
"And you," added Kitty.
That's very sweet of you," I be.