The Washington herald., 1907-12-22
BY HELEN ROWLAND.

The Bachelor Girl started, and then BEN
hurriedly TO take a stitch in the glovs
she was mending.
For how lOng?" she inquired. sweetly
glancing sidewise through curl thai
hung over one eye.
What:' The Mere Man put down his
cigarette and gazed at her in surprise
For life. OF course
I mean how long have you been think
ing OF it?'' explained the Bachelor Girl
turning family pink beneath the curl
HAS it-has it become u habit YETI"
The Mere Man redeemed and cleared his
throat
oh. he responded, trying 70 speak
with careless ease, ''of course, I've known
the girl for several years. but"
or course you haYe," broke In the
Bachelor Girl swapping her thread with
an impatient little jerk. "And meantime
yoE've kept her guessing-and waiting
That's the maddening masculine atti-
tude"
"The-what?"
he 'You-stay-there-till
attitude" explained the Bachelor Girl
that men assume toward women from
the time they are old enough 70 leave
while they 90 out and fight make believe
Indians until they are old enough to leave
their wives sitting in the parlor while they
go out and do make-Delieve work at the
office. 1t was Antony's attitude toward
Cleopatra and Antonios attitude toward
Portia and Hamlet's attitude toward
Ophelia, and-and weren't they all sur
prised" and the Bachelor Girl gurgled
with malicious delight
IF you are going 10 revel in the fail
ings Of your sex" began the Mere Man
reproachfully.
"Failings," exclaimed the Bachelor Girl
in scornful astonishment.
And their disconcerting habit of al
ways turning up where they're least ex-
pected and engaging in battle, trouble.
and sudden death when a chap fancies
them safely at home mending the family
stockings or feeding the Kitten
Yes. interrupted the Bachelor Girl
with sage nod Of her curls. d" falling
TO be there when a man happens 10
think he wants her is the greatest sin a
woman can commit-eXcept being there
when he doesn't want her. The masculine
idea Of love is a hitching post where a
man can tie a woman and leave her with
perfect security. as he would the family
horse But she isn't to blame If her hu-
man instincts of curiosity and impati-
ence get the better of her If Adam left
Eve standing by the forbidden tree while
ne went of to dig roots for breakfast or
to take his morning bath he shouldn't
have been surprised because she got hun
CRY and curious and plucked the fatal
apple And If man leaves his wife at
home while he goes out to clubs or stag
parties he shouldn't get excited"
But I'm not leaving anybodys wife at
home, protested the Mere Man plaintive-
~. and l don't see why 1 can't stop TO
think, before / choose my own wife
And leave her waiting on the doorstep
of matrimOny while you are thinking
and going about amusing yourself with
other women. to make sure that Won can't
do any betterw interrupted the Bachelor
Girl. sarcasucally. And yet" she added
musingly I've no doubt you'll expect 10
marry a girl who's never been kissed
while she waited-or had a thought or a
sentiment for anybody but you"
'Of course. retorted the Mere Man
III make sure that L am getting a nice
sweet girl
The incest things. remarked the Bach
elor Girl acridly, as she put a knot in her
thread, can become shopworn. if they
are left on the shelf too long-even Won
for instance"
I beg your pardon" The Mere Man
dropped his cigarette
Even you repeated the Bachelor Girl
quite unperturbed ARE getting 4 little
worn about the edges Of your hair and
irayed as TO your morals. and wrinkled in
your disposition, and faded in your on
thusiasms. Girls aren't immorteIIes. which
VII keep forever under a glass case
They are just natural flowers, that need
he sun Of love and the breeze of life and
me good gardening of matrimony 70 keen
them fresh and young and unwithered
ret nowadays the average man expects
20 spend three-quarters of his life as a
oily bachelor and ten years more con-
iemplating matrimony. before he takes
The plunge"
And then,' put in the Mere Man SYM
pathetically, hes likely 10 get the cold
shivers or warning chill and never to
take the plunge at all
Yes agreed the Bachelor Girl Love
Ike pudding, or coffee, or anything else
gets cold and stale if it is left standing
too long outside the window. A man fam
cies he has only 10 light the fire in a
girls heart and it will keep on flaming
while he wanders off to amuse himself
and think it over; but it's the foolish
reckless, impulsiye people, who marry in
the first flush and enthusiasm OF ro-
nance who get all the real happiness out
OF life"
And have all the matrimonial indIges-
ton afterward," added the Mere Man
wryly.
Marrying a girl after ten years OF
courtship and-and contemplation. went
on the Bachelor Girl. ignoring the inter
rupuon, is Ike buying a doll that has
stood in the showcase too long. She may
look Just the same az a glance. bat her
taith in men is apt to have become fly
specked' and her ideas 10 have become
sun and her opinions set, and all her
iresh sweetness is gone. And marrying
a man who has been a bachelor very long
IS Ake getting furniture. or a coat. or any
old thing at secondhand shop"
Secondhand cried the Nero Man
Yes" declared the Bachelor Girl with
a toss Of the recreant curl. ''or four-
teenth-hand. for that matter. It's hard IN
make him oyer TO fit the new situation.
and the satin lining of his sentiments is
apt to be moth-eaten-and you NAV be
perfectly sure that no matter what Won
DO you can't give him a new thrill. or 2
new sensation. or new experience. Iiv-
ing in bachelor fiat for five or six years
has dulled his interest in domesticity. All
The dear, delicious little incidents like
darning his socks and pressing his neck
lies. and curing his headaches, and max
ing him sofa pillows, and crocheted slim
pers, and fancy waistcoats that are so
novel and thrilling to you are an old
story to him. You are only a hundredth
repetition or so Of sweet. sympathetic
women who have pampered and spoiled
him. y seasoned bachelor always re-
minds me Of an old wardrobe once got
y auction. / never hung a frock in il
hat ! didn't wonder who had hung soroa |