The Washington herald., 1907-12-22
BACHELOR GIRL CHAT
THE MADDENINC MASCULINE ATTITUDE

into the fire. resting her chin pensively
in her hands.
The Mere Nan sat down thoughtfully,
crossed his knees and sighed as he lii a
fresh cigarette
"Ah' we'll he said after a pause. 'ff
the illusions don't go before marriage
they go afterward."
OF course they do" agreed the Bach
elor Girl. rousing herself and taking up
her work again. The maddening mas
culine attitude drives them away. The
average husband keeps everything wait
ing until it's cold. He Peeps his wife
waiting dinner until the steak and the
coffee get cold, and waiting for a kiss
until her heart gets cold. and waiting for
him 70 come home nights until even her
temper ccols down. The 'you-wait-there-
till-I-come-back' attitude is the source
OF half the domestic troubles In the world.
But. thank heavens, it's going out OF
fashion"
You don't say SOP" The Mere Man
jumped and nearly burnt his fingers with
his cigarette
The Bachelor Girl nodded confidently.
oh, yes, she said cheerfully "Wom-
en- used TO have 10 wait there until hus-
bands or swethearts came back, when
there was nowhere else to 20 and nothing
else to do; but nowadays there are bridge
parties and women's clubs and society
fiirtatlons and even the stage and Journal
ism and stenography. And when a wife
gets tired Of sitting on q rocking chair
and cultivating patience and wrinkles
she takes up one of these Then, when
the man comes back, he usually receives
a shock that breaks his heart and upsets
all his theories and gets into the morning
papers Or if it's merely a sweetheart
that he's keeping waiting. he doesn't find
the same woman AT all when he returns.
Instead OF the Shy, adoring girl in rufies
and curls who looked uO 10 him as a
superior being. he finds a self-reliant
creature in walking boots and a tailored
skirt who looks him straight through
and clear up the back with the first
glance and has him all dissected and laid
out in labeled packages in the second"
That's right exclaimed the Mere
Man. promptly. IF chap wants a wife
who hasn't already acquired an uncom-
Portable gait, and can be broken 70 har-
ness and made to stand. and won't need
4 curb, in these days he's got to catch
one before she gets her second mental
teeth. / wonder" he added thoughtfully
l-wonder-f I'd better marry, after
all.
The Bachelor Girl dropped her glove
with a little flutter, and flung back her
chin and laughed
You're getting the cold shiversr' she
cried, tauntingly.
Il have got a sort Of chill" agreed the
Mere Man It's the shock, I suppose.
'The-What?"
"Of coming back-and finding Won like
that"
Like what. Mr.. Porter"
"Oh. different" returned the Mere Man.
nonchalantly, and hy-specked in your
illusions. and set in your opinions"
i beg your pardonl"
And faded in your enthusiasm"
Archie Porter
'And frayed around the edges of your
sentiment"
What on earth are you talking
about?"
About the girl 1 thought of marry
ing. replied the Mere Man, calmly.
The Bachelor Girl rose so suddenly that
she nearly upset the studio kitten.
I'm sorry" she said. in a voice that
trickled down the Mere Mans back Ike
ice water.
Oh, never mind, he replied, quickly.
I'm sorry you must go. Mr. Porter"
Tn sorry, too" sighed the Mere Man.
as he rose and languidly picked up his
hat but I Will, if you insist-and # you'll
promise TO be here"
Here? When?" inquired the Bachelor
Girl, frigidly
When I come back"
You. needn't ever come backr" ex-
claimed the Bachelor Girl desperately.
When 1 come back" repeated the
Mere$ Man.
You needn't"
Tomorrow night" and he laughed
softly, as he descended the stairs.