Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-09-14
A Maid and a Method.
1907. By Mary McKeon.I

ineighboring branch.
Harrington noticed that she seemed
to have entirely forgotten his presence
unless there was merely comfortable
consciousness of the fact that he was
there if she needed him.
when you have satisfactorily ex-
amined the trees, the squirrel. the wa
ter falling over those stones and have
formed your opinion concerning the
ientrancing horizon" he said in a slight
~ injured tone, wouldn't you like to
talk to me some?"
| She took. off her hat and laid it on
the grass beside her with a sigh of
satisfaction.
None of those things is more in
lteresting to me, Diogenes, than the
study of you, assure you."-
Sometimes almost conclude that /
positively dislike you," he said amia-
bly,, taking long puffs at his cigar. II
never cared much for women. but in
this case there is stronger element.
believe it almost approaches dislike"
| She wriggled her blond head into q
more comfortable pose against the tree
trunk and beamed upon him as if he
had said something truly gratifying.
TITS an achievement, DiogeneS, to
have inspired you with a strong feel
ing of any description"
you have such a COMPOUNDED way
of bouncing upon a fellows thoughts
and holding them up to ridicule. You
can analyZe man as easily as chem
list can analyZe a patent medicine.
Didn't you know, Miss Burton, that
women ought to make themselves-er
attractive? It's uncanny for them to
go in for psychology, analysis and-er
I-vivisection"
Attractive? Oh, Diogenes, you are
iwOefully lacking in manners! I was
taking solid comfort and content in the
belief that the powers that be had
made me attractive and was amusing
myself with your so called vivisecfion
merely as q side issue. I see, my dear
philosopher, that you are not fitted for
the gentle ways of polite society. If it
didn't sound slangy I'd say, Back to
your tubp It was a tub that DiOgenes
enjoyed so thoroughly, wasn't ito
He was by degrees working himself
into an exceedingly bad temper.
! ''DIiss Burton, do you know that
blond women have always enjoyed the
reputation of being fools-more or
less?'' he asked scathingly.
"All of which leads to?" she interro-
gated, with elaborate innocence.
1.-THE fact that it's time you decided
whether you are going to marry that
idiot Darrell or me. We've both been
dangling around you the whole sum-
Imer"
/ 'YOur climaxes are strong" she smil-
ed admiringly. "That idiot Darrell or
you? Don't you recognize a certain SIM
Eilarity to Pope in the way you con-
istruct your sentences?
Its impossible to make a climax
after Darrell" he snorted. cit would
be an impossibility to find a bigger
idiot to name after him."
Everything, my dear man, depends
upon the point of view" She pinned on
her hat and turned toward the path
leading to the hotel.
7 That afternoon Harrington lay half
asleep, his new magazine over his face,
in the shade of the bushes that grew
back of the summer house.
J Virginia, you are acting shameful
~" He heard Darrelrs voice.
So he called her Virginia. did he!
And she allowed it!
Virginia evidently enjoyed the idea
of acting shamefully, for he heard
little ripple of merriment.
But, you know, Jack, he really does
need some of the conceit taken out of
him-wOmen have spoiled him So"
'I think you have tormented him
ienOugh," Darrell insisted. land you
have carried on with me OutrageOusly.
j feel party to fraud. You can't keep
lit up much longer, for when Eleanor
comes next week he will soon find out
that I've been engaged to your sister
all along. Why not put him out of his
misery? You know you like him."
"Of course 1 do, and I'm going to
marry him, but he needs little train
ing first
Darrell rose and started toward the
house. I'm going to finish my letter
Ito Eleanor" he said. I'll leave you
here to finish your book. Shall l tell
Eleanor that we'll make it double
wedding in November"
! Virginia evidently took time to medi
tate.
'T think he'll make an awfully hand
some bridegroom" she said softly.
+ Darrell laughed delightedly.
First time / ever saw you with a
real attack, Virginia. 1 don't see, to
save my soul, how he's faileC to find
out that you care. But, as foI hand
some bridegrOoms, I'll have you re-
member that I'll be there myself"
And he walked down the path whis-
thing.
! Harrington sat up, let his magazine
fall unnoticed to the ground and brush
ed his coat carefully.
/ His gray eyes were twinkling as he
erept into the summer house.
/ He caught the startled girl in his
orroc "a man hos n Darfncf ri obf m