The Washington herald., 1907-04-14

ing confidently toward me on Mrs. Van
derpoel's pink satin divan. 'if I should
ask you 10 be a brother to me for-for a
few minutesT'
/ nearly dropped my tea cup. But when
Kitty looks up at you hke-iike-well, in
that way. you know. and leans toward
you "eonhdingly." there isn't really any
thing you would mind.
"Oh." / said, depositing my cup of pale
pink tea on a side table. with forced non
chalanee, I don't object tO-joining the
throng"
Kitty sat back and looked injured
There isn't any throng," she said, re-
proaehfuiiy It's an unusual privilege,
Mr, Curtis"
"If I'm to have ali the privilege
began more eagerly.
And a great responsibility, continued
Kitty. I've never had a real brother, "
she added wistfully.
Haven't your" / asked compassion
ately Poor little girl! Never had any
body TO pull your hair and throw mud on
your frocks and break your dolls and tell
you what you really look Ike and
That's just what I WANT" exclaimed
Kitty enthusiastically. Somebody to tell
me the bitter truth about myself. Girls
who have brothers have such an advan-
tage over those who haven't They get a
mans real viewpoint of women without
having 10 marry 10 obtain IL. They know
as much about men at sixteen as the
brotherless girl knows at thirty. living
in the house with a brother Is a sort Of
rehearsal for mautmony without ali the
attending pangs and disappointments.'
If you mean" ] remarked, that they
gef used TO having pipe smoke around the
house and lose their distaste for swear
words aud their respect for masculine
authority and their illusions and their
faith in men and"
That's Just what do meant" broke
in Kitty. They have nothing 70 learn
Heaven f0rbidH' ] calculated piously,
Nor 10 get used 70, nor to be disap-
pointed IN. They 20 into matrimony un-
hampered by illusions. or delusions. or
the belief that a man is going 10 be as
noble anj tender and fascinating before
breakfast and without a collar on or q
shave as ne Is after dinner In a dress suit.
when the lights are low and the music is
playing. They haven't any dreams TO be
awakened from, nor any ideals 70 be shat
tered"
Shattered ideals" [ declared vaIiantly,
"are better than none at all A woman
without ideals is ike q woman without a
religion or q rose without perfume or a
cocktail without the cherry. She hasn'
got the nay0r-'
No bat she has a working knowledge
OF masculine taste. rej0inea Kitty,
promptly. that is "a great deal more use
ful 10 her. Every girl who has a brother
ought 20 be- grateful for the liberal edu-
cation he affords her, and the number Of
foolish things he keeps her from doing.
1 saw Billy TruesdaIes dressing table %
she went On. iTreleyantly. the other day,
when ] was calling on his sister, and if
Dolly Ketcham could know whose picture
he keeps in the violet photograph holder
she worked for him. she would never have
sent il. And his sister says"
Whose picture does he keep there?'
I interrupted. eagerly.
Kitty blushod-
"Oh. never mind" she answered. with
a great assumption Of n0uchalance. and
his sister says that Billy is a constant
source of wonder and restraint 10 her.
She vows that if any girl could see the
tired, weary look on his face every time
he opens a blue note asking him 10 go
somewhere. OF the grin ne wears when
reading a tender missiVe at breakfast, OF
near him grOWl when he receives a lot
OF invitations 10 dinner. and groan at the
sight OF a new sofa pillow or a pair OF
--rr-
Christmas she would tie her hands be-
hind her back and vow never to write a
note nor work "a sofa pillow nor a slip
per nor make a campaign Of attack again
as long as she lives.
And, ] added. looking at Kitty sternly.
Ii the girl who gives her photograph
promiscuously around TO her masculine
friends could see it sticking in a mirror
between the picture of vaudeville actress
in pink tights and fancy cigarette ad.
she would restrain her generosity"
Mr. Curtisi I didnt. cried Kitty. in
diguautly. L gave it TO his sister. and
and"
Il understand" said, soothingly u
have a sister"
''What?"
"Girls-giye her photographs" ex-
planned
4 don't know what you mean," cried
Kitty. flushing.
And can On her I added. when I am
at home"
Kitty started TO rise
4 am only trying to be as frank" I
put in, hastily, and as brutal as real
brother"
"Ohr' Kitty sat down again.
It's rather like taking medicine. she
added. pathetcally.
Well" I suggested, isn't it better 10
get your medicine in the shape Of a
brothers advice before matTimony and
your sugar afteFWaTdT'
I suppose so" sighed Kitty. And
to the brOtherless girl is like
getting the medicine and the sugar To-
gether. One spoils the taste Of the other:
and you don't get the good effect OF
either"
you've gone through half your life with a
brother beside you, you've gotten so used
10 the taste of the medicine that you don't
mind II; ana the most brutal remark a
husband can make seems quite mild and
palatable beside the bitter doses you've
had to swallow"
And you've learned exclaimed Kitty
that a man can be quite
fOn0 of you and at the same time not
admire the shape Of your nose or the set
Of your fTocks OF the way you do your
hair"
And that ne can adore you and at the
same time forget that you exist, while he
Is driving Il nail or reading the morning
paper, or putting down a carpet" / added
And that he can think the world OF
you" continued Kitty, and yet swear at
you under his breath if you wake him I'D
In the middle Of q nap"
'Or interrupt him when he is looking
for his collar button or shaving his
chin"
"Or If his dinner has disagreed with
him"
cor the stock market has gone the