The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-02-03
NIliglesf Ikly !. esbyIANlE g!,l!! Il.! 2.
RUNNING AWNI rRon LOVE

"You don't understand, Kitty" I ar gued gently. "If a man doesn't want to marry or can't marry or--or-"
 Won't marry!' suggested Kitty help fully.
 Tt isn't fair" I went on patiently, flor him to 20 on---even half way. and lead the girl to believe What are you laughing at?" for Kitty's mirth rang out in discordant tones on the wintry air and she walked so fast that I could scarcely keep up with her. It's dangerous to the girl" finished stout ly.
 Kitty regarded me with the scorn of a Medusa, and I'm perfectly sure that if I had been susceptible should have turned Into stone in that moment.
 T never saw a man." she declared in the voice of Brutus spurning Cassius, "who worried himself about the danger to & girl. I never Saw a man who hest- tated to encourage any woman whom he cared nothing abbut. just so long as she amused him. When man runs away from q woman he pays her the biggest possible compliment. It Is the surost sign in the world that she has acquired such a strong hold over him and that he is so far under the spell Of hcr fascination that nothing but flight will save him from proposing to her. He never gets panic c-stricken until nc realizes that he is in danger himseif--'
 And that the wave is upon him and going to drag him under" I sugges- ted.
 And that he hasn't got the whip hand of the situation"
 And that the wheels of fate are about to crush out his liberty and his theories and his common sense. Do you biamc him. Kitty" pleaded, for running away from a eir1--" "But 1t isn't the girl he runs away from.." declared Kitty. obstinately Its himself and matrfmony and love"
 Nevertheless" remarked. The wouldn't be half so liable to run if he didn't see the wave coming. If the woman herself would do the backing out. or at least pretend not to take him seriously. she could keep him biindfolded and lead him straight to the altar before he realized his plight and"
 q beg your pardon. Mir. Curtis" remarked Kitty, and noted that the afternoon air had grown quite chilly, but I scarcely understand" "oh. we'll" explained, there isn't any fun in playing tag, you know. if nobody Is willing to be It. What a man wants when he hrs just walked up Is a little time to turn over and reflect. He doesn't fall in love like a woman. in broad daylight. with mai- l ice aforethought and his mind at the altar and his wedding clothes picked out Love always comes to him as q surprise. He Is stunned and startled. l He feels like person who has been | hit nthe dark. and he wants to get away as quickly as possible. After wards, when he finds out what has l happened to him, he may want to go back again."
 And he nearly always does" broke in Kitty. "when 1t is too late"
 "rt's never too iote-- to marry" I remarked lightly.
 "No," agreed Kitty, but once you've | broken the web of love you can never mend tt again: and once you've destroy cd womRn's confidence and shattered her illusions regarding you she never reels the same again. She may take | you back and marry you if she thinks | you are a good catch. or if nobody comes along in the interim to i'll your place, but-well, you know how you reel about gun that has once failed to go eff. or horse that has once thrown you. or pet dog that has once turned on you The charm is broken and the enthusiasm is gone. Besides. while the man Is refiectfng the woman Is rehectinG. too; and the reflection isn't very becoming to him. She has discov- cred that he Is not a god after all, but m ordinary human. Worst of all she has found out that he can't live with ont her; and after his surrender it is che: and not he, who makes terms The 'ove-panic has spoiled more happy mar atreS than any other one thing"
 h""haps." I reflected thoughtfully.
 w"''lA he better not to try to cross T." 't'-et at all when you see love ct'Eins, but just to stand on the curb, high and dry and safe"
 And watch 1t go by. and become a nrusty, disappointed old bachelorr cried Kitty sarcastically.
 l winced. I suppose an unmarried man of s2 daes seem like a crusty old bachelor-to a girl of 20.
 Kitty" I asked desperately, "what do men do when they see YOU com ing?"
 Kitty's nose went Into the air.
 T must leave you here" she said abruptly, stopping and putting out her hand.
 You always do." sighed.
 "Do--what?" asked Kitty innocentlv Leave me at the most interesting point l replied responsibility
 don't see any point" said Kitty, looking all around.
 The point" I explained. 'Is love And I've seen 1t coming"
 Then run" said Kitty quickly.
 But you just said" I expostulated.
 Run after it?' Said Kitty. turning quickly and trotting off down the av- enue.
 And I did.
 q thought" said Kitty reproachfully. as caught up with her, that you had taken my advIce."
 hope did not look al red as I felt. "oh, we'll" laughed Kitty, dartinR to. ward tea-room. '"come in here and tell me all about t."
 But just then someting caught in my throat and stuck there.
 - can't" I said. desperately, Two got the panicT'
 Don't Re Vaar0,.s