The Washington herald., 1907-11-03
By HELEN ROWLAND.

hat on the Bachelor Girls tabourette and
his feet on the fender. I've got con-
science"
How do you known demanded the
Bachelor Girl. pulling up the tea table
and carefully laying paper napkin over
the most conspicuous hole in the cloth.
The Mere Man glanced at her reproach-
fully.
How do you know when you've got a
new tooth?" he retorted. at hurts"
"Oh," said tho Bachelor Girl, sympa-
thetically. then it's all over"
What's over?" The Mere Man stopped
in the act OF filing his pipe and looked
up suspiciously.
THE fun" explained the Bachelor Girl.
calmly setting the cream jug down on the
paper napkin and. turning to nil the ket-
tie, "a mans conscience never begins 70
hurt until the last inning"
"What?''
Until the game is finished" continued
the Bachelor Girl, while the excitement
lasts his conscience sleeps like babe on
summer afternoon. 1t only wakes UP in
the cold, gray down of the morning
after. when the consequences come
around and frighten it into action. It
isn't while the wine flows that his
scruples bother limits when the head
ache begins and the bill comes in II
isn't while he's winning the other mans
money at poker-it's when he begins to
lose his own. II isn't the dinner that wor-
ries limits The indigestion that follows
The masculine conscience is made OF good.
durable India rubber warranted TO
stretch without hurting, as long as the
fun lasts" and the Bachelor Girl set
down her teacups with an emphatic little
clatter
The Mere Man stretched out his feet
and sighed as he lit his pipe.
Il ask for bread he murmured sadly.
and get a stone ask for somfort, and
receive a cut CRY for soothing strip.
and get a sword thrust. I want 10 be
virtuous, and am told that 1 ain vile.
Give me a cup Of tea"' and he held out
his hand imperatively.
Tell me about it," said the Bachelor
Girl, with a relenting smile, as she teok
the remaining armchair and dropped a
lump of sugar in her cup
IT." began the Mere Man. solemnly.
sis a woman"
"Of course" acquiesced the Bachelor
Girl, nonchalantly Are you tired Of
herr"
i beg your pardon
"OF-have you got yourself in scrape
or a breach of promise suit?"
Neither" returned the Mere Man,
promptly. 4 like her immensely"
Which means that you have ceased TO
love her at ALL" commented the Bachelor
Girl.
And I've managed with the most in
finite care 10 keep her-keep her
Guessing suggested the Bachelor
Girl, with an apperciative gurgle.
To keep her respect" corrected the
Mere Man. and my own head
Which means, interrupted the Bach
elOr Girl, that you telephOned and tele-
graphed, instead Of putting your tender
messages into letters; that you sent her
post cards instead Of notes, and gssve her
books and flowers and compliments in
stead Of fewelry and promises. Who she
finished casually, stirring her tea, is the
other woman
The Mere Man jumped-and spilled his
tea.
why" he exclaimed petulanty. do
you ask that question:
Because" returned the Bachelor Girl.
smiling triumphantly, its the only one
left to ask. 4 mans conscience toward a
woman viii stretch and stretch intermin-
ablv-until it receives either a tug in the
direction of matTimOny or a yank from
another woman. II you aren't bored or
threatened by the first woman. you must
be charmed by the second And the
Bachelor Girl laughed a ripping little
laugh across her teacup.
The Mere Man shifted in his chair and
gulped his tea nervously.
But" he protested, Il knew long be-
fore met the other girl that it was wrong
10 monopolize the first one, especially as
1 Wasn't-CoVldn't
Didn't intend TO marry her." finished
the Bachelor Girl, cheerfully nodding her
curly head But that didn't bother you.
A man never feels any conscientious
oualms about playing with a woman I'M
til the game gets stale. or tiresOme. or
too serious, or he sees another game more
interesting. Then he suddenly grows
noble and virtuous and gently tells the
girl that they must part for her sake;
that he isn't worthy of her and
wouldn't stand In her light and is "A
confirmed celibate' and all that sort Of
thing. He never thinks it necessary, al
the beginning Of q Irritation TO let the
woman know that he is only amusing
himself: It is not until the last set has
been played and the last inning has been
run and the game Is up that he becomes
suddenly frank. and kindly but firmly
opens her ewes 10 her mistake. It IS only
when the affair has gone as far as he in
tended II should go that II strikes him
that il would be honorable TO put an end
10 H. 7 once knew a chap who tried for
six months to kisC a sweet. modest girl
The moment he had done 1t his con-
science rose up and smote him so that nc
spent the rest Of she afternoon featuring
her on the folly Of promiscuous kissing.
(which was Highly noble and commend
able OF him." decl;l ed the Mere Man, ad-
miringly
But he got the kiss first" remarked
the Bachelor Girl, s8rcastically. "a man
always takes care to do what he likes
frst and then to be sOrry-afterward. He
will pursue a pleasure or a woman or an
object to. the ends of the earth, and never
feel a rWinge Of remorse or contrition,
until he has attained the one o. the
other-and found II wasn't all he lad ex-
pected. He may know perfectly well that
& is wrong for hiEa-to fiirt with his
stenographer: but the thought never in
terrupts his pleasure until Fate, in the
person of his wife. pounces down upon
him-or he sees a prettier stenOgrapher
He may go on for years dallying around
some woman and so mOnOpOliZlng her
that he prevents her from marrying any
body else; but il never occurs to him to
49, L-------.-