Evening journal., 1907-11-12
AN EGOTIST
Mr.. Whaoker Discourses on the
Theme 81"

4 ; Mr.. Whacker Discourses on the 3
I} Theme 81"
Tho young woman entered the re-
ception room with the air Of having
expected some one else and of trying
to conceal her disappointment by dis
playing extra cordianty
How do YOU do. Mr. Whackcr?" she
said. Il ann so glad to see you" 1t
has been such long time since YOU
called on met
Yes said the young man with the
long face and narrow forehead. 1T
has been some time. that is true. But
when a man has a large-er-social
circle it takes time 90 get around
Yes, indeed agreed the Young wo-
man. 1T must keep YOU busy!
The young man sighed We'll try
Ito see an my friends as often as / can
he said, but it keeps me jumpingl
You've no idea the time il takes or the
distances ! have TO travel And peo-
ple are SO thoughtless-they think a
man has neglected them if he doesn't
lappear once or twice a week. and they
show IT,"
THAT is the penalty of popularity"
remarked the young woman. They
probably miss you and feel hurt
"Oh, ] don't know about that said
the young man with the narrow fore
head, slowly. "Only you have to be so
lcareful of peoples feelings. DO you
know. I've gone 10 call on girls who
have actually snuhbed me just because
! hadn't been there for so long2 Yes,
it's a factl"
How dreadful" said the young mo-
IMAM
mot that 1 let on that ] noticed H."
continued the young man. Il just stay
ed the evening out as if nothing was
the matter I knew that in reality they
were enjoying my call. Girls are so
funny-acting one way while they feel
. quite another way. 1t takes a man
! who understands them to get on with
them. They are more attracted by a
man who isn't around under their feet
all the time. now aren't they?'
We'll" said the young woman, care
fully, II should say ii depended con-
siderably on the man. There are men
; the less of whom one sees the fonder
lone grows of theml O, yesl"
MY theory. exactly" cleaned the
young man with the narrow forehead
, Not that ! try to make every girl
know care about me, but naturally
like to be as popular as l can. There
have been so many things TO do of late
; that this is the first time I've been able
to get down on the south side this fall
/ know so many people out this way
too. Why, there are six places by ac-
tual count within two blocks of your
, house where / should be calling this
minutei"
Il don't want to be selfish" said the
young woman. hopefully. you mustn't
let me keep YOU Mr.. WhacSer, If you
are expected somewhere else"
"Oh, you're not" said the young mar
comfortably. They don't believe they
even know I've got back to town. Don't
T you worry about that-rm perfectly
r willing to spend a whole evening at one
place when I haven't been there in sucf
a long time. I think 1 owe IL TO whom.
D ever I'm calling on. A call is pleas
ure TO me, not dutyl"
"Oh-how nice." murmured thu
:, young woman, vaguely, with a sur
= Ireptitious glance at the clock
when l was at the lakes this sum
liner" said the young man, with a de
: scent into patronizing earnestness, "
made up my mind that the first thinl
I would do on my return was to go L
! see you. ] really was afraid you. nigh
\ think had neglected you-it has beer
so long since l was here before. But
keep my friends in mind even though
can't see them. What have you beer
c doing to kill time?"
"Oh." said the young woman will
faint sarcasm, Il have managed to eN
I listi I've got along somehow or other
lOf course, you know. it has been dull.
That's too badl" said the younl
imam, sympathetically. we must se
liz we can't liven things up "a bit 70
you I always like to give "a girl a gool
time. especially If she isn't used to il
Not that / mean you-that is to say
The doorbel interrupted him. Pres
emily an exceedingly tall, determines
happening young man was ushered IN
THE young woman greeted him wit
enthusiasm
"AIr Whacker-AIr Gettle." she muir
Injured. and then let her gaze fall gent
ly on Mr.. Whacker as she went on
you don't mind, 1 know, Mr.. Whackel
my asking you TO excuse me2 1 hav
a card party engagement with MI
Gette. And you see you can get som
of those six calls on your list nea
here"
Mr.. Whacker spoke out loud befor
= he had gone a block from the youn
D woman's residence.
s Il don't like to think it, he sail
n bitterly, "but 1 actually believe she IA
glad TO get rid Of me- OF mel"-Chi
a cago News
ON TDiR gN nv