The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1907-01-16

notice the man, anu, mClueuldily, uIo
cousin. He asked Althea for a dance;
and she declared that her programme
was full-but there might be an ex-
fra. He answered that his cousin
took all extras
What an idiOtic remark
ut was the fact" | announced. al
thea instantly determined that this
occasion should be the exception that
sd the rule. She put him down
ra7 the extra herself: and calmly
walked over to him when the time
came. Boobies such an old friend
she explained to the cousin. I SIM
ply must have a chat with him again.
You don't mind, do you? So good
of you!' And mex instant the two
were sailing round the ROOM, the ad-
miration and delight of all behold
ers."
Excepting the cousin"
That was the actual beginning OF
it. Thereafter, Althea deliberately
set out to steal Bobbie. He didn't re-
quire much stealing, l may say-sc
weak is man when a mouth X Al
thea's is doing the persuading! The
cousin was o~ut-flanked, O~ut-generaled,
left hopelessly beaten-and in full
fight. Then, of course, Bobbie pro-
| posed to Althea."
Poor little cousin. What wretches
men are!"
'Oh, she did all right. She fled into
the arms of an imaginative, but some
what ~impecuniOus actOr-manager. VI
their amazing marriage / will speak
on some other occasion. Bobbie pro-
posed-awkwardly, no doubt, to AL.
thea. She, with great affectation OF
surprise, opened her dark eyes to
their widest extent, slightly parted
her disdainful kissable lips-and said
she was sorry, but she didn't care
for him that way"
Poor Bobbie!"
That's more like it. Always b e
stow your sympathy judiciously. He
was heart-broken-for quite a long
time. Then, brOOding Over this cold
blooded refusal, and hearing casually
of the actor-manager, Bobbie became
considerably annoyed. He argued with
Althea, and she turned up her pretty
little nose. He coaXed-and she grew
more ~overbearingly confident than
ever. He threatened. She laughed;
and sent his letters back"
Tell me, ~Reggie-what do men do
when that happens? l have so often
wondered"
Its a sort of free masons' secret
l said. IF you were a man, you
would know. l shan't tell you. Al
thea laughed. but not for long. Bob
bic fell ill-very ILL; and all his cred.
itors began to fear the worst. Day
after day he lay there, on his bed OF
sickness; day by day he grew thinner
His wasted frame could scarcely con.
tain much longer his lacerated soul
He saw no one" l paused. 1T was
measles, by the way" l added.
How unromantic!" commented
Kitty. "Just when l was getting my
handkerchief ready, too"
He recovered; and one fine spring
morning, when, convalescent, he was
taking a feeble little walk in st
James park, he encountered Althea
The rich blood mantled her cheeks
beg pardon, I'm sure. That phrase is
copyright. . He took OF his hat
and bowed distantly. Are you quite
safer inquired Althea, ~nervously
Bobbie, with dignity. replied: The
park keeper let me in Althea said:
I'm so glad it wasn't any worse;
which enraged Bobbie to such an ex
tra~ordinary extent that he at once
left her."
Il don't see why" puzzled Kitty.
HE cut her dead next morning. Al
least, he intended to. Somehow, she
wouldn't be cut. She was too conf
lent to give him the chance Sht
positively made a fuss over him. The.
met again; and Bobbie determined tt
have his revenge. He said, as the!
were sitting at opposite ends of a sea
in the park-because she was still
rather afraid. DO you know, Althea
that my one c%onsoling thought all tn.
while / was i'll, lay in the knowledge
that l had no ties. l am glad you re
fused me-"
, "And she?"
She said that she was glad he wa
glad-it made matters so jolly, didn'
it? I wouldn't marry you for thou
sands of pounds concluded Bobbie
I'm not going to even offer you
penny retorted Althea. The maj
who wants me to love him will hav'
/, to do something big Bobbie turne'
on her like lightning. Didn't / hav
! the measles?' he cried, triumphant
ly.'"