Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-11-24

"Confound their politics, frustrate their knavish tricks,' but naturally bless everything in which we are con- cerned. as we are certain to be above reproach. I'm afraid that's quite of piece with the calm confidence we have in our own superiority, although dare say should never have realized 1t if 1t weren't for Mir. Potter Parker and his perky nose.
 It began to be less perky when we were all settled at table in perfect. ly charming restaurant, the most rest ful place to eat in that ever saw. l can't imagine even flend being i'll tempered in 1t for long. and it was de- liciously cool, as if we had come into n shadowy green wood after the blazing, brassy glare of the streets.
 The big room really was rather like wood, so the simile isn't farfetched -an open space in wood, ringed around with tall trees bending their branches low over a still pool. The soothing brown of the wainscoted walls gave the tree trunk effect; the great hanging baskets of ferns and moss that swung from the ceiling were the tree branches, and the many round, snow white tables with green velvet chairs grouped closely around them on the polished floor were the water lilies with green pads floating on the sur face of the pond.
 Nearly everything We had for lunch was in more or less advanced state of frozenness. from the bouillon, ever so far along to the ices in the shape of different colored fruits, toward the end. Nevertheless, all of us, except Potter. drank iced water instead of wine whenever we stopped eating for an instant or couldn't think of any thing particular to say, and the more we had the more we seemed to want. There was kind of iced water curse upon us.
 It has never occurred to Vic or me to lie down in the afternoon, though she tries to sleep little sometimes if she's going to a ball. But when we got home, Mrs. Ess Kay and Sally took 1t quite as matter of course that we would lie down before going to Coney Island to dine and see fire works and other things. They were surprised when I didn't want to, but Mrs. Ess Kay said in that case Potter would entertain me while they rested. told her 1t wasn't necessary, but Pot ter wanted me to bet my sweet life that 1t was just the one proposition on earth for him, so he and vivace and I sat in the fountain court while Mrs. Ess Kay and Sally went upstairs.
 Potter was suddenly changed man. as soon as he and I were alone to- gether, becoming exactly what he had been yesterday when first ran down. stairs and he introduced himself.
 He didn't chatf me about my coun- try and make fun of our government or hint that American men were the only men living who knew how to treat women, as he seemed to delight in doing when his sister and cousin were with us. He began by offering to teach me some of his best slang, but as the lesson went on, it turned out to be rather more like lesson in irritation.
 would have been even more startled than I was. If I hadn't already had a little experience on board ship with Mir. Doremus. At home I've often thought 1t must be very pleasant to be out and able 10 fiirt, but never had chance, because, as Vic said, it was her turn first, and the only young man, not relation. that I ever talked with alone was the curate, who would as soon have tried to fiirt with bishop ess as with one of mothers daughters.
 But like Mir. Doremus' kind of fir tation almost better than Mr. Parker's. Mr. D6semus makes you feel as if you were beautiful young heroine in a play, and you are almost sorry there is no audience to applaud the witty things he says and the smart answers he inspires you to think of, just as if he were giving you cue.
 Potter is different, and instead of an audience you want q kind of perpetual chaperon, not Briareus creature with lots of hands to applaud.
 It is silly, know, to blush and sin-- per, but couldn't think of anything else to do, Potter was so alarming, end l wouldn't allow him to tell my for tune by my hand, for 1t was much too hot. Even if 1t hadn't been shouldn't have wanted my hand held, for I do hate being touched by any one I'm not fond of. When I told him that he said 1t was very simple. What had to do was to get fond of him, and then it would be all right
 II shan't have time," I said. 'There'll be too much for me to think about. and then shall be going home."
 How long does 1t take an English girl to get fond of man?" said he.
 told him I didn't know anything about that. as I wasn't out, but I sup posed it depended on the kind of girl.
 T guess 1t depends more on the man in your climate, doesn't itY' asked Pot ter. "But over here it's sometimes a question of hours for both sides. Why a chum of mine went out to San Fran cisco on business which was going to keep him just one day. He met q girl at dinner, fell fin love with her while she was eating her soup and told her n before dessert came along She