The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1909-12-02


best that he bad ever knocked owe
the head with his cigar cutter.
She had been laughing and talking
every minute up TO now. but now
when the two cigars were well align,
she suddenly grew quite grave. Leaned
her elbows upon the table, rested he
chin upon her crossed hands. glanced
at her husband, and addressed th,
visitor thus:
You won't mind my being very seri
Gus indeed now-will because
as | said before have something
very serious that want to talk tC
you about-and l never could talk tc
you alone until my husband came'
Jerry felt his fingers seeking The
cord Of his monocle in a species OF
qualm over the extreme earnestness
OF her address, but before there was
any such a pause as demanded filing
by him she went On:
"Yon don't know how dreadfully I've
wanted to be alone with you ever
since I first met YOU It's so Grazing
to have things to say that you can't
say unless you're positive that you
won't be interrupted-and you know,
although we've been together all day
long, still we've never been really like
this before
Jerry felt horribly uncomfortable
and didn't know what to say, so looked
at his patent-leather toes and shook
his head. He didn't know Just why he
shook his head, but it seemed the
only safe thing to dare just then.
What | want to talk about" she
went on, is the feeling that men like
you and women like me have for one
another. | know that you are just as at
tractive TO women as am to men. and
l want to know whether the basis of
that attraction is the same with you
as it is with me-"
She paused; her husband was look
ing at the forest; Jerry was grasping
the cord of his monocle with
strength that he could feel in the back
of his neck. Within his heart he felt
that the peacock blue hadn't been SO
far wrong after all
DO you think you get my mean
ing?' she asked after a moment.
don't think that | do he an
swere, blunuy.
She laughed softly.
Yes, you do, too. It's a species of
vanity-now. isn't it? We're naturally
attractive and we know it. and we
want every one else TO know it, too
don't We? You wanted me to like you
the first instant that you saw me-
didn't you? Why won't YOU own up?7
Her husband vas looking at her
now, he was so large that the back I
of his chair was tipped against the /
wall and his legs bridged the width (
of the balcony. jerry, big as he was.
was pigmy beside him. He wished
like thunder that he was off fishing.
q can't at all admit any of that"
he asserted.
What nonsensei But If YOU won't
admit it, its true, none the iess But
Wen go on a step further. Grant the
mutual attractiveness. and let's see
how much further the similitude ex.
tends. When you met me and were
by me did you recognize the
fact right off, or did it dawn upon
you gradually? ! saw that you were
epris at once. You see I'm honest"
Her husband was shaking the ash
from his cigar, and as he did so his
eyes encountered Jerry's. The latter
was beginning to feel decidedly i'll.
Il don't know that | thought any
hing about it." he said miserably.
You don't expect me to believe
hat do you?' she asked. half smiling.
not after the way that you acted
hat first EVENING" Don't YOU know
hat I saw that you were wild about
ne from the first instant A woman
lways knows. And what | want to
now is-does a man know, too? Or
Ices the woman hide her heart better?
Did you know that | was specially in /;
crested in you before I told you so?" (:
Jerry felt his shirt-collar melting Gt
Fasn't a warm day, ether. He !:
dreaded the cord to his mouocle IN |:
nd down through his fingers. re !;
rossed his legs, and coughed !:
Really" he said at last really !:
on must believe me when ( say that !;
his is the first time that ever posed +
S a psychological problem and | j:
ont at all know how to play the /;
art /:
She looked disappointed /:
you won't own up" she said. sha. !:
ing her head; well I've never vet I.
'und the man that would. They're !:
4 alike-men are-and my husband !;
the only exception TO the lot" /:
She rose as she spoke and, passing I:
ahind her husband. threw her arms /:
bout his neck and kissed him. #
"Oughtnt you to go now?" she #
iked, LOOKING yer his head at the II
bepumbed, and paralyzed 4!
lller-"it's quite quarter of six, and 4:
eve all to dress before dinner"
Jerry arose with the promptitude of 4:
steel spring just loosed in its coiIing. i;
Tn sorry not to have given salts H:
ction," he said, but really" i:
Che oil