The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1909-06-02

my companions brow
"You seem to be perfectly callous.
"Let us, rather, call 1t candid"
"Let us call things by their proper
name," she retoroted stifly. "Upon
my word, you can't be trusted out Of
my sight for moment. BY the way,
you didn't go the length of proposing
matrimony to this mink, did your"
Certainly not. Besides, l fancy
her mother had other designs for her
future"
But Phyllida refused to be placated
so easily.
"Was there anything at all between
you?" she demanded.
Nothing more than hasty kiss or
two. You see, only saw her once.'
what" she gasped. "You-you
kissed herr"
"Yes, but only in brotherly way"
"Brotherly fiddlesticks! Oh, how
could you?"
at was quite easy"
Phyllida sprang up at the reply.
"What! You actually boast of 1t!
Why, you must be brazen!"
1t was high time to assert myself.
"Do you condemn me unheard?
You don't know all the circumstances
yeti"
what other things are there,
pray?"
"The extenuating ones"
81 don't want to hear them.
don't believe there were any. What
were they?"
"Well, to begin with, the lady
didn't object"
"Then she was brazen, too. knew
it,"
In the interest of common justice
felt bound to protest.
pray do not asperse the character
of lady who is not present to defend
herself. / am prepared to accept the
entire responsibility for what hap
pened."
Phyllida softened obviously.
81 expected you to say that. But,
tueH, IL . pcCuuSS yOu iO q man.
at is merely the truth. However,
even apart from this consideration,
could not permit myself to stand by
and hear woman's character as
in her absence
without word of protest" Phyllida
laughs scornfully.
"Heroics don't suit you. AS for this
girl, she's a designing minx-a cat,
too. So there! l dare say, though,
if the truth were only known, she
found out how weak you were and
led you on."
"Well,' I admitted rehectively,
"her behavior might certainly have
been considered as-er-encourag-
ing"
A new light crept into Phyllida's
eyes.
"It's just what expected she de-
clared, "only worse. Tell me all that
happened. I'll try to bear it."
81 don't think l ought to betray
confidence"
Phyllida sighed. Then she made
another attempt.
"Did she put her arms around your
neck and kiss you like this?"
perhaps little more warmly. But
don't condemn her unheard. Remem-
ber, she was really very young"
Phyllida shook her head with deci-
sion.
"Quite old enough to know better,
I'm sure"
mot in my opinion"
"Well, how old was she?"
II didn't ask her. It's not consid-
cred polite to do so-at any rate, in
the best circles"
Considering the intimate terms on
which you appear to have got, it's Gu
rious that you let a little formality
like that stand in your way"
"But l didn't ask her mother"
"That was something, then," ad-
mitted Phyllida. "And did she tell
you?"
Eyes"
"Well, what did she say?"
IL don't think you fought to inquire.
Consider, how would you like it if
Phyllida's hand touched mine.
"But want to know, please"
"How much?"
"Very much, indeed"
"And it's not out of spirit of mere
curiosity?"
"Of course not. Don't be so ag-
gravating. If you still care for me at
all, and want me to try and forgive
you, just tell me at once how old that
horrid girl was when she made you
kiss her."
"Put your head little nearer,
then"
A little pink ear was inclined to a
suitable proximity.
"Now."
"Just twoyears. New York Jour-
nal.
Karma.