The enterprise-recorder. (Madison, Fla.) 1908-1933, 1910-03-31
THE PROOF OF
THE PUDDING.
'SSSSs ssSs sSSSe

Tor me, said a distinctly pleasing
feminine voice behind him.
Cotton turned casually around from
the desk by the wall, where he was
writing his usual grist of Sunday
letters, not so much because the hotel
stationery is both excellent and in
expensive, as because his own room
was lonely, to see who the speaker
might be. The great room was filled
with men and a few women, seated
at the small tables drinking and chat
ting, while the walters moved silent
ly about, well groomed products of
the tipping system. The table a few
feet from Colton's elbow was now oc-
cupied by a wholly charming girl
and a young man who Cotton instant
ly decided was unworthy OF her. In
the first place he was a touch too
good looking, and in the second place
his clothes fitted his figure too we'll,
so Cotton thought, for a man evident
ly in his senior year in Divinity.
Cotton turned back to his desk,
not to write but to listen.
"I'm glad TO hear you say so, the
student said, continuing the CONVEX
sation begun before entering the
room, 1--WE found lots Of girls, up
to-date girls, TOO, who didn't agree
with me. But what will you have to
drink?'
Lemonade" said the girl.
"Oh, try cocktail" urged her
companion.
"No, thank you she answered,
with that peculiar half laugh those
who know women are aware is the
expression Of iinality.
Cotton mentally scored one for the
girl, while her companion, calling a
waiter, ordered a lemonade and a
Scotch.
"Yes," the man continued, 81 have
always said that it was unjust and
silly in country so universally re-
spectful to women as ours, to deny a
girl the opportunity Of making chance
acquaintances, say during long, tire
some railway trip, or something Of
that sort. If a girl Is coming alone
from Cleveland to New York on a
Pullman car, and If there is a young
man near her, evidently a gentleman
and of her social position, why on
earth isn't It all right for her to ac-
cept his offers to make her more
comfortable and to pass away the
dismal time of the journey in CONVEX
sation pleasant Tor both of them?
/ can see no harm in it.
Nor ], said the girl. 81 have al
ways thought that, as / told you. If
one has common sense, such things
can be managed all right. The trou-
bic IS, girls put our theory into prac-
tics too "oung, when they don't know
tho Void, and get scared into prim-
r-gs."
Nov, II they'd only wait till they
are grown up and sensible like YOU"
said the man, with what Cotton de-
cided was undue effusiveness, "how
much more delightful a time they
could have, with something of the
freedom in getting fresh viewpoints
from strangers a man enjoys"
Cotton stole another look at the
girl. Yes, she was decidedly charm
Ding. He began to wish he were a
hypnotist and could make the man
ask her on what day and train she
would return TO Cleveland. Just then
she glanced at him. He turned back
quickly, Could it be possible? No,
he told himself; on the train, per-
haps, but not here while her caller
was with her; It was his only hone
OF reading fulfilment into what was
not there. AS the dramatist said,
there is a limit to all vanity, even
that Of Harvard man.
Again, haven't you been forced
to walt alone sometimes for a long
while in a place where it was not
wholly pleasant for a girl to be with
out an escort?" continued the young
woman's companion. "Such situa-
lions are bound to occur. Now, would
1t not be more pleasant for you IL
a nice man, perhaps seeing your en-
barrassing position, spoke to you, to
feel free to accept his friendliness in
the spirit intended, and to chat with
him to pass away the tedious waltz"
II should feel quite free to talk
with him." said the girl, III he be-
baved himself"
And if he didn't you girls have
always a way of artlstically turning
us down." said her companion, with
a worldly singer" ESQ Cotton men
tally tagged his laugh.
"Rather!" said the girl.
"But I'll tell you what makes me
angry" the man went on. "That is to
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