The Southern herald., 1910-11-04
The Unit
By JENNIE o. LoTZEAUX
c0P5IisAi. Ialo D Assoeiatsa IiisTaTy Press


to get the general effect. his good
Jaw thrust out more than was aetu-
ally necessary. Il was almost closing
time, and be saw from the set of Har-
ris' shoulders, visible at the desk be-
yond, that their argument was not
closed. II meant some more words.
Well, all right-Harris. II he was his
superior. could have them. and there
would be no uncertain sound to his
tumpet. either.
And his expectation was correct.
While they were closing their desks
and getting ready for leaving. and
the stenographers and clerks were
ehattering, fufing at their hair, pin
ming on their hats. Harris, junior
partner Of the firm, touched him on
the shoulder.
I want a word with you, Wiltsie.
Going to walk? All right, I'll ride
Shank's mare, too"
The young fellow put on his coat
and girded himself for the verbal
fray-he was quite as determined as
Wiltsie, and he was sure that, being
married man, his own wisdom was
Infinite. They started out into the
fresh spring air, swinging along JOY
ously enough. Suddenly Harris be-
gan.
"Confound you, anyway. Howard.
Tor a Stubborn, unobliging fellow!
What good are you as a friend If you
won't help Madge and me out
little? What on earth are we to do
with Tessie Gray on our hands the
next two months If you don't be de-
cent? What's the use Of you're being
Madge's second cousin II you can't
help entertain her guest? And what
on earth makes you think you can't
come to our house party for a few
weeks? don't see! It's Just as easy
to come to the office from our house
as from your old boarding house.
What ails your"
Wiltsie shrugged his shoulders, and
stuck out his jaw again. Il like you
and Madge and your charming
house-you know that. But I'm not
sinner in the company of the
fair ones. don't want to be too
plain, but you've pestered me till I'm
positively i'll tempered. You've ac-
cused me of being a woman-hater-
I'm not. And Of being a bachelor
which | plead guilty to. II you must
have 1t straight, I'm determined to
keep on being a bachelor for some
years. And I'm so dead easy, such a
girl-loVer, that my only safety is in
Hight and numbers. And another
thing, Madge was my cousin before
she was your wife, and l have the
right to state emphatically that she's
the most deadly matchmaker in my
large experience. I'm thirty, and
though she's three years my Junior
she's been trying to get me in love
and married for ten solid years. And
you can't deny, blinded as you are
by her charms, that she has chosen
Tessie Gray as the final instrument
for my undoing. Not for me, thanks %
Harris had to laugh outright. He
would tell Madge that her methods
were not as hidden and subtle as she
imagined-it would do her good!
You selfish old bachelor, don't you
know that you don't count? You're
nobody and nothing-just a lost hall
floating about and useless to the
world. Don't yon know that the fam
lily, the two-in-one, is the unit of so
ciety? Why, man, you're a cipher!'
"All right-but I'm pretty good al
backing up units. come after, to be
sure, but | at least create an inter
est! I'll come and see your wonder
but l warn you now that l won't marry
her OF course she also Is a victim ir
your wife's hands, and probably un
conscious Of the dire intention to gel
her married. She won't like me. Buf
I'll be decent-take her about some
and call AMI all that, but I'll be hanged
If I'll come into the mesmeric circle
UldT
ried couple, two engaged couples ant
an extra girl! know enough t.
keep out Of danger. This is my cor
ner and I'm off. So long, and tel
Madge I'll come to her dinner, and b,
glad-but I'm on to her!"
A few evening later, groomet
within an inch of his life, his blu,
eyes wary, and his jaw in evidence
Mr.. Howard Wiltsie betook himsel
to the house Of his employer and sec
ond cousin by marriage. The prett
house, its pretty mistress, the couple
and the host were at their best. H
already knew them all but Miss Tes
sic Gray, who fulfilled even the e1
travagant promises which Madge ha,
made for her beauty and charm. TIL
bachelor was introduced-and galvar
lied with surprise. The lady was lik
piece of ice-to him. No faul
could be found with the perfection @
her manner, but neither could a ra
of warmth be discovered in her.
OF course she fell to his lot at dir
ner-and insisted on talking to Coor
er, on the other side, to that gentle
man'c embarrassment, since his t
ancee demanded his full attention
Wiltsie then tried Mabel Strand, O.
his other side-but she was imperv
Gus to more than few laughing rt
marks chinked in between the pause
"a -. inhnrnnt In hnr hnnA IL.