The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1910-05-11
Colonel Borem drew his chair up

| WOulu iuty Ut very HtdNy
Colonel Borem made her courtly
bow. Il am sure that you would be
! far too good a manageress for them
to worry you at the same time, owing
to the keeping up of two places, ex-
penses would have to be cut down in
the way of servants, and lot would
naturally fall on you"
Two places! Should we keep this
fat on them"
NO, far too expensive; merely my
chambers, where can run up for any
new pieces at the theatres or my
club"
81 see; yes, but might 1 not find it
little dull?"
Colonel Borem seemed panied at
the thought.
II should have no objection" he
conceded, "to your occasionally, oc-
casionally mind, having one of your
women friends to stay, but am sure
no nice minded woman ever feels dull
when she has her house and her
duties and her husband to think Of"
A tremor again shook Miss Flower
dew.
You have indeed painted picture
of matrimonial bliss. By the way,
what is your golf handicap?"
My-eh-what?"
"Your golf handicap?"
"Ha! HIM! I have not, er-
troubled to go in for the game seri-
ously as yet"
Miss Flowerdew rose and crossed
to a table covered with silver
trophies. II am rather fond of it
here are just few little things
have won"
Colonel Borem patronizingly ex-
amined the various championship
prizes. "Er-very nice. You are evil
IDENTIFY good player. Myself, I am
not a believer in such violent exercise
for women; to my mind she never
looks so charming as at her husbands
fireside."
"Darning his socks and knitting his
golf stockings, l suppose"
Colonel Borem smiled approval.
"a truly womanly occupation. Now,
dear Isobel, trust that have plead
ed my cause, and you will not think
me vain, know, when l tell you that
our engagement will come as severe
blow to several-er-mutua friends;
in fact, if it had not been for your
constancy to myself, which is so ad-
mirable, might have been led to
choose a younger, If less charming,
bride!"
Miss Flowerdew rose and took a
chair opposite.
Il have certainly spent a most en-
tertaining afternoon" she said, "and
having listened to your point of view,
l should so like you to hear mine.
You see, you have lived out of the
world (the London world) so long,
that your views are somewhat anti
quated. You make great mistake
in thinking l am either dull or lonely.
l have an excellent time and crowds
of friends. l am perfectly free and
far better off than if had an elderly,
querulous husband, who would bore
me to extinction and eventually turn
me into his nurse"
The colonel could scarcely believe
HIS ears; he sat syeechless. OF course
the woman could not possibly be re-
ferring to him.
Your idea Of the Single Woman in
Society is, believe me, an erroAeous
one. She occupies a position entirely
her own, and which she has made for
herself during the last twenty years.
But-there is class, regret 10 say,
of Single Men that are voted a
nuisance mean the ever-increasing
crowd of retired Service men Il do
not refer to the many charming ex-
ceptions, of course) who crowd the
clubs, are Objectionable on the golf
links, go out to afternoon teas, talk
scandal, and tell long. prosy stories.
In two words, that truly awful per-
son, the Army bore"
Madame" calculated the soldier.
Isobel smiled sweetly. please
take nothing to heart. I merely
wished to show you that If either OF
us is to be pitied, it is not l, for
have my home which l love, and
many interests, while you run the risk
of becoming one of those disagree
able, selfish old men whom we see
climbing the steps Of the clubs at all
hours in the day, to take the best
chair, the middle of the fire anu sit on
all the newspapers"
The colonel was purple in the face
In fact, the only advantage / could
see that your generous offer held out,
was to be able to put Mrs. on my
tombstone"
The soldier reached for his hat.
do you mean to insult me?" he thun-
dered.
mot at all-merely little plain
speaking, for your welfare; by the
way, there is one thing / regret, and
that is being unable to see you play
golf. Goodby. Good"
The slam of the door ended her
speech, and she sat down and laughed
till she could laugh no longer.-The
Throne and Country