Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1911-01-07
THE TEMPER
Adam Didn't Wait For Eve to
Offer Him the Apple.
by KEITH GORDON.

HOW DO you go ABOUT ltF WIS the
question that her eyes asked OF the ra-
aIant landscape. ITS all very well to
say that a woman, II she has not a
hump upon her back. may marry whom
she will. but how would she go about
ltr
The scratching of a match broke the
stiffness, and her meditations were sud
denly precipitated from the general to
the concrete. She glanced where a
mans form bullxed In one of the huge
wicker chairs. With his hand forming
n screen he was lighting fresh cigar.
seemingly oblivious to everything In
life except that and a journal on engi-
neering which lay In his lap.
He was her brothers best friend.
and she had known him for years. not
with much satisfaction. II must be con-
fessed, since he was notoriously
"man's man." living In mans world
and regarding the rustic of feminine
skirts with something of the same feel
ing that he did the humming of a mos
quito.
But he was good to look upon-so
good that a sudden, quick resentment
shot through her heart at his indiffer-
ence IL assumed the likeness of per-
sonal affront, a sort of insult to her
sex II would serve him right II some
girl should just make up her mind to
marry him and do 1t. too, before he
knew what he was about.
Meanwhile he had tossed away the
match and picked up the journal again
f,aH Nv 10 alma
a pair OF half indignant eyes watching
him with combination OF piQue and
amusement.
1t certainly would serve him right.
her thoughts ran on. II some lady
should Just wind him round and round
her finger, make him fetch and carry
at her beck and call, reduce him to
perfect mush OF sentiment Something
in her steady gaze caused him to move
uneasily. then look up.
did you speakf"
He had the perfunctory manner Of a
person who knows he must keep guard
over himself or he will be guilty OF
some remissness. A heroic resolution
to do his duty was visible in his face
mo-" she drawled. 81 didn't speak
But II you don't mind very much ]
think will. I'd like to ask you. for
instance. IL you have ever had a Ia
dies day."
"a ladies' dayT he repeated help
lessly. shaking of his eyeglasses with
a characteristic movement, while his
tormentor watched him as II he had
been some sort of specimen that she
had impaled upon pin. Then light
dawned upon him.
You mean such as they have at the
clubs-a day when the place Is given
up to your sex and other matters go
to the wall? Well. no. don't know
that ] ever had"
Don't you think 1t is timer she
ventured.
held the journal In a way that sug-
gested well nigh unconquerable de-
sire to return to it She stretched out
her hand. Reluctantly he handed II
over.
did 1t ever occur to you" she asked
blandly, ''that the creature who tempt
ed Adam so successfully. who Is at
the bottom Of everything. as it were.
must be as-as intricate as your old
engineering problemsT
Il have always considered Adam
weak. very weak" was his evasive an
swer. Men aren't like that nova
days"
At these boastful words a resolution
that had been taking form In her mind
became full iedged She was inspired
with the sense of q mission. Her
neglected sex should find an avenger
In her.
''You think you wouldn't have eaten
of the apple. thenT
There was a new note In her voice
1t was at the same time a challenge
and an appeal
As II II were something absolutely
new It came to his mind that girls
were delicate. helpless creatures. and
a wave OF tenderness for the sex swept
over him Still he was very positive
that he wouldn't have eaten the apple.
and something In the soft. babyish, yet
dependent way In which she looked at
him caused him to explain at great
length why.
HAS talked fifteen minutes by the
clock" she was thinking In high glee.
but outwarily she was all deferential.
honey sweet attention.
I
"a IL he'd been like your was her earnest
comment when he finished speaking.
and at the words he was conscious Of
a pleasant expansiveness. n caressing
sense Of satisfaction as delightful as
1t was unusual. II was as II he were
growing taller. broader and more SO
verely strong before her very eyes
GO back to your reading. I'm not
going to bother you another minute"
She jumped up and. laying her hand
on his arm. finished ingenuously: "You
don't mind my bothering you. do youf
A girl gets 50 tired Of woman talk! A
chat like this Is like plunge in a cold
stream" And she vanished into the
house and scurried TO her room. where
she threw kiss to her image In fhe
mirror. with the remark. You're doing
well for a beginner. my love"
Down on the broad piazza the man