The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-03

You're arvising me to be the tame cat about the place." Billy Bunting said, Indignantly.
 Not at all," Polly returned. T am only quoting to you cynicsism that doesn't appeal to me, but which has an element of truth in 1t, just the same. I'm not sure myself that 1t isn't hap pier state to be just a good friend to girl than to be her HUSBAND. In your case you've been friend with An astasia so long it looks to me like plain old desertion for you to fail her, just because she's going to marry an- other man."
 She doesn't need me any more," he began.
 But you need her." Polly retorted. "A MAN can't afford to sweep affec- ton out of his heart just as If 1t were so much dust and trash he Is eliminat- ing. You can't give your affections a Fall cleaning, so to speak, and leave the place cold and bare and empty, my dear Billy, if once there's been the rus tie of a womans skirt around, in your dreams It's dangerous to throw all your dreams out of the window and ! bolt the place down." I "Why?' he asked, laconically. 1 Because, Polly asseverated mys- teriously. Spiders and bugs and all sorts of unpleasant things will creep
 
 be worse than the first" But I won't let 'em get into it, Billy boasted, proudly. "Tll keep 1t empty and clean as church on a week day"
 Polly laughed and began quoting Shaw again:
 Our witty friend" she went on to say gives some very good advice to the masculine sex in this story of his I've been reading. about an affection lless heart. Don't go around with an empty heart he advises If you do the first girl you meet will fly into 1t by mere atmospheric pressure It will be like that with you, Billy, when one of these early Fall days you open your heart up a little. Better keep 1t stocked with a few affectionate friends. to advise and warn you and keep you going, until you find the right girl in- stead of chucking the whole sex, as you have suggested"
 I've found her." he gloomily &C., knowledged, but she can't see things as I do and her family can't see me with a double barreled telescope, and I've made one grand and glorious mess of 1t all'
 T fail to see why" Polly condoled. | Didn't you show me some verses once that you wrote about the world being so full of such a number of girls, and the wonder being how mere man could set his hear ton any ONE set of curls? The ideas there, but I can't remember the rhyme"
 "A fellow writes silly verses like that" Billy Bunting said. saddy, "be- | cause he realizes that true love is love forevermore, you know"
 T don't know any such thing" Polly remonstrated. "But I DO know that pretty little Kitty Flanders from way up in Virginia Is coming today to make me visit, and I want you to help me make her have a good time."
 Which one Is Kitty?" Billy Bunting asked, sitting up and taking notice The one with the black hair and Irisf eyes and the pink and white skin, and the rosebud of mouth?'
 You seem to remember pretty well for man who had only ONE girl 1T the back of his head" Polly laughed delightfully."-. If you stop thinking about yourself long enough to come around to my house tomorrow evening for dinner I'd let you sit next to hei and talk to her in the conservatory aft erward but I suppose you are so en- shrouded in your own girl you've ever lost your ancient and beautiful spirit of ccommodation-eh?"
 "Ill be there" he said as he arose to go. ''The only time I ever saw thai little Flanders girl was out at the Fall last year. She had on a rose colored automobile coat and a veil of the same color and By Geminy she looked like some beautiful, delicate flower. Yes I'll be at your dinner tomorrow even ing"
 T thought so," Polly smiled to her. self.
 Whats that?" Billy Bunting de- manded.
 Nothing" Polly answered, telling one of the little white ones that we have to resort to sometimes, and as Billy left, she reflected knowingly:
 Same old trouble same old remedy For a badly broken heart, apply the Eminent of Another Love-QUICK- lLY.' After all, woman can't break a | mans heart these days. The very best she can ever HOPE to do. is just tc | FRACTURE it."