Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-07-25

Yes. Marjorie and l are very
friendly"
And you consider her faultless?"
oh. no: not faultless. Marjorie has
her good points and her faults. like the
rest of us. There's just one trouble
about her that | know-she is a bit
selfish"
Nothing else?"
Nothing unless she is not as particu.
lar as she might be about what she
says concerning her friends"
How: Who does she say things
about?"
The dialogue was interrupted at this
juncture by the hostess. who brought
up a man to introduce to Miss Mark
land.
Kenyon pursued his inquiries for a
month. by the end of which time he
discovered that his opinion of Marjorie
was entirely erroneous. One of her
companions admitted that she was
selfish and traduced her friends:
another that she was not always
truthful; another that she was not re-
liable. whatever that means; another
that she was Intellectually of very
light caliber. and SO on. each giving
her some one blemish and each aver.
ring that for the rest she was perfectly
lovely. But unfortunately there diff
ferent biemishes. taken together. made
up a very disagreeable character.
Frank, to use a forcible but inele-
giant expression. sheered off from Mar.
jorie.
Meanwhile Marjorie. unknown to
Frank, had been pursuing a similar
course toward him. She knew his in.
innate friends among men and while
conversing with them e~ndeavored to
draw from them his faults. After
making inquiries of her friends she
pursued her Investigations among some
to whom she was Indifferent, finally
taking up those whom she suspected he
did not like-not that be had ever given
her any intimation of that dislike; we
cannot be as cordial or enthusiastic
toward some as toward others. nor can
we always avoid showing antagonism
Ill OuF "dIlueT.
However. before Marjorie had fin.
ished her Investigations she noticed
that Frank had discontinued certain
loverlike looks and actions and had re-
sumed treating her merely as a friend
Why he had changed she did not
know. having no suspicion that he had
been making inquiries about her and
of the result of those inquiries. Her
investigation Of him had not elected a
single fault. Every one she had talked
with about him spoke we'll Of him,
some very highly. A few had seemed
Indifferent toward him, but had not ac-
cused him of any fault. Naturally this
gave her a high opinion Of him and
caused her the more to regret the
change in him. to say nothing Of the
wounding OF II amou propre.
One day she was berating her
brother for some delinquency and in
the heat of the argument said to him:
II wish you were as fine a fellow as
Frank Kenyon"
What makes you think him a fine
fellow?'
why, l have talked to his men
friends. those who are Indifferent to
him and some who dislike him. They
all speak in the highest terms Of him."
"Of curse they do to you"
What do you mean by to me?"
Don't you know that it's a principle
with men always to speak we'll Of 9th
er men to women"
NO." said Marjorie, surprised.
well, they do. | was talking with
Tom Hartwell about Frank Kenyon
the other day and Tom called Kenyon
a cad"
"Why. Mr.. Hartwell told me that he
regarded Mr.. Kenyon as a splendid
fellow"
'Of course he did. I'd tell any girl
that about my worst enemy"
"Oh. my goodness gracious! That
isn't speaking the truth"
IF Frank should ask the girls about
you they would speak the truth or at
least what they consider the truth.
They would say some very nice things
about you. but
II know what you mean"
II don't mean anything di~srespectfuI
of girls or claim any advantage for
men The one acts in a feminine way.
the other in a masculine way. The
business lives men lead make them
wary Of getting into trouble by telling
the truth. 1t isn't because they are so
awfully nice about it. though every
body knows that mems and women's
standard Of honor are different. If
you want adverse opinions Of Frank
Kenyon l can get them for you by the
cart load. but they wouldn't be worth
anything"
This conversation opened Marjorie's
eyes to the cause Of Frank Kenyon's
change toward her. What could she
do about it? Maidenly modesty for
babe her asking if he had made in
quiries about her. as he nee intimated
he would do when contemplating mat
rimony. She decided on an entirely
different course The next time they
met she was very cool toward him.