El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-03-01
The Diary of A Bachelor
The Widow Calls Him n Coward
when They Are Riding, and He
Dares Not Take Her Dare.

TEB. Mrs. Jack Spencers book
of warnings says distinctly,
- There is safety in numbers ,"
and with this in mind no longer avoid
introductions TO the women guests at
this hotel. AS a result, the widow and
1 are not so much alone, and some
times there are as many as a dozen In
our party, and we are very merry
after the foolish FASHION LnaJ people
with money regard as being merry.
Feb. II decided last night that /
would take only Manette on ride
with me this morning Somehow, see
inc so much of these Young Things
has given my brain chocolate candy
Indigestion, and L wanted morning
alone with ManetIe- Wnen We TedcneQ
the porch I found that TOmpk1ns had
misunderstood, and was waiting with
the twO-seated trap instead OF lne
little dne-seated road wagon would
have asked him to take back the team
and return with one morse, ndQ not
Mrs Brown and Alice been sitting on
the DOrch when TOmpk1nS appeared
There was nothing to do but ask
them to 20, and with the children IN
the back seat and the WIDOW on the
front seat, beside me, we started
Not a word was said for 10 minutes.
Indeed, the horses felt so good that
they occupied all my attention I
think I was enjoying them so much
that I had almost forgotten the widow
was with me, until she gave a very
distinct sigh.
What is wrong2~ I said, turning to
her. NY eyes met hers, and am
afraid they fingered there, for a quick
blush gave the prettiest eoloring to
7 was Wondering she said, IF you
Relevant to what?" 7 asked. ST am
not afraid Of my horses, if you were
thinking Of that"
7 had to bend my head very near to
hear NO, was not thinking Of the
horses
there was in her eyes a look like that
in the eyes Of the boys at school who
dare one another. Then I knew what
she meant. She was not asking II I
burglars, or any Of the thousand and
one DOGGY men that try mems cOur-
age. She was asking If I was afraid
OF her, She dared me to prove that
put my left hand in my pocket for
the Book Of Warnings, never taking
my eyes off the widow while I did so
Il occurred to me while getting il out
that there never was a handsorner
woman. nor one better dressed. I can't
describe what she had on. despise a
man who can describe what a woman
wears, and when I hear one do it
long to pass him the cold creams and
curl papers. All I know is that She
wore blue, and that her eyes were ten
der and daring, and that I wished what
man has wished for all his Iife-the
rlght to kiss a pretty woman occasion
ally without having a marriage license
thrust in his face
I got out the book. and with one
hand (the other. Diary, was busy with
the reins. not with the widow I turned
10 Warning No IT. I excused myself
to the widow and read.
when woman accuses a man Of
being afraid Of her, he should remem-
Der that discretion is the better part
Of valOr, and take no chances He
should admit it and continue to act
the coward Oh, Max, YOU are so proud
OF your courage, I trembIe for YOU
herei"
Mrs Spencer had reason to trembIe
for me. When I restored the book to
my pocket and turned again to the
widow, trembled for myself.
She is so pretty, Diary: she is so
blamed clever, and am Just a weak
mani