Atlanta Georgian., 1913-03-04
A Bachelor S
Diary
By MAX.

r. EB. Mrs Jack Spencer's book
of warnings says distinctly, There
is safety in numbers" and with
this in mind I no longer avoid intro
ductions to the women guests at this
hotel. AS a result the widow and ] are
not so much alone, and sometimes there
are as many as a dozen in our party
and we are very merry after the foolish
fashion that people with money regard
as being merry.
Feb. Al decided last night that l
would take only Manette on a ride with
me this morning. Somehow, seeing so
much of these Young Things has given
my brain chocolate candy Indigestion
and / wanted a morning alone with
Manette The child has never both
cred me- never made me nervous. If
she sees that | prefer to be quiet she
has a way of slipping her hands around
my arm, and sitting very close to me
as if to remind me that she Is there
when | care TO take notice.
When we reached the porch / found
that Tompkns had misunderstood, and
was waiting with the two seated trap,
instead Of the little one seated road
wagon. | would have asked him to
take back the team and return with
one horse. had not Mrs. Brown and
, Alice been sitting on the porch when
Tomp<ins appeared.
There was nothing to do but ask
them to go, 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 fifteen min
utes Indeed. the horses felt so good
that they occupied all my attention.
think ] was enjoying them SO much
that ! had almost forgotten the widow
was with me, until she gave a very dis
tinct sigh.
what is wrong / said, turning to
her. My eyes met hers. and ] am
/ afraid they fingered there. for a quick
blush gave the prettiest coloring to her
cheeks.
are q coward"
relevant to WHAT" asked. q am
not afraid of my horses, if you We're
thinking of that"
No" she said, very softly--so softly |
/ had to bend my head very near to
linear. mo; | was not thinking Of the
horses"
of" But | said no more. for
there was in her eyes a look like that |
in the eyes of the boys at school who |
dare one another. Then ] knew what |
she meant. She was not asking if l |
was afraid Of horses, fires, panics. bur |
glars, or any of the thousand and one |
bogey men that try mems courage. She |
was asking if was afraid of her. She |
dared me to prove that | wasn't!
put my left hand in my pocket for
the Book of Warnings, never taking my |
eyes off the widow while l did So 1t |
occurred to me while getting it out that |
there never was a handsomer woman,
nor one better dressed. | can't de- |
scribe what she had on. I despise a |
man who can describe what n woman |
wears. and when | hear one do it T
long to pass him the cold creams and |
curl papers. All ] know is that she |
wore blue, and that her eyes were ten
der and daring, and that | wished what
man has wished for all his life-the
right to kiss a pretty woman occa-
sionaIly without having a marriage IL
cense thrust in his face.
I got out the book, and, with one
hand Cthe other, Diary, was busy with
the reins. not with the widow | turned |
to Warning No. H. | excused myself
to the widow and read
when a woman accuses a man of
being afraid of her he should remem-
ber that discretion is the better part of |
vator, and take no chances He should |
THE COWARD. Oh, Max you are so
proud OF your courage l ucmble for 7
YOU here!"
Mrs. Spencer had reason to tremble
for me. When | 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 weak
mani