The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-02-20
HER STRONG REMARKS
BY FRANK ROUSELETT.

| But he made no move from the far
corner of the divan where he was
seated.
The young woman sitting with her
head obstinately turned from him
moved it back perhaps half an inch.
What are you going for?" she de-
manded.
Well" said the young man, Il
gathered from your last set of re-
marks that you could breathe more
| freely if the atmosphere of the room
were not contaminated by my pres
ence-that there would be more space
to turn around IL the place we're not
cluttered up by undesirable commod-
tiles. In short, I rather figured It out
that it was hint for me to leavel"
I'm sure" said the young woman,
that l don't want you to stay if
you'd rather go! l wouldn't keep
you for a minute against your will. 1t
certainly shows when you eagerly
seize upon the simplest remarks and
twist them about to suit your own
convenience that you are looking for
chance to escape! Don't let me de-
tain you, beg"
"Oh, you aren't OBTAINING me-" the,
| young man assured her. Before I go
I'd like to point out that you are
in error when you call your remarks
simple. They were not On the con-
trary, they were exceedingly forceful
and emphatic.
While those remarks were clear in
meaning they were complicated in de-
sign-you started on one topic and
included sixteen others in the same
sentence-so am rather proud than
otherwise that I was able to make out
precisely what you meant. 1t proves
to me that I have at least brains
| enough to come in out of the rain. /
rather doubted this at first in the face
of what you said. But l couldn't go
away and leave you laboring under the
delusion that you had something to
say that was entirely ineffective and
simple. What you said hit the spot"
Il don't know what you are talking
about" said the young woman. 81
suppose you think you are funny"
FUNNY" the young man echoed in
hollow tones. What do you think 1
am? Do impress you as the sort of
person who would dance and sing at
| his own funeral? Why should I be
mirthful at having received my walk
ing papers ?"
Il hate slang" observed the young
! fnnntt no cil1Iy 7 IA
anything like that"
The young man shook his head in
resigned manner Don't draw out
the agony for me, Genevieve," he said
It's cruelty to attempt to smother
the blow. Having given it, why at
tempt to feed me chocolate drops?
As l said some time ago. good night"
Il wish you wouldn't be so foolish, ;"
said the young woman, turning clear
around toward him. IF you go home
now, at nine o'clock. mother and
every one else will want to know what
| on earth is the matter! So will that
! Spreese girl across the street. I can
| see her in their front window now.
| She'll spread it all over the neighbor-
| hood in no time at all that we've quar-
| reled!"
Why fear the TRUTH" inquired the
young man. 81 suppose sooner or
later 1t will dawn on the people that
I don't come here any more and"
DO you mean to say that you aren't
| ever coming to see me again." the
young woman broke in, sharply.
why should II" asked the young
man, resignedly. ut never would oc-
cur to me that I was welcome after
having been told that I wasn't"
Il didn't tell you that"
You may have clothed the idea in
graceful language" conceded the
young man, but it was there with
both feet, all right! 1t is plain to be
seen that you're tired of me and it
has all been a mistake. l apologize
for hypnotizing you into engaging
| yourself to me and regret the amount
| Of the electric light bills that I have
! piled up for your father. ! will say
nothing about my ruined life because
that is subject that would not in
terest you, I think it is time to say
good"
Il never in my life," interrupted the
young woman with indignation, saw a
person twist things the way you do. I
didn't say anything at ALI"
Yes, you did%plenty!"
We'll" said the young woman
anxiously, 'ff l did didn't mean It,
really"
We'll, that's different" conceded
the young man. Can it be that you
don't want me to go?"
"Of course not-foolish! That
Spreese girl across the street would
be perfectly sure to hear Of it."
Really" said the young man, NOV
ing over close to her, that Spreese
girl is an angel, since she has been
kind enough to fix up our quarrel for
us."-Chicago Daily News.
Looking Upward.
t.