The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1913-07-04
Hurting
Her Feelings

ohu pTepdTcu 10 8QO IL u seventh
time, all unconsciously. II have re-
solved never to feel sorry for any.
thing I do or say! Repentance and
contrition and such things are good
In theory. but they don't get you any.
thing!"
You may imagine that you're weep
ing on my shoulder" said the little
stenographer, comfortably. go on
and tell me about It." &
1T was last Sunday" began the
bookkeeper. slamming the ledger shut
and tearing with vicious force his
trial balance sheet my sister had
invited young woman friend Of hers
from the country to her house for the
week end and she asked me to help
her out. or course, I could tell from
the way my sister talked that this
friend of hers was no prize article.
and as Sunday. comes only once a
week hated like fury to give it up
to charity. But / did"
How charitable!" murmured the
little stenographer.
The bookkeeper went on: "Well, 1t
developed that this country person
not only was not good to look at, but
her feelings were as sensitive as-as
all get out! We started right In Sat
urday night, she and 1, falling out and
making up again. Honestly, I didn't
open my mouth but that had to tell
her the next minute that I was sorry
You can imagine that I learned to
keep pretty mum.
MY sister and her visitor kept on
talking. though, and then we played
cards for a while. and. aside from our
losing every game-for our country
guest was my partner, of course, and
my sister played with my kid broth.
Grand my having to bear the brunt
OF every wrong play and to insist that
1 hadn't meant to offend her and that
1 never dreamed of intimating that
she didn't know the game-though
she hardly knew a jack from a queen
the evening passed OF pretty we'll
"She looked at me very coyly. how
ever, when she said good night, and
she said that she hoped l wasn't Of
tended with her and that she knew
her feelings were easily hurt, and as
she never liked to go to bed without
every one being forgiven and forgiv.
Ing, she wanted to make sure that
We were good friends.
"Of course. had to assure her
that everything was all right between
us. And. oh! the relief felt when I
finally got my door closed and could
think Of eight good hours alone. with.
out a feeling to hurt and with not a
pardon to beg!
We'll, In the morning we got ready
for church. We ate breakfast in
fairly good temper and almost at
peace. However. this visitor nearly
cried when l teased her about sell.
Ing ancient eggs to the city people
her fathers a farmer-so I decided
that my jokes were misplaced and
pretty bad, anyway. So l adopted the
policy Of silence.
Il didn't say word to her all the
way to church. My sister walked
back Of us with the rest of the fam.
lily, SO the visitor and 1 had the ad-
vance guard all to ourselves.
Il was worried, too, on account of
well. you know. Miss Bruce some
times
"Oh. well. anyway. the visitor and
were getting on famously, as I
thought. when / suddenly heard a lit.
tie sob.
There was, on Sunday morning,
bound for church and passing every
one I knew and in danger of running
into Miss Bruce at any minute-and
with sobbing young woman on my
hands! l should have cut and run
but l was sorry for her. I'm sorry
for all weak-minded people. women
especially.
81 had to break my resolution
about talking to her. SO asked,
What's the matterr as soothingly ss
I could
my question must have been more
soothing than l had intended. for she
grabbed me by the arm and she'd
have fallen into my arms II ! hadn't
held her.
"'Oh!' she exclaimed. You're an
cry with me! How can 90 to church
with some one angry with meT
"And there. right out loud. as II I
had been accusing her of all sorts OF
things. she begged me to forgive her!
Say. It was the limit! tried to
straighren her up and told her to
behave In public, and just as was
doing my noblest and she was weep.
ing her hardest and leaning all over
me along came Miss Bruce!" The
bookkeeper sigher disconsolately.
What did you do, then 2" asked the
little stenographer, deeply interested.
Nothing! just gave that tear.
stained craven image a shove and
told her to go to blazes! But Miss
Bruce had gone past by that time!"
He jerked the ledger open and be.
gan adding up the column of figures