Daily Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1918-191?, 1918-05-02
A Successful
Experiment
"
By ooRToN cARRuTH
Copyright. 1915. by the Mcclure Nevspa-
per syndicateD

2 t1obyTtuts iFi-s Dl tNt NeNtpA-
per syndicate)
He put his paper aside abruptly. rose
and walked down the leaf-strcwn path
In the other bench. where the girl was
sitting.
Would you like 10 try an expert
meDtT he asked quietly. standing with
hat In hand before her.
She looked al him for moment
unsmillng, her expression neither In.
wiling nor repelling.
Perhaps" she said at length.
He sank into the seat beside her
"It Is something ! have often wanted
20 try" he said slowly. Here are We
two, perfect strangers In a city of Ave
millions. and never likely {. see each
other again after we leave this chance
meeting place. We have sat here for
half m hour, each pretending 10 read.
or To- watch the squirrels. or the falling
leaves. or the misty golden SUNSHINE
out there on the field. but each ex
aiming and apprnIsing the other when
the other wasn't looking.
"Now, this il the experiment: We
have each gained n strong first i'm.
preston Of the other. Let us, with alb.
solutely frankness, tell each other
what those impressions are. Let Nv
do what friends cannot do-speak
without reservations. made for fear OF
hurting each others feelings"
She sat without speaking for mo,
ment after he had finished. gazing
houghtfully out at the warm expanse
OF autumn-tlnted park.
But whyf" she asked at last. 81
am not sure that Burns was right. |
Perhaps II Ia just rs well that we can't /
see ourselves ms others see u.s."
That" he said. makes Il an expert. |
ment. II will be a new experience. I /
want to know exactly how look In .
the eyes OF a stranger. however much |
the knowledge may hurt Have You
ever felt that wayf"
yes" she said. II have. Everyone
does. think"
well. Ill tell you. If you will do as |
much for me-"
Again she hesltated and sat silently
watching n gray squirrel that untrou. |
oled by self-consciousness. was busy
burying a nut.
well" she said finally, "you first"
The fact that came over here and
proposed this experiment TO you at all |
shows that ! thought you a sensible
girl" he began slowly. "You ImpresS-
ed me as being neither a prude nor a
nirt. You are pretty don't need %
tell you that-but Il has not spoiled
you. You are rather thoughtful and
studious. and you have a genuine feel.
Ing for the beauties OF nature-some.
thing which too many girls Just pre-.
tend 10 have. You are not above, |
believe, taking an interest In babies !
and embroidery, although you know
what Is going on about you In the |
world and read something besides the |
Soman's page In the newspapers. You |
ion't work for your living. and your
home Is one OF the comfortable houses |
N the Seventies. You see good deal
n the society side VI life. but you keep |
busy at serious things. You
IRE probably a suffragist In quiet
Eay. and you are also interested In
lone form Of social or phllanthropic
work. which you do not treat as an
ssroieally assumed duty. And"
He was interrupted by the girls low
Aushter. "why not say that I bave
VI the good qualities, and be done with
q" she asked. your impression 10
certainly not very accurate. Lets see
Z | can do better.
You. Il seems 20 nae. have many Of
he excellent qualities that you arv
'ttributing 10 me. You are nothing Of