South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-02-15

He put his paper aside abruptly.
rose and walked down the leaf
strewn path to the other bench.
where the girl was sitting.
Would you like to try an expert
ment2" he asked quietly. standing
with hat in hand before her.
She looked at him for a moment
unsmiling, her expression neither
Inviting nor repelling.
Perhaps she said at length.
He sank into the seat beside her
/ ct is something 1 have often want
| ed 20 try" he said slowly. Here
are we two, perfect strangers in a
city Of five millions, and never like
\ ~ TO see each other again after we
/ leave this chance meeting place. We
| have sat here for half an hour, each
| pretending to read. or TO watch the
1 squirrels, or the falling leaves. or
the misty golden sunshine out there
on the field. but each examining
and appraising the other when the
| other wasn't looking.
Now. this is the experiment: We
have each gained a strong first i'm
preston OF the other. Let us, with
absolute frankness, tell each other
what those impressions are. Let Us
do what friends cannot do-speak
without reservations. made for fear
of hurting each others feelings"
She sat without speaking for a
moment after ne had finished. gaz-
/ Z, &FrrTT
| eXpanse Of autumn tinted park.
But why?" she asked at last. II
/ am nct sure that Burns was right.
| Perhaps it is just as well that we
| can't see ourselves as other see US"
/ That" he said, makes II an ex-
pertinent. It will be a new expert
| ence I want to know exactly how
/ 7 look in the eyes OF a stranger.
/ however much the knowledge may
hurt. Have you ever felt that way?"
Yes" she said, 81 have. Everyone
does. I think"
We'll. I'll tell you. if you do as
much for me-"
Again she hesitated and sat ST
lently watching a gray squirrel that.
untroubled by self-consciousness,
was busy burying a nut.
Well" she said finally. you
first"
The fact that I came over here
and proposed this experiment 10 you
at all shows that I thought you a
sensible girl" he began slowly You
impressed me as being neither a
prude nor a fiirt You are pretty
l 4-NT .
has not spoiled you. You are rather
thoughtful and studious. and you
have a genuine feeling for the beau
! ties Of nature-something which too
many girls just pretend TO have. You
are not above, I believe, taking an
I interest in babies and embroidery.
although YOU know what is going on
about you in the world and read
| something besides the woman's page
I'm the newspapers. You don't work
for your living, and your home is
one Of the comfortable houses in
the TO's. You see a good deal OF
the society side Of life. but you keep
healthfully busy at serious things.
You are probably a suffragist in a
quiet way. and you are also inter
csted in some form Of social or
philanthropic work which you do
not treat as an heroically assumed
duty. And
He was interrupted by the girls
low laughter. why not say that
have all the good qualities. and be
done with it?" she asked. Your i'm
preston is certainly not very accur-
ate Let's see If can do better.
You. Il seems 20 me. have many
OF the excellent qualities that you
are attributing 70 me. You are moth
ing OF a sport but are a rather
serious minded young man. some
what too much given TO introspec-
ton. You are not bad looking. and
you impress me as having a good
deal Of common sense. You are
about 25. and you are one OF our
Using young professional men-an
architect, perhaps, or an engineer
some sort. You read a good deal.
and. when IL comes TO newspapers,
something besides the sporting
pages. You are rather domestic by
nature. and you have a sense of
humor. You also live in one Of the
better homes in the 7O's or the SOS,
and you are confirmed New
Yorker. There how is that for a
snapshot portrait?"
He did not answer at once. and
they both sat silently for a few
minutes Presently nc said gloom
lily;
NV experiment has failed. I'm