THE INCONSISTENCY OF WOMEN

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1675, 6 April 1904, Page 9

THE INCONSISTENCY OF WOMEN

(By Roger T. Berkeley.)

The engagement, instead of being a period of coning, was cue cf storms, though tho storm® always came from the girl’s side, never from the man’s. He was self-controlled and at times tantalising. Had lie given way to. his temper as she did perhaps their quarrels would have been of shorter duration. They would have fought to a, fin ish, kissed and made up. As it was, the mere unreasonable -she became, the more coolly irritating her lover.

“That ends it,” -she said, with flaming cheeks and flashing eyes. “I don’t wish ever to sea you again.” She took off her engagement ring and t-ine-w it on a table. “When we meet again it will be as st>rangers.” “Don’t you think it would excite Ices comment on the part cf our friends if we appeared simply indifferent?” “I prefer they should know that- I have sent you away.” “You don’t need to tell the whole world what you simply intend for Wardwell.” “’Mr Ward-well would never have treated me as you have.”

“Shall I tell him we’re off ? It would expociit-o matters. ’ ’ ‘‘Thank you. When I wish to send a message to Mr Ward well I will find a more trustworthy messenger.”

She seated herself on a divan, her back propped with a profusion of fancy pillows, and, taking up a book, pretended to read. “What shall we do to-morrow evening at. the Stuarts?” he asked. “Of courso you will be scheduled to take me in to dinner.”

She dropped her book in her lap and thought. “I shall tell Mrs Stuart,” she said at. last, “that our engagement is broken.”

“What reason will you give?” “That you have shown yourself unworthy of me.” “Wouldn’t that sound a trifle egotistical. I would express it this way: ‘Waiter is a brute.’ That would contain a great deal about me and not make it appear that you deserve a paragon.” “I ctiiicln’t imply that I deserved a paragon,” she snapped. “But you dlo. You need a man with an imperturbable disposition, tho patience of Job, the meekness of Moses.”

Her antagonism, blazed anew. “That is your mean way of saying I’m a Jezebel. I wish you would go away. I told you I don’t want to see you again.” “As you wish. I -suppose I’m not to call for you to go to the Stuarts?” Instead of going away lie lighted a cigar and sat down in an easy chair directly under a gas bracket where she could best see him.

“As to that,” she said, after deliberation, “I suppose it would be embarrassing to slio-w so sudden a break before announcing that our engagement is broken. You might- take me there and pay me just enough attention to prevent remark.”

“But I can’t do that without your seeing me again.”

“I don’t wish to see you again. It is a necessity that interferes with my inclination.’” “How could it do for me to call for you in two carriages, one for you, the other for me? Before handing you in .at the Stuarts’ I could 1 put on a mask, then take you to the dloor and 1 leave you. You could tell the hostess thaito I brought you to the house and, being taken suddenly ill', was obliged to go home.”

There was no reply to this ingenious plan till he added 1 , “what djo yon think of that ?” Then she said 'that- he “talked like a fool.”

“But I’m trying to invent some plan by which I can prevent a knowledge of this break from reaching our friends and at the same time avoid the necessity of your ever seeing me again. Now, hjOiW would it do ” “I wish you would go- away. I’m tired of your silly talk.” “I will as soon as we solve the problem. How would it do to let Wardwell into the secret and have him take you to the Stuarts’s, first going to a man who ‘makes up’ people for the stage and have him paint Wardwel'l to look like me? My nose is much longer than Wardwell’s, and Id's could be pieced out. His ears are about the length of mine, indicating that one is about as big an ass as the other.”

“Stop! I will ii|Ot-listen to such insults.” “Where’s the insult?” “You indicated that you are both fools in wanting—- “ The same girl. Certainly, where there are plenty of girls to go round.” “Will you leave me?” H]ijs head was thrown back on the cushion of the chair, liis cigar upward, his legs extended, the picture' of indolence. Suddenly something Snapped above him, and a piece of hot glass, a fragment of a gas shade, fell directly on his nose, cutting a, gash from which the blood ran over his fac-e. “Walter! Oh, heavens! Speak to me, dearie! Tell me you’re not killed. Oh, what shall I do?” “If you get. a bowl of cold water and a cloth I think it might help matters.” She was out of the room, in a- moment, and back in another moment with what he needed. His face and shirt front were covered with blood, and he was a sight to behold. She fell in a faint. He proceeded to staunch and wash away the blood. “1 think,” lie said to her a few days later, “that the Lord took you at' your

word and showed you something that you really never cared to see again.” “I wish you never to refer to that episode,” she replied, with dignity.