Judge — February 21, 1914 — page 12: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The count was not jealous because of any-rival matrimonial pos- sibility, but he wished to monopolize Miss Alfrey’s association. Dr. Brooke was about fifty and a dear friend of Miss Al- frey’s late father. At forty-five the doctor had won fame and fortune, and since had been a world traveler. He had youthful eyes and the physique of an athlete. On this morning when the count had be- come desperate he saw Miss Alfrey and Dr. Brooke leave the hotel, apparently for a walk. They had also gone out together yesterday, late in the afternoon, and he had not seen either of them during the evening, though he had searched for Miss Alfrey. : After a discreet moment or two the count followed them. He found them chatting on a park bench. “Will you sit with us?’ asked Miss Alfrey, after a greet- ing. ‘‘Dr. Brooke is regaling me with cbservations of matri- mony the world over.’’ “‘Ah!"' laughed the count. inconsistent, is he not?’’ “Why?” “He loves the company of beautiful women, yet has delayed matrimony until it is too late.’” “You mean’’—— ‘He means,”’ interposed the doctor good-naturedly, ‘‘that I am too old.”” “But age brings priceless experience,’’ said Miss Alfrey. “T had no idea marriage customs varied so strangely in different lands.’” “Has the good doctor observed them closely?’’ asked the count. “*Yes,’’ replied the doctor. ‘‘We know of Oriental women who prefer slavery in other lands to wedlock in their own; the Armenian bride is not permitted to speak aloud until the birth of her first child; the Bedouin wife is second in her husband's affections to his horse; and, as you know, woman is regarded but as an animal in polygamous countries.’’ “But we are different—we in America, in England and in France, are we not?’’ asked the count. **Are we?"’ asked the doctor. ‘‘We imagine we are, but in “Our good iriend the doctor is HIS PART OF THE ENTERTAINMENT Really, Mrs, Lionbunter, you must pardon uncle Jack. “come confidential. That is a lifelong habit with him."* DEJECTED “* Ocean travel appears to depress you, Colonel.'’ “Yes, sub, The sight of so much watah is a constant remindah, suh, that my own state has gone prohibition.’ many cases we treat women as badly. Of course I except pres- ent company.”’ “*You encourage me,’’ said the count. ‘‘I am about to be- I assume, mademoiselle, the good doctor is almost in the relation of a father confessor to you?’’ “Almost."’ She laughed. “From whom no secret should be kept. It is well. You must know, mademoiselle—and the good ‘doctor must have seen —that I am in love—desperately in love!’’ The count removed his hat, and with hand on heart rolled his eyes upward. “Yes?"’ exclaimed Miss Alfrey. ‘‘I saw you on the Avenue with her yesterday !’’ “‘On the Avenue?”” “Yes. With Mademoiselle Zing-Zing, that wonderful dancer.’” “Ah, mademoiselle! You don’t understand! It is not with Mademoiselle Zing-Zing that I am in love. She is but a mo- ment of diversion. Before the good doctor I shall declare it! It is you, mademoiselle! Will you marry me?”” “It is impossible!"’ laughed joyously. “And why?”” “Because last evening I was mar- ried to this venerable gentleman."" A Pleasant Refund Jones—That pretty girlover there mistook me for her brother once and gave me a kiss. Smith—What did you do? Jones (righteously)—As the kiss was not for me, I returned it. The Highway Green—What! Fifty cents toll for my auto! I can go by the other road for only ten. Tollgate keeper—Yep. This is the highway. Miss Alfrey Unconfirmed rumors are never Christian-like. comicbooks.com