The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1885-07-02

distraction, he says
Mr.. AshfordP / repeated, amazed.
We'll, he must be a strange man to
talk so freely of his love affairs to
you
And why not to me Margie? said |
Neal, looking hurt. I'm sure would |
not betray the young mans secret for
the world, and he said it did him good |
to talk to me-
4 don't doubt that, my dear Neal.
You are one OF the best of comforters,'
l answered, soothingly; but then you
know men are not generally so com
municative about such affairs
We'll, Mr.. Aasford is, any way, and
I'm slad of it, because now can tell
you all about his feelings persisted
Neal
But don't think l ought to listen,
Neal indeed, I'm sure l ought not,
since it is not meant for me to hear,
l said, and from this resolution all
Meals persuasions failed to move me.
The next day, however, she began
triumphantly; We'll, then, Margie,
it's all settled, and l hope you won't
think I've been too meddlesome but
I wanted to help you along. I've
spoken to Mr.. Ashford about your sto-
ry, add he says that if you'll allow him
to give you sitting" CHATS what he
called it) every day, he will be most
happy to pose as a hopeless lover
Those are his very words, miss, and |
do think it's very kind of him.
'Oh, NealP I exclaimed in alarm,
what have you been saying to Mr..
Ashford? l am afraid you have been
terribly indiscreteP
Not a bit, Margie, not bit I've
only interested him in your story.
Now you just give him half an hour
or so every morning, and see what a
help it will be-
It is needless to repeat all the con-
versation between Neal and myself on
this subject. Let it suffice that I was
won over at last, and a daily interview
was agreed upon, wherein Mr.. Ash
ford was to enact the part of de-
spairing lover, and I was at liberty to
sketch from life.
Our first Sitting" as we agreed to
call our meetings, would have been
embarrassing as we'll as awkward, but
| must own that Mr.. Ashford behaved
splendidly. He thanked me for my
kindness in allowing him to be Of
some service to me, and then, after q
7 while, he began to speak in the most
charming way about the young lady
with whom he was in love, and whom
for convenience sake, he called Birdie
although he said that was not hel
, true name.
/, / began to change my opinion o
Mr.. Ashford from that day. He Ger
: tainly was very interesting man, ant
. | wondered why that stupid Birdie
l could not see it.
D Soon / found that these "sittings'
grew more and more interesting a
a the days went on, until ! could hardl!
s think of anything else, much to m.
: own surprise. And what a differenc
+ between the language Of genuine feel
y ing and the poor counterfeits owe
which had labored so long and s.
L vainly. By this time, too, we ha,
h somewhat changed the manner Of ou
IS interviews. At first / had taken cop
e Gus notes, but latterly Mr.. Ashfor
o had persuad me to leave the notes ur
i til was alone, and to devote the tim
e spent with him to conversation as bt
l. ing more suggestive Beside | wa
L now, also by his advice, playing tn
d part of the obdurate Birdie and rt
'e ceiving his entreaties and his avowal
d with studied coldness and indifference,
At first l objected seriously to th.
SIS role as placing me in very unplea
ant position, but Mr.. Ashford insiste
Is that it was the only way in which
ID could thoroughly understand his fee
t. tings or make my heroine perfectl
to true to nature, so yielded. He mao
m it rule after that to cal! me Birdi
and he soon suggested that | shoul
at call him Lyle, but that seemed III
lie necessary and 1 never tried it;
least, not in his presence.
ny / would not have minded his ca
at ing me Birdie, for he had such low
i'd ly way of saying it, i'll had not begu
'e' to dislike the girl so intensely. I w
a always wondering how he happent
n to fall in love with her, and why
"a was so constant to such a blind, VI
IN, grateful creature. Often, when
'al would say that his only hope of futu
Ill happiness lay in winning her heart,
lat would turn away my head to hide t
vn tears in my eyes, tears Of pity for hi
and anger against her, poor fool.
ut 1t may seem strange, but it is nev,
d? theless true, that l found it impossil
ng to work at my story anY more. N