The Globe-republican., 1890-07-23

men over the way had gone downtown
Il think that little dude who wears tb'
black sash and the cute straw hat i.
simply lovely. wish I knew him."
''TOt," rejoined the Vassar girl. will
a reproving look on her classic features
show can you say such things? Bot
don't really think that one is as hand
some. and he is certainly not SO dis
tinguished- looking as the tall one with
the lavender-ahem! the lavender
mean the one who wears light clothes.
| That afternoon Tot, the red-haireG
girl, tennis racquet. terrier pup and all
was drinking glass of that concoction
composed principally of sugar and wind
but which is known to the general pub
lie as soda" at the little store kept by
the French lady two streets away, when
who, of all people in the world, should
walk in but Dick. his loins girdled with
| the inevitable black sash and his head
adorned with the cute straw hat. She
| was SO astonished that the racquet fell
| to the floor with a clatter, and as she
and Dick both stopped at once to pick it
up their heads bumped together vilely.
Both apologized profusely, of course.
Dick had a rather guilty look when he
faced his friends at dinner an hour or so
later. When the four were seated on
the porch in the twilight, he bowed with
great politeness at the girl across the
way.
"Who's your red-haired friend?" in
quired Tom, surlily.
"A young lady know" was the in
different response, as Dick thrummed
carelessly on his mandolin.
"Take care" mout thed the other three
in unison, scenting treason. And then
the regular evening concert proceeded.
The four friends had box at the Au-
ditOrium for one of the Strauss concerts,
and Tom found his gaze wander every
now and then to the face of statuesque
beauty who sat in the parquet next to a
girl with red hair. He was certain he
had seen her somewhere, but could not
quite decide where. She wore a fluffy
white gown with wonderful puffed
shoulders, and he was forced to confess
that she was provokingly pretty. In the
foyer, during the intermissiOn, he
strayed away and found friend who
introduced him. He was little sur
prised to find that she was spending a
vacation at the home of the girl with
red hair who lived opposite to him.
Both young ladies were very inquisitive
as to how he and his companions got
along in their bachelors hall, but he
parried their questions with the adroit-
ness of an old stager. 1t was with diff
ficulty, however, that he dragged him
self away and joined his friends in the
long room near the cafe where more or
less inviting liquids are dispensed. 1t
may readily be surmiSed, however, that
he made no revelations as to events oc-
curing in the interim.
That night, just before the Vassar
girl dropped off to sleep she whispered
to the red-haired girl: "You see. dear,
l was the first to get an introduction to
one of your dudes, after all"
Nonsense, DEAR" croned the red
haired girl, with suggestion of tri-
umph in her drowsy tones. Il have
been on excellent terms with the little
one with the sash for over a week.
Silence.
Somehow or other a sort of cloud
hung over the house where the four
young men dwelt. There were fewer
evenings spent by the four toge ther,
and tinge of restraint seemed to have
fallen over the party. Harry and Jack.
two of the handsomest and best
behaved boys in the world, who had
hitherto been the life and soul of the
quartette. spent good many evenings
out as the summer wore on, and when
and light-hearted than formerly. They
smoked necessarily and assisted very
little in the conversation.
By the merest accident one afternoon
Tot" returning from a slashing tennis
tourney at the park. saw Harry, all
about whom Dick, of course, had told
her, emerging from the house of one of
her friends three blocks below her own
home. She hid behind her terrier until
the youth had passed from sight and
then pounced In on the aforesaid friend,
a pleasing miss with pair of wicked,
black eyes.
How long have you known him?" |
was the fair callers greeting.
Without detailing the conversation it |
may be stated that the black-eyed |
beauty confessed to six-weeks' ac-
luaintance with the departed one. and |
from that the talk grew very confiden-
tial.
But do you know, Tot" said the
little hostess, as the red-haired girl |
rose to go, that there's something
queer about that boy. If ever fellow
loved me'-the black eyes glistened-
'he does, but he seems to have some
hing on his mind. Tot, l am ashamed
% say it, but he has sworn he loves me
20 death, and has never let fall so NJ much
IS hint about marriage. And more
han that, mis- friend Jack, who lives
With him, goes about with Tilly here.
ny next-door neighbor, and she says he
cts in precisely the same way
During this speech Tots gray eyes
lad been growing bigger and bigger,