The Portland daily press., 1892-05-28

Well-But-Um I didn't like to leave
it at the Office. thought He leaned
out of the window with his closed hand
extended. ''Here it is
She held out her hand, and he dropped
it in. She looked and gave an exclama-
ton of joy that caused the pug to jump
to the ground.
sob, how glad I am! Thanks SO
nuch. Thanks awfully. I was afraid
1T was lost. Isn't that lucky?" and she
looked affectionately at the returned
treasure with her head on one side.
There was light enough to see her face
distinctly. She did not exhibit a sign
of embarrassment, not the ghost of a
blush. Lamar felt a sudden chill of dis
appointment and disapprobation.
"You found it in theres" she said, in
dicating the writing room, and looked
at him with frank, candid eyes. ''Yes,
there's where it was lost
tI-I supposed so," said Lamar, with
wan smile.
81 looked for it myself this morning
all over" she continued, ''under every
thing, but it was gone
EYES," said the young man. with a
fatuously inauiring an. eff she knew
l was behind the paper she'd ask me
why I didn't give it to her then and
there, and what the deuce would I say?'
81 value this very MUCH" she went
on, turning it over in her hand
81 should imagine 500
"You see, there is only one like it.
There is not single duplicate any,
where"
She looked smilingly into his face.
Lamar stared at her in stupeied horror.
''Only one-did you say?" he managed
to articulate in faint voice.
''Only one" she repeated. nodding her
head. sit was made to ORDER"
There was a moment of silence. La
mar made no comment, but continued
to stare vacantly at her. He was think
ing: sit must have been an accident.
She can't be a veteran of the war"
"When you have only one, and that
such pet" she continued, not noticing
his silence, you like to have everything
as pretty as possible"
Eyes, yes. Of course, of course"
calculated Lamar, laughing idiotically.
eff you have only one, expect it must
be somewhat Of a treasure" he thought.
Then he added boldly, but with the air
Of coniding a piece of news, 81 have
two"
"Two% said the young lady, with vi
vaciorls interest. s.What kind2'
Lamar looked askance at her in alarm
ed silence. Was she doubly afflicted?
She was stroking the pug with the tips
Of her fingers, and there was nothing in
her placid expression to suggest mania
of any form.
'''The same as everybody else's," he an
swered with some hauteur. '.Are the
people in this part of the country in the
habit of managing with one?"
GAS rule, they have only one; it's so
much less bother. Though, to be sure,
have a friend who has-let me see
yes, eleven"
s'She must be q centipede," thought
Lamar. II seem to be encountering re-
markable freaks of nature. There is
fortune waiting here for any one who
wants to start museum" Then he re-
marked aloud, regarding her with his
head on one side, a tolerant, fond smile
ON his lips, ''There must be quite an en-
barrass de richesse, especially when
you're walking
''They do get in the way admitted
the young lady, "but most Of them are
well trained"
very clever of them, am sure, muir
INJURED Lamar, feeling that he was about
to swoon.
There was another short silence, dur
ing which the girl continued to examine
her restored treasure. Presently she
said, musingly: II see the threads are
broken. She has broken them once be-
fore, though don't see how she can pos
sibly do it,
Lamar only stared and swallowed.
She held his glance with a horrible, eerie
fascination.
"You know she loves to run to me"
she prattled on. ssShe ran away from
me this morning, and when she came
back it was gone. She must have crept
under the table and not come out until
she had got it off,"
tWho is she?" asked Lamar in O trou-
bled voice.
"She? Why, Bobo-my pug. Isn't
she beauty? Come up here, Bobo"-
patting her knee. 81 want to put your
collar on, and show this gentleman,
who was kind enough to return it, how
pretty you look when you're all dressed
up She held the band around the dogs
| neck and t11rninp to Lamar said with
laughing archness, "Isn't it becoming?"
Lamar sat down on the window sill.
He took up tho morning paper and began
to fan himself with it, though the even
ing had grown Enthusiastically cool.--Ger-
aldine Bonner in New York journal.