Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-01


we're 70 b noticed ct glsnce - he came across
speaking.
II hope you win pardon the liberty take, ~
no said In . pleasant voice. 'but have . reason
sor :. ss t,n to tell me your NAME yoo VIII
"Certsinly," replied the oshsr, Aushins
despite himself 10 the roots Of his hair. my
name l. Jones.,er-yohn Jones Of Chicago"
The lace OF the red-bearded man fell
imagined that We had met before" Then he
ton7'
'Nevsr was here before"
"R"a!lv!-t.S.5 with an unconscious touch Of
the COMMUNICATION with which Bostonians COM
are an entire stranger, then?'
Don't know q SOUL"
Upon my word, that's not cheerful" said
the red-bearded man. my name is Farquhar-
Frederick Farquhar Now, should you take it
amiss 1 invited you to play q game of bill
and it will pass the time
disant Mr.. Jones'
Five minutes later the two men were knock
ing the balls about at three-ball caroms. Al
though Mr.. Jones was evidently the more ex-
pert, making from time to time an exceptionally
prliliant shot, he played nervously and irreRu-
larly, so that his opponent beat him two games
OF nfty points up in succession. Finally Mr..
Farquhar said:
~ guess you've got enough of this. It's $50
O'CLOCK now. Since you are such an entire
stranger here very likely you have nothing in
particular to do. What do you say to coming
with me and taking dinner at my house?
Pot luck. you know"
81 shall be delighted" responded Mr. Jones'
person so entirely unknown to YOU as myself. {"
"Oh we are not quite SO stiff as most Bos-
tonians OF the conventional type" laughed his
new acquaintance. II am bachelor, and you
will meet only my sister,"
II shall have to come as 1 am"
"Of course. No evening dress Is requisite
You will be received quite Informally, assure
you, and must content yourself with q plain
dinner IL you are ready we will walk along
without further delay
Ten minutes brisk walk brought the two COM
panions to their destination-a COW little house
around corner from Mount Vernon street.
Farquhar took Jones into what he called his
"den-a typical bachelors apartment, lined
with books and adorned with all sorts Of pipes
various curious weapons and hunting trophies,
which last the owner had procured during an
expedition through far western wilds. Having
smoked cigarette together they went down
stairs and the guest Was introduced in the draw
ing room to Miss Farquhar.
HIS first impression was that she was alto
gether the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.
one was very blonde, with eyes OF that rare
blue which is nkened to the violet Her nose
was perfection, and when she smiled two rows
OF the pearliest teeth imaginable were re-
vealed. Her hair, gathered in q simple knot at
the back of her head in the classical style, set
off to advantage the pure outline Of her profile
She was rather under than above The middle
height, her figure having the graceful round
ness which tall women usually lack. Nothing
could be more engaging than the sweet sim
pltcity OF her manner at once cordial and mod
est without consciousness Jones correctly
surmised that she was about twenty years old.
At the table she did the honors charmingly.
In the beginning of conversation she addressed
to Jones q number Of polite and not inquisitive
questions respecting himself but finding him
reticent concerning his own affairs she turned
the talk into other channels. To his own sur
prise, the guest found himself completely Mt
ease and was pleasantly disceursing Huentiy
on abstract topics, having q great deal to say in
particular about certain curiosities Of marine
life. faunal and horal. which appeared to greatly
interest his host and hostess. Both Of them
were students Of natural history; and they were
astonished at the wide range Of information ex-
hibited by their visitor.
In fact in the society Of these charming
people Jones completely forgot for the time
being his own unfortunate situation, and when
he came to take his departure at last, he
eagerly accepted their pressing invitations to
come again and see them. That night he re-
turned to the hotel with light step and in
very cheerful frame Of mind, only losing his
way three times during the journey. The next
morning he got up early and sent to Miss
Farquhar from the florists a costly bouquet Of
roses.