The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-09-14

could fall in love at first sight, as 1
make my hero and heorine do. and
that such proceedings are limited 10
boys and girls in their teens. and the
pages of penny fiction. ! should have
thought that Mr.. Aubrey Everdene
would have shown wider sympathies.-
Then You really believe. Lady Hill
yard, that adult, sensible people do
conceive such abrupt attachments2''
Il am convinced that it happens fire.
quently"
''oh, come. not frequently?'
''Well-sometimes,'' she amended
Il could give you dozen instances
He lacked the heart To argue with
her. II would have been like break
ing butterfly on wheel And after
all there might be more sentiment in
tin-de steele humanity than he thought:
women have wonderful intuition in
these matters.
Well suppose we let that slide for
the moment and proceed TO Indictment
number two. What other phrase of
mine do You take exception top
You said that had not the remot-
est idea of construction, and that
Fashion and Footlights' WAS evident
ly specimen of that objectionable
class OF fiction which you regretted to
see was growing so oprevalent-thea am
ateur novel, born of vanity and lack
of wholesome occupation
Her voice died away with tremor
He had only stated the truth but the
fact did not prevent the specifies Mr.
Everdene from feeling as If he had
committed a particularly brutal muir
der and the ghost of the victim had
come to arraign him before all the
people whose opinions he valued most
II cried, she murmured. pathet-
ically.
Her lips quivered. Beads of perspira-
ticn rose to the mans forehead
Good heavens, if had only guessed
how much l should hurt You. 1t was
harsh. moBstrous No doubt was in
a bad temper and your unfortunate
book was the first thing that afforded
me an opportunity TO vent my spleen
Lady llilyard applied six square
inches of cambric and lace to the cor
ner of an eycliJ.
IF you'll only believe me, nv dear
Lady Hilyard, when tell You that I'm
sorrier than l can say
Then you acknowledge that you
were needlesSly cruel?''
Il was brutal lie would have com
mitted Dlacker perjury as she wiped
that tear away.
And that l had just cause for in
dignation?"
You were perfectly right"
A smile broke like April sunshine
over her face
In that case l suppose l must for
give YOU
He was ridiculously grateful He
heaved sigh of relief and hesitated
with his hand on the button of the
electric bell
Lady Hilyard. you know the Arab
custom of taking salt with ones
friends? A. token of goodwill, per
nit me TO give YOU the prosaic English
equivalent of cup Of tea
The offer was tempting. the weather
was hot and she had talked great
deal She yielded. When the refresh
ment came, accompanied by wonder
full sweetmeats from Bond street round
the corner, she asked permission To
pour It out for him, with a winning
graciousness which charmed him II
afforded him an odd sense of pleasure,
too, TO see her white fingers moving
about the china lie was unaccustomed
to the presence of women in his home.
With the japanese table between
them they chatted for awhile, and then
the clock on the mantelpiece struck
SIX. She rose with pretty gesture OF
dismay, like a second Cinderella
do you know Mr.. Everdene. that l
have been here a whole hour wasting
your valuable time2''
Il thought il had been ten minutes
he answered, and the pleasantest of
my life"
Very prettyr' she said. blushinr
family. And. in return for ii. let me
tell you that my address Is on my card
and that my day Is Thursday. Also.
i must thank you very heartily for
your kindness and courtesy to an i'm
pertinent intruder Very few men
would have been 50 eonsiderate.'
''Please don't thank me; 1t Is who
owe You debt of gratitude You have
taught me something never expected
To learn"
.'What?''
THAT the conduct of your hero and
heroine was not improbable at all
Their eyes met - the woman's
dropped, self-conscious, pleased
You really mean that?'
''On nv soul do"
The most delicious softnes. was in
her voice:
1t makes me so proud and happy TO
think have convinced you"
There was d silence She smootned
a wrinkle in her suede glove He
twisted a button on his coat Then
she aroused herself with little laugh
and extended her hand
We'll, good-by. Mr. Everdene, and,
once more, thank you"
He pressed her fingers ever so lightly
her proseiyte.
Not .good-by,'" he murmured- 'Au
revoir. Black and White.
INCIIphMNr nn DoNMD