The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1895-07-26

going to marry a man who has besn
humbugged like that?"
You're unusually tender about lit
lie imposition"
Thank you, that will do I didn't
pick up chaperon and pay her hand
somely to stand auntie to me for sea-
son and introduce me to society to be
bullied by her in earnest. There are
no men to hear us now, remember. I'm
not kid. I've ceased to blubber and
/ won't be whipped. Can't you see that
IL l marry Bob Pallant after this, my
chance Of pleasure-to say nothing OF
your chance OF your fee-wouldnt be
worth weeks notice? He would jolly
soon undeceive himself, and then"
You wouldn't be to blame. You
didn't deceive him"
mo, but Norton Scrubs did, and IL
would ruin his reputation and close his
purse to me forever. Norton has al
ready given me to understand as much
and advised me to understand as much
and advised me to take on Reggie
Give. But there, you haven't any
sense"
What an awakening! How l men,
tally cursed myself! How l mentally
cursed Bob for having married his
innocent-lipped, downy-cheeked, dove
eyed Iris right away without inquiry,
and so spared me the agoniZing pre-
dicament was in. How | cursed-like-
wise mentally-Norton Scrubbs and all
his kith and kin. And all that mental
imprecation came out through my
pores until drops of sweat fell soft and
silent upon the lorn petals of dying
chrysanthemum.
But l had suffered in silence long
enough. Scene or no scene, scandal
slander, or what not. l cared mott
was callous to them all. / would re-
veal my hideous presence.
The revealing was done for me. That
smirking servant appeared and an
nounced in a sepulchral voice that Mr..
Give had arrived.
There was a little hutter at the an
nouncement and heard fleeting foot.
step that betokened auntie's departure,
for 1t was Iris who replied:
Very well, Adams, show him in"
"I-have-already shown him a
Miss Iris" stammered the man.
Didn't tell you to show him heN
Ito the conservatory" said Iris, Sc
verely.
"And so 1 did, Miss Iris. l brought
him here several minutes ago, and
have been searching for you ever sincs
to tell you So"
/ stepped from behind the screen just
in time to witness the full comedy OF
the moment. Iris was spectacle to
behold! She baffled all description,
Amazement mingled with fear, shame,
guilt, horror, rage indignation, and 8
number of other symptoms peculiar to
such a nervous shock. / walked to
where she still sat, too paralyzed to
move.
Miss Maypel," said, II have over
heard your conversation. and l know
you will call me coward and an caves
dropper; but my conscience is innocent;
l was put here by your man, and you
had already committed yourself before
i could warn you of my presence, so
waited in the hope that you would leave
me before discovering me-"
She made no reply, so gladly walk
ed from the conservatory and the
house.
went home and tried to see the end
of the business. What attitude would
Iris adopt when Bob, in the flushing
pride of Norton Scrubs report, pro-
posed marriage to her? gave up the
conundrum when, far into the night,
had failed to solve it.
l went down to the club the follow
ing day resolved to tell Bob all when
his familiar face-wearing anything
but his familiar xpression-looked in.
He came straight across to me, and
without any preliminaries said:
Reggie! Where's Iris?"
pushed my plate aside and returned
his gaze.
How should know If you are ignor-
anti" l replied. Isn't she with her
her auntie?"
Possibly" returned Bob. I'm fact
probably. But where's her aunt?
They've disappeared from their flat
flown, owing six months rent besides
salaries and unpaid bills innumerable-
and have left no address,"
We'll" ! said reflectively, I'm not
surprised after what l overheard in
their conservatory yesterday after
noon"
What did you hear?" asked Bob.
eagerly.
told him.
Poor old Bob! l won't attempt to
record his subsequent remarks anent
women in general and Iris and auntie
in particular, since no self-respecting
type would consent to chronicle them.
illustrated Bits