The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1895-03-27
A HOTEL ROMANCE.

envied.
II seemed almost certain TINT Willie
had captured the girl. Mrs. Williams
and Mrs. Cole thought so, and, as
they enjoyed unlimited opportunities
to observe what was going on Mt the
hotel, their joint opinion carried
weight with it.
These estimable women were child.
less and burdened with leisure. II
wns but natural that to relieve the
tedium of hotel life they should spend
much of their time in the first floor
parlor, discussing their neighbors
within the walls and gathering infor-
nation such as satisfies motherly, or,
perhaps, n sisterly curiosity. They
knew how to worm secrets out of the
pleasant blonde who officiated rs clerk.
Whatever happened in the lobby and
parlor came under their placid OBJ
servation. They had an indirect way
of asking questions, and all informa-
ton coming to either was shared with
out reserve.
These two, putting this and that to-
gether, viewing one circumstance in
the light of another and basing opin-
ions upon their own knowledge of
how matrimony is approached, con-
cluded that Fannie Proctor would be-
come the wife of Willie Branford.
Having settled comfortably into
this belief they were amazed to learn
that Fannie had accepted Al Maynard,
q broad-shouldered, ''nice" young
man whose characteristics had been an
apparent indifference to the charms of
the young women and an undying
aversion to whist and round dances.
Albert Maynard, indeed! Had he
ever lowered around Fannie at any of
the Saturday night dances in the main
dining room? Had he sent flowers to
her day after day and smiled at her
every time he came in to breakfast?
Had he come out in evening dress and
tagged after her when she went into
the parlor? Had Fannie ever ad-
dressed him familiarly and sent him
on errands? Had they organized
theatre parties and played duets on
the piano?
No, to every question.
AL Maynard had not figured as a
possible candidate until the engage
ment was announced. Mrs. Cole re-
membered that Fannie had once
spoken of Mr.. Maynard as ga big
thing who always looked at girl as if
she amused him." Mrs. Williams re-
called the fact that she had seen them
talking together few times, but
Fannie didn't act toward him as she
did toward Willie, not at all.
At the first opportunity they cor
raled her in the parlor. sis it true?"
asked Mrs. Williams, as she took hold
of the hand on which was the ring.
"Of course it's true"
''But We always thought it would be
Willie"
"Tm afraid Willie did, too, but
pshaw!"
Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Cole spent
two hours in analyzing that significant
"pshaw."
1t would appear that Bibbs was the
only one around the hotel who had
grasped the situation from the start.
Bibbs was the elevator boy; size, IL
years; suspected age, l6 years; self
assertion, rs years.
The buttoned English uniform in
which they had dressed him could not
hide his largely American qualities.
He was servant, but had no servile
trait. Without attempting to be pre-
sumptuous, he placed himself on terms
of easy equality with every one in the
hotel. He was abashed at nothing.
Elderly gentlemen, dignified matrons,
buds and beaux 1T made no difference
to him. II he believed that young
woman's gown was becoming he told
her frankly that she was ''peach" oil
"out of sight, and she believed him.
II the clerk had said the same thing
there would have been a vacancy. i
the porter had said it someone woult
have sent for policeman.
Bibbs was a privileged character
He received more Christmas present
than anyone else in the hotel. If tn
management had removed him ther
would have been a protest from ever,
guest.
Probably he had worked into tn
confidence OF SO many persons tho
A