The Press., 1895-12-12

"I should very much hke't to know. she said; t'what you think of me for I coming here?'' .:;,s @ sl ly-.@..s<.s s.. es,- 1T think you are plncky-yeS, and recklessly unconventional. 'if ..sI
 "Candid, at any rateI And I like l that. I" She looked up, "Now for the first indictment on the list, MT. Ever dene. You accuse me of improbabihty. l deny it. " l|+s .s'r.t \ ~.'.f-
 His manner bordered upon preoccupa- tion4 In truth, he was thinking what wonderful .lashes she, had and how be- coming flush of excitement could De to clear, pale skin. ...-.-
 ''Yon flaeert, :" she continued warm l ly, ''that iaSi ridiculous to suppose that ! a man and woman could fall in love at first sight, as 1 make my hero and heroine do, and that such proceedings are limited to boys and girls in their teens and the pages of penny fiction. I Ghodnld have thought that Mr. Aubrey Everdene would have shown wider sym pathies, ''' .'' -. ,'
 ..Then you really believe, Lady Hil-i yard, that adult, sensible people do com" ceive suchFabrupt attaehments?". ".
 ,''I am convinced that it happens fre~ quently." ,........
 ooh, come, not frequently?"
 "Well-sometimes, she amended "I could give you dozen instances. "
 He lacked the heart to argue with her. It would have been like breaking a but terfly on 8 wheel, and, after all, there might be more sentiment in fin de sieclS, humanity than he thought. Women have wonderful intuition in these matters. :,
 "Well, suppose we let that slide for the moment and proceed to indictment No. 3. What other phrase of mine do you take exception to?' .... =. 7, ,. | "YoRBaid that I had not the repotest idea of construction, and that 'Fashion and FootliRhts' was evidently speci- men of that objectionable class of fc- tion which you regretted to see was growing so oprevalent-the amateur nov ell, born Of vanity and lack of whole some occupation. '' .-.t. ,.
 Her voice died away with tremor. He had only stated the truth, but the fact did not prevent the speechless Mir. Everdene from feeling as if he had com mitted 8 particularly brutal murder and the ghost of the victim had como to ar raign him before all the people whose opinion he Yalued most,
 "I-I cried" she murmured pathet- ically. ...;,... .:...
 Her lips quivered. Beads of perspira- tion rose to the mans forehead.
 "Good heavens, if had only guessed how much I should hurt youl It twas harsh, mmstrous. No doubt was in a bad temper, and your unfortunate book was the first thing that afforded me an opportunity to vent my spleen"
 "Then you acknowledge that you were needleSsly cruel?' a .,..t-
 ''I was brutal" He would have com mitted blacker perjury as she wiped that tear away:
 "And that I had just cause for indig- nationG'' . .;.a.l.'.r ..
 "You, were perfectly right. D ',.5o,e f. A smile broke like April sunslIlne over her face, ..-..
 "In that case suppose must forgive you3"
 He waR EiGifCu1ously grateful He heaved a sigh of relief and hesitated with his hand on the button of the cleo trio bell "Lady Hilyard, you know the Arab custom of taking salt iEh 0ae's fTiendsI ! As token of good will permit me tc give you the proSaic English equivalent ! of cup of tea '
 The offer was tempting, the weather was hot, and she had talked a. great ) deal. She yielded. When the refresh. ment camp, accompanied by wonderful sweetmeats from round the corner, she > asked permission to pour it out for him, 7 with winning graciousness which . charmed him. It afforded him an odd sense of pleasure, too, to see her white fingers moving about the china. He wal unaccustomed to the presence of women ] in his home.
 With the Japanese tables between ) them they chatted for awhile. and then the clock on the maptelpiece struck 6. She rose with 8 pretty gesture of dis. may, like second Cinderella "Do you know, Mr. Everdeue, that have been here a whole hour wasting your valuable timef' .. ..~-
 "I thogKht it had been ten minutes, '' he ansWeEed, land the pleasantest od my life. .''@, ,..- -!.-. .5--
 "very prettyp' she said. blushing faintly. '::rAnd in return for it let me tell yoQsthat my address is on my card, and that my day is Thursday; also must thank you very heartily for youz kindness and courtesy to an impertinent intruder. Very few men would have been so considerate.
 "Please den't thank me. It 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 8 dropped, self conscious, pleased
 ".You really mean that2"
 "On my sonl I do.'' ..., ~....
 The most delicious softness was in her voice.
 "lt makes ms. SO proud and happy to think I have convinced you.''
 There was silence. Shelsmoothed a wrinkle in her suede glove. He twisted button on his coat, Then she aroused herself, with a little laugh, and extend ed her hand; .i; :. .I54-%.s
 "Wel1. goodby, MT. Everdene, and once more, thank youp' l. He pressed her fingers ever so lightly her proselyte. .'|> '
 "Not goodby," he .nurmured. '"Au revoir i"-Black and White.
 Ring OG PnFO GOld.>ss: Fl :,
 Dr. o. D. Norton wears 8 ring of pure gold that has never left his finger since 1S40. In that year & friend of his got the gold fever and went west, promising