The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1896-03-28

than I am. It's chic to Be naughty
nowadays, unless you're music hall
al artist and marry a lord; then one has
to be horribly virtuous..'
How absurd you arer' He smiled,
easily amused IS IS.
My hands positively appear middle.
aged. Look at them y. .@.
She held one toward him, and ne
touched tot g: it for a second, the sparkle Of
diamonds binding him.
She spoke timidly. ssssYou used to
think y: them very pretty, Ronald =
He flushed scarlet.
do still. But his hand relaxed,
as il her fingers burnt him.
His eyes were on the fire, hers on his
face And into hers crept a look, in
which bafaed vanity and spite were
uppermost. She changed her mood, as
one changes much worn dress which
mas mas ceased to be becoming.
And so YOU are madly in love, Ron
aid? q ! T..,
He stared violently. ssS
I'm lover: &s f.,
report says so. And with a baby,
fresh from her nursery bread and
| milk. se. se 4: + a:a : =
What on earth do you mean?'
You know quite well. But it's hope
less, my dear boy, quite hopeless -
he said nothing, but he hated her
from that moment, as he had never
hated any woman. Perhaps she in
tended that he should Som :,
Wnen a woman fails to charm, IS
glad to wound. Both deeds give oense
| of power. @.-' g.:
You see, I know. all about it," she
continued. ''You met in the country;
she told the whole story to my aunt,
Mrs. Marker" :" ~ "
She told. What do you mean?''
we are talking about Miss Barnes y:
He showed he was hit, as man will
never do to another man. The woman,
being low in his respect, did not matter.
tie spoke very quietly. eyes, I am
aWfully devoted to Miss Barnes, but
what do you know about herr"
The "you' hurt, as he may have
meant IL should. -. r ~ -.. f..EE
"Oh, only know that she confdes in
Aunt Betty, and Aunt Betty confides in
me- IL s.-.
And yOu--'' - II s..
Il confide in you y]
He grew clever, as dull man may,
when he feels the need of arms against
someone it would be cowardly to strike.
You may as well tell me what you
intend to tell me- he said.
Only, that you are making fool of
yourself, my dear boy. An old friend
has surely the right - z
1r ta lfess II
Yes, or takes it, to say these frank
things. The girl doesn't care chip
about you s. 's:s
.She said so?" = ~ +
"Not exactly. But she confessed to
being dreadfully in love with someone
else.' .5@ -.@
"Ah, well, that's possible"
'sYou will discover that I am speak
ing the truth when she marries him."
eff she does" -:
''If he proposes, you mean. He seems
to, be rather slow about it. She de-
clares he is shy, too doubtful of his own
merits. A woman always wants to
think that, when a man doesn't come
to- the point"
Il wish you would remember that
you are talking about a girl
'Who is in love with someone else.
Yes, do. You see, Ronald, know the
world, and you are woefully old-fash-
ioned in some ways"
"You have told me so before
eyes, in the old days. But you i'm
proved little under my tuition. You.
have gone back since.''
He rose to go, but chance caused him
to overturn: a vase of flowers as he
pushed his chair back, and he stopped,
with many apologies, to pick it up.
She continued softly, as if there had
been no interruptions: II
"You may know the man she is in
love with, and it adds conviction to my
story. You were in the house at the
time. She is very romantic over him,
and she did not tell my aunt his real
name. She called him Prince Charm
ing
The vase fell and smashed into many
pieces at his feet. He burst out laugh
ing as a school boy laughs, and he ig-
nored the breaking and seized Mrs.
Jacks hands. 53sSS
THANK you, thousand times. 1
knew you were good sort at the bot
TOM" He spoke as if he meant it, but
she knew better, and WINGED. I'VE.
acted in some beastly pantomime on
Christmas eve, and was Prince Carm-
ing in fairytale thing when she was
the princess. You've done me a good
service by mistake, Mrs. Jack. and
you'll know that the man loves her
when she marries him. =
She smiled, said good-by and rang
the bell with composure, but her face
was curiously out of keeping with her
voice.
He went downstairs with a brisk
step, and out into the street. The
=. tt E