The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-09-17
ON THE STAIRS.

hoDlnson flushed crimson with sudden
surprise and satisfaction. Another mo-
ment, however, and the tears camo into
her eyes and she glanced at me with
Shy reproach.
wish you wouldn't" she said as
she tapped her pretty foot ON the stair.
"Why?" was my natural inquiry.
because you do not mean any
thing"
How can you be SO harsh and un-
complimentary" protested. 81 said
even less than meant. But it is hard
to please"-
"Well?,
"Well, you, for instance" Then
came another impatient tap.
That is just what I was saying"
she pouted. eff you pleased yourself''-
81 try to-" answered humbly.
mo, you are so good natured. They
all say the same
"They arc SO much alike" sug-
gested.
"Not at ALL Some of them are dark
and some are fair. Some aro'-
'Striped?''
Nonsense. Well, 1 could name
SIX
Don't!' calculated.
Six at least who complain that their
| regulations are ruined"
You mean their compilations. - Tho
elder Miss Robinson laughed pleasantly.
Their regulations, she went on,
for beauty and brains.''
"What do they say?"
"All of thcm?" she asked playfully.
I coll Of 4
Will sound more natural
You arc ungratcful, or, at least''-
''They are
Perhaps, and if that is so it only
shows how unhappy they arc now"
Deserted, i'll fact. for you
"You are always kind" she remarked
ironically.
"But how have they lost their repu-
tations?"
"They say you make profession of
it-of looking after all the plain girls -
1 paled visibly, know, at the
thought. but I only protested mildly,
"Not ALL.
'"rhey say you arc proverb among
the men. They laugh about it when
they see you playing the good Samaritan
with any girl who doesn't have many
partners, you know"
So / am proverb, and make Il
profession of it, and they laugh? Good
very goodv'
"Of course" Mss Robinson went on
apologetically, cit is very good of you"
twill reform, said with decision.
cat any rate. am all right just now
with you
HThnrop, CLIO ox-oIo;,,,o,, o,,;<..:
cally.
"What else do they say?"
"They say that if you married any
body you would do it out Of kindness
and because''--
Because 1 thought it would please
her?"
| Yes, and because no Cne else would"
Miss Robinson's eyes became moist
again. and the very charming blush re-
turned to her cheeks as she looked down
at the crowd i'll the hall
The elder Miss Robinson has beauti-
full hair There was pause, and then
I resumed rather suddenly:
$50 if 1 married her she would lose
her reputation?''
Eyes"
"Then I had better not''
But you would not marry any ono
without admiring her, would you?''
For her courage, ut all events. -
There was rather al awkward inter
val, during which Miss Robinson pre-
tended TO look for some one through the
banisters
There is only one way" I began
timidly. The elder Miss Robinson start
ed nervously and made as if to rise.
"In common decency, Invent OH, ct
could only propose to some who is al
ready engaged"
cor q widow" suggested she tlryly.
'Or widow. Miss Robinson, are
you u widow"
She looked very hard at me, and then
she broke into musical laughter which
somehow rather hurt my feelings.
"At last" she said, "you are sim
cere''
mot more than usual" said I, with
some degree of asperity. Nov 1 come
to think of it, you may be widow, but
you are certainly charming. I havo
been away more than year"
"Indeed?" she said
I'm Egypt" said 1 stiffly.
Don't you think it is rather drafty?"
she inquired, after another pause.
I'm Egypt"
'No, here"
i find 1t rather warm''--and really
did. We stood up by mutual consent
and went down to the supper room.
There was great crush, and had all
[ could do to provision the elder Miss
Robinson.