The record-union., 1897-12-05


in confusion. L was only thinking of
Fay's trouble in getting this thing
ready. l didn't mean to be rude. 1t
was wholly unpremeditated."
/ The result is the same. You We're
more than rude
i 'No-no.. I'm terribly sorry 1
wouldn't do anything to offend you,
/ P'tite, you know
/ And the match went out.
open the door," she commanded He
obeyed. but he put his arm across the
| entrance 10 detain her in order that ne
might get a chance to justify himself
/ You won't let this make any differ
ence, will you, P'tite?"
Difference, What difference is there
| to make? l couldn't think much less
of you than 1 always have, anyway. /
can safely promise you that, if you
/ like"
4 won't ask for hearing now in
anything but this. Don't think my
| thoughtlessness meant any reflection on
you in any way. l honor you more
than any other woman in the world
| Appearances are propitious," she
said, grimly
'Will you believe it, if 1 tell you that
almost knocked a man down for
doubling you not long ago?"
! Her lips parted as an Interrogation.
| 4 didn't mean to tell you that. II
wasn't much, anyway. He questioned
/ the motives back of your actions and
L resented it. That was all"
The girls anger seemed suddenly to
die out.
| Thank you" she said "For believing
that even a girl with the reputation of
having her main object in life joke is
entitled TO some consideration You
may tell Jack Crawford-''
"P'titel"
THAT he is right. 1 have been care
less. There is one man who dares to
think lightly of me-
Holding out to him her two hands
which he took, Here is my whole par
don. Drop the case in question-all of
1t, please-right here"
| i am willing to wait, Ptite'
She shook her head.
No; forgive my carelessness in al
lowing you any excuse for thinking of it
at all. Don't speak of it again. Will
you remember?"
ut won't be easy to forget" he re-
Piled, and he raised her hands to his
| lips.
i beg your pardon for disturbing
YOU said Jack Crawford's voice, as its
/ owner appeared suddenly before them;
"but dinner is served and Fay doesn't
want to sit down tonight without you.
/ She sent me to look you up
The men left the table with the girls
that evening in order to economize time.
The tree had been lighted while they
We're eating. For an hour the house re-
sounded with merriment. Ptite was IL
repressible. When the guests of the
evening arrived, that irresistible little
Southern girl" as Colonel Buckingham
! termed her, centered their attention i'm
mediately,
Now do come down to earth for
awhile" said Ted, as he dragged her
away from two or three other men.
You got to give me a few minutes"
They walked down one of the corri-
dors carrying on their usual repartee,
but at the end of it Ted stopped short.
Nov, l am going to be serious he
said.
"Oh, don't. You will be more ridicu-
lous than ever"
Look here. You've put me off for
week and 1 refuse to be dangled any
! tremendously dropped at the first
change of your wayward fancy. The
worm has turned, / want to state, and
demands satisfaction. You owe it to me
for the way I've been playing court fool
for you. l know L am a genuine one and
all that"
Small consideration" put-in P'tite.
"No-only-' he hesitated and
looked out of the window while he~ped
sistently begged her to consider his case.
Are you going to answer me?" he
asked finally in evaporation.
! Then she laughed.
-Oh, how utterly ludicrous," she cried.
What a pair we would make. Two
negative quantities"
Ted smiled bIandly.
/ Two negatives make an affirmative"
He had a faint hope Of appealing to her
in behalf of his mental faculties by
witty remark, but the girl was unappre-
ciative
unfortunately there is need of
strong affirmative for both of US. | must
have a mastering guidance to ever
amount to anything, and you need
second Margaret Van De Camp, VINO
win counterbaIance your superfciality-
]
her better luck" She continued to ward
hum off and before their time was out
they were talking on another subject.
When Bob claimed her Tor ms ldst
dance P'tite was not so confident, but
she suggested the conservatory IN ap-
narant defiance of reason. He ac-
quiesced with such alacrlty as 70
strengthen the purpose Which had peeh
: ind H1lrinQ her C0nNer-
/ sation with Ted.
Il wanted to tell you something, she
said when they had found quiet place.
Il am going home tomorrow.
Tomorrow cried Bob in despair
'eWhy. You'll break up the party
.IlI break it up if l stay can l.
really. Bob I don't belong mere. III
a kind of untamed thing, you see and
1 I don't like harness. I've got to
she drew in her breath with nan
stifed sob. get where | can oreathe
/ That's all I want now Every tiiiiS
else then as Bob made beseech-
ing movement. everything else IS de-
cidedly out of the question:
AS Bob brought her back to the hall
they met Jack face to face. He had
not been near her all the evening and
on that account he had avoided Fay
also
"Whv. where have you been to-
night?' asked the girl wierdly. DOWN
stairs reading all the timer
If he had had the least idea that she
had not missed him he would nave
taken pleasure In replying that ne had
been dancing ever since they came up
ctaire P,lt he knew she was laughing