, 1897-09-25

.NAA " 80 -. oui .SN. olNCu /.
pleasantly. She lifted her eyebrows and
.miled. But a crowding hanson took
Ter attention and she fell behind again.
There" | said. IF ever a girl look
u pleased. there she Is. VINO am l that
should refuse a momentary satisfac-
ion TO a lonely girl?"
turned with a smile 10 my neighbor.
face was flushed with anger, for / |
lad clearly proved her to be in the
wrong.
1T is men like yourself who are
.he-the blots on our Wanted civiliza-
she said. Such a sweet, innocent
ACE. too"
Yes. isn't it?" | said. 81 am so glad
you agree with me. It's the sort o. face
I've always admired; and as soon as I
a back view of her l ielt certain
she would have that sort OF face. That's
| wanted to get a look at it,"
Such men as you-' began my
neighbor.
Now, il | were not a married man."
| continued, reflectively. that is the
very girl | would marry at once. AS it
is, Of course, | cant. But that's not
my fault, is it?"
You are married." said the lady.
Il am" I replied.
That makes it much worse" she said.
On the contrary. it is my excuse" /
said. 1T is all owing TO my wife. II i.
different"
She must be 4 miserable woman"
said the lady, III she knows OF your
conduct. My heart b.esds for her."
Not at all l said. She is quite
.happy-as happy as that girl. Now did
you ever see Il more charming girl?"
turned and SEN a ned in The direc-
zion Of the girl who was pedaling along
quietly just behind The bus. She lit
ed II hand from the handle-bar and
waved it to me in friendly response.
Under the circumstances" l said, Il
think | shall speak TO her. otherwise I
might miss her when get of at Sloane
sAreet. Do you think she would mind?"
Let me implore you" sad my neigh
Dor; "if you do. | shall lspeak to the
conductor"
1T would be grossly improper" said,
unless he happens 10 be your brother
or your cousin-or-'
The lady shifted and looked round.
But the conductor was not in view.
l leaned down, and the girl looked up
inquiringly, riding 10 the side Of the
rus.
Il am going to get off at Sloane
street," l called to her; will you stop
there?"
She nodded, and bending slightly ov-
er the handles. quickly outstripped the
bus and rode on down the slope. l
leaned back in my seat and watched her
appreciateFively as she floated away.
Never in my lite," murmured, "have
| seen any one whom admire more. A
most delightful girlv
"A most disgraceful incident- said
neighbor.
You see," l said, affably, "uwo peo-
pie meet-'twas in a crowd-and their
hearts rush together like magnets, or
poles. or whatever the things are. 1t is
quite clear to me thai we were made
for one another. Don't you believe in
afinilies? They are fun"
1T is not q matter for testing: it is a
very serious matter 10 camper in this
way with the innocence Of"
Il think it lis rather a Joke" I said.
1T may be a joke FOR the manor,
rather, he may think so, mistakenly;
but you never by any chance think OF
The girl. And l feel it my duty as a
woman TO protest against
Bless my SOUL" l exclaimed, Il think
OF the girl always. She is never u OF
thoughts"
The girl"
Yes, the girl-that girl. Didn't l ex-
plain? Oh. here we arer
Sloane street, said the conductor.
l jumped up.
We'll, we've had a mos. Interesting
conversation" l said. You see. she's
waiting for me there at the corner. l
knew it. | never underrate my attrac-
tons"
AS | descended to the pavement, Celia
greeted me with a smile Of welcome,
while the eyes OF my late neighbor bor-
ed TWO holes in my back.
How lucky to meet Ike this" said
Celia. Where did you see me first?"
oh. in P~iccadilly," l replied. But
| couldn't be sure it was you until I saw
your face. l want to ge. some tobacco
here, and then we can walk along
home"
Had an amusing day." said Celia.
"Exceilent," | said; more particular
ly the ride down."
You seemed very much Interested in
The lady on the bus" sad Celia, as we
stopped outside the t~obaccoriist's. did
you know iher?"
Never saw her before l said.
Right under my very eyes,, too said
Celia.
Il couldn't hep it," said. She SEEM
ed 10 have some objection to me. or to
you. or to something or other-seemed
to see something wrong in u behav-
ior."
Didn't she know l was your wite?"
asked Celia.