Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-02-04


The swift anger that blazed up In her
face, reddening her cheeks. dried the
tears.
How dare you say such a thing to
me?" she cried, hotly. "Do you fatter
Yourself that because | came here TO
talk business, | have also some personal
interest in you? Surely even your self
conceit doesn't run so far rs that"
Wentworth stood silent, and Miss
Brewster picked up her parasol. scat
tering, in her haste, the other articles
on the floor. If she expected Went
worth TO put them on the table again
she was disappointed, for, although
his eyes were upon her, his thoughts
were far away upon the Atlantic ocean.
Il shall not stay here to be insulted,' .
she cried, resentfully, bringing Went
worth's thoughts back with rush to
London again. ut is intolerable that
you should use such an expression to
me. Playing with you, indeed"
Il had no intention of insulting you,
Miss Brewster"
What is it but an insult TO uDc such
phrase? 1t implies that either
care for you Or"
And do your"
DO | what?"
do you care for me?"
Jennie shook out the lace frtnges of
her parasol and smoothed them with
some precision. Her eyes were bent
on what she was doing, and consequent
ly they did not meet those of her ques-
TONER.
II care for you as friend, of course, y
she said, at last, still giving much at
tention to the parasol. IF had not
looked on you as a friend | would not
have come here to consult with you,
would To-
NO. suppose not. Well. am sorry
/ used the words that displeased you,
and now, if you will permit it. we will
go on with the consultation"
1T wasn't pretty thing to say"
I'm afraid I'm not good at saying
pretty things"
You used to be-" The parasol be-
ing arranged to her liking she glanced
up at him. Still you said you were
sorry, and that's all man can say-or q
woman either, for that's what / said
myself when ] came in. Now, if you
will pick up those things from the
floor-thanks--we will talk about the
mine"
Wentworth seated himself In his
chair again and said:
"Well, what is it you wish TO know
about the mine?"
Nothing at ALL"
"But you said you wanted informa-
ton"
What funny reason to givel And
how a man misses all the fine points
of a conversation No; just because
asked for information, you might have
known that 1t was what really want
ed"
I'm afraid I'm very stupid. I hate
to ask boldly what you did want, but
! would like to know"
81 want vote of confidence. 1 told
sou l was sorry because of a certain
episode. / wanted to see if you trust
ed me, and found you didn't There"
81 think that was hardly q fair test.
You see the facts did not belong to me
alone"
Miss Brewster sighed, and slowly
shook her head.
"That wouldn't have made the least
difference If you hsd really trusted me-"
"Oh, say! You couldn't expect q
man to"
"Yes, could"
"What, merely friend?"
Miss Brewster nodded.
"Well, all can say" remarked Went
worth, with laugh, sis that friend
ship has made greater strides in the
states than it has in this country"
Before Jennie could reply the useful
tea tray, which he placed before his
master, then silently departed, closing
the door noiselessly.
MAY l offer you q cup of tea?'
please What n curious custom this
drinking OF tea is in business Offices.
I think / shall write an article on "A
Nation of Tea Tipplers.' If l were an
enemy to England, instead of being its
greatest friend, l would descend with
my army on this country between the
hours of four and five in the afternoon,
and so take the population unawares
while it was drinking tea. What would
you do if the enemy came down on you
during such a sacred national cere-
mony?"
AZ would offer her q cup of tea" re-
piled Wentworth, suiting the action to
the phrase.
"Mr. Wentworth" said the girl, arch
Iy, you're improving. That remark
was distinctly good. Still, you must
remember that l come as friend, not
as an enemy. Did you ever read the
Babes In the Wood?' 1t is n most in
structive but pathetic work of fiction.
You remember the wicked uncle, sure
ly. Well, you and Mr.. Kenyon remind
me of the babes, poor, innocent, little
things, and London-this part OF it
Is the dark and pathless forest. am
the bird hovering about you, waiting to
cover you with leaves. The leaves, to
do any good, ought To be checks fiutter-
ing down on you, but, alas! haven't
any. If negotiable checks only grew
on trees. life would not be SO difficult"
Miss Brewster slipped her tea pensivc-
ly, and Wentworth listened to the
musical murmur of her voice, which
had such an enhancing effect on him,
tha he paid Tess heed to what she said
than man should when a lady is speak
ing The tea drinking had added
touch of domesticity TO the tete-a-tete
that rather went to the head of the
Young man. He clinched and uIi-
clinched his hand out OF sight under
the table and felt the moisture on his
palm. He hoped he would be able To
retain control over himself, but the
difficulty OF his task almost overcome
him when she now and then appealed
10 him with glance or gesture, and he
felt as If he must cry out: MY girl, my
girl, don't do that, if you expect me 10
stay where i am"
81 see you are not paying the slight
est attention to what am saying" she
said, pushing the cup from her. She
rested her arms on the table, leaning
slightly forward, and turning her face
full upon him. II can tell by your
eyes that you are thinking of some
thing else"
81 assure YOU" said George, drawing
n deep breath, 81 am listening with in
tense interest"
"Wcll, that's right, for what l am
going TO say is important. Now, -
wake you up, l will first tell you all
about your mine, so that you will under
stand did not need TO ask anyone for
information regarding it,"
Here IA Mentyyorfh's agtOnishment