The morning times., 1897-02-15

ment to that effect; but someh how the as
surance with which he was by no means
poorly supplied, had entirely deserted him,
and he had begun to dread the calmly in-
different glance which the beauty and her
companion had cast over the occupants of
the stage. only les than the possibility
that more particular attention called to
one Gerald Rayburn might result in posi-
tive disfavor Meanwhile he told himself
repeatedly, after the custom of men in
such situations, that he was an emphatic
variety Of fool, and extracted some slight
sOiace from the Characterization.
All this time the conversation across
the stage was progressing with serene
unconsciousness. To be sure, nothing
was said OF a confidential nature or that
the speakers could have had the least
objection to his hearing; but, the manner.
at least, was confidential, and the general
information conveyed was, to him, very
considerable.
II appeared that Miss Lowell and her
friend, whom she addressed as Ruth ~
We're from Boston and had been study
ing art in Paris for upward of a year;
that the present trip had been under
taken by way OF vacation, and Auvergne
selected because of reports as to its
curious topography and general interest.
Beyond this there were only few scraps
OF art talk that were unpleasantly pune
uuated with illusions to a certain VIII
Staples, and his opinions on subjects,
pictures, and places: all of which filled
Gerald with mild dislike of Staples, and
very general disapprovaI of his views
few mOmentsmore and the stage struck
off into little side street and drew up
before the Hotel du Louvre.
Rayburn reflected that he would have
much preferred one of the hosteIries that
fronted on the Place lie Jaude and, while
lie grudgingly admitted that the.more re-
tired location was perhaps better suited to
ladies travelling alone, he nevertheless il
logically laid it up as one more ground for
dislike against its preSumptive suggestor.
Will Staples. ="
So absorbed was he in the contemplation
OF this grievance that he deliberately lost
two Chances he had counted upon. He did
not descend from the stage first and assist
them out with their hand luggage, for the
simple reason that they were out before
him, and a dapper little French commercial
traveller has usurpcd his unqueStionable
rights. Neither did he secure the oppurtun-
ity OF getting TO the register first and leav-
ing the legend Gerald Rayburn, traveller
New York, L. s. A. for their perusaI and
Gelectation. on the contrary, she who was
his special admiration stepped quickly to
the front, aud, as the circle of Frenchmen
fell politely back, filled ont her own and
her companiCn's blank. Then he saw them
disappear upstairs in charge of madame,
the proprietresS, and all he had gained
was the additional information that Ruth
was Euth l.. HodgeS-whi hiCh did not int crest
him in the least.
Then. with painful doubt as to whether
they would ever look at the hotel book
again, he signed his own name and was
shown TO his room, consoling himself with
the thought that anyhow. the place was
less expensive than one in the Square
and that dinner would doubtless offer him
a better opportunity.
In pursuance of plans based on this idea,
he delayed his appearance in order that his
young countrywomen should have their
seats assigned first and that he could locate
himself accordingly. 1t never occurred 20
him that they would naturally appropriate
one of the little tables that We're set
against the wall. In fact, none of the most
since he had reached Clermont-Ferrand,a and
he could only attach stronger emphasis
to his self-describcd folly and take his seat
at the long central board among the
FrenChmen.
These were good table companions,
though, and had d way of making
stranger feel at home. They kept his
glass fun, they listened, pains-taking and
Smileless, while he mangled their beautiful
tongue, and they strove to check the
speed and simplify the construction of
their own remarks to meet his very eyi-
dent limitations. Only once during the
dinner did he catch the eye OF Miss
Lowell, and that was not when he had
announced himself to be from New York,
and announced it considerably louder than
there was any necessity foI. At that
vital moment she was earnestly discuss
ing something-pTobably Will StapleS-with
her companion, and the sole speech of
his that she seemed to hear happened
to be the mo st ambitiously conceived and
most atrociously executed piece Of French
he had ever eSSayed.