The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-01-14
10 GORGE. is that you?''
BY CLARENCE ROCK.

,alcOny of our room oil the first floor.
Framed my neck, and answered from
the hotel yeranda, where | was engaged
IN cutting the tip off my a~fter-dinner
cigar.
Yes, here | am. Won't you come and
sit With me? It's jolly"
Celia disappeared into the ROOM.
WHAT" said Martin, stopping in the
rrayel path below, where he was smok-
ing in solitude. do you want me?'
Il don't want YOU particularly,' ]
said.
oh. l thought you said you did, said
Martin.
Did you speak, George? - said Celia,
emerging again upon the balcony.
Moves" / said. 1t is so difficult 70
tell the whole truth in a single word.
Il thought you said you didn't want
me" said Celia.
"Of course ! want YOU | said. ''Come
along; it's delightfully."- quiet and pleas
ant
why the blazes can't you say what
YOU mean. if you mean anything at
all?" said Martin, from below.
Ihate explanations; and as il was OBJ
siously impossible 10 continue the con-
versation under existing conditions,
determined TO wait until the conditions
altered themselves. The more especial
ly. as | found my lounge chair exceed
inplv comfortable after a day in the
bicycle saddle; my cigar did not behe
its brand, and a waiter appeared on the
steps with coffee for three. Doctors will
occasionally tell you-not, of course,
YOUR own doctor-that if you leave your
symptoms alone, lie on your back. and
don't worry, they will always fight TO a
finish. one way or the other. So situa-
tions will always explain themselves
If YOU wait long enough and don't fidget
them
The moon brushed aside n cloud and
set to work to illuminate the sea in real
earnest; behind me was the subdued
chatter Of the hotel guests who were
fI.;ering out Of the dining-room; from
the distance came the cheerful click of
billiard balls: and from below sounded
the soft ripple of waves upon shingle.
1t was delightful.
What are you driviling about?" said
Martin. as he came up the steps of the
Nerandn.
George. DO you want me or don't
you?" asked Celia, appearing through
the hall doorway. Il can't make out
what you mean"
Here is the coffee" / said. II am
very glad you have both come. / found
myself involved in a dialogue with two
people
20 George, And you such a ped
anti" said Celia. shouldn't il be a
Prologue, or something's"
NO, 1t shouldn't" / said. IL find my
self involved in a dialogue with two
people who are put of hearing OF one
another. and the scheme doesn't work.
You can't carry on a rational converse
tion that way. As soon as you get into
touch with one, you find out that the
other BY Jove! that seems to illus
trate something or other. l wonder
1T only illustrates your incapacity
TO grapple in a practical manner with
the simplest difficulty" said Martin.
'Now. If you had said, loudly and dis
tinctly: 4 am sitting in the veranda
answering two people, my wife and
Martin Howard; let them both come
hither'-why. then"
Then" said |. CHANGING at the men
who were loafng in the doorway, they
would have sent for the manager, and ]
should have been put under proper con-
troll"
IF you hadn't had the Inspiration
said Martin, "to marry awife with more
than ordinary common sense, you
would"
Sugar." said Celia, who was pour
Ing out the coffee.
That's right" l said. I'VE won't
quarrel. This is really the best part
Of the day. That's what l like about
cycling. It's so jolly when it's over.
and you have dinner. and smoke. and
play billiards. and-Martin- we might
have a hundred up presently. There's
a very good table here"
Seems a good sore Of hotel all
round" said Martin. I'm glad you
thought OF asking me down. Excellent
smoking-room. too. considering the size
81 the place"
Celia rose and leaned over the rail
Ing of the veranda- Below a couple
Of girls we're walking up and down.
They had shawls over their heads and
Were talking in whispers. The men
had scattered from the doorway. and
could see two or three ladies' Of middle
age sitting in the hall and reading spas
medically. ] knew the books. / had
seen them on the shelves of the local
library.
what's the meaning of that sigh,
Mrs. Matthew'S" said Martin.
Celia turned. and leaning with her
Back againgt the balustrade. wrinkled
her brows.
When they invented hotels.'' said
Celia, Il think they forgot that women
would sometimes stay in them"
Martin placed his head at the crit
ical angle.
But this hotel" j objected. sis adj