Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-06-24

is il poor American girl you want Ia
marry, monsieur There are plenty
of that kind"
WELL" said Max, "you see I'm
poor myself, and, what's more. inca
pable OF earning my living, 80 must
have q rich wife. But why shouldn't
rich wife love me? shall never
marry anyone / don't love-"
'I'll tell Miss Corbins everything
you said," said she. "But when you
see her you won't want her--she's a
monster. Her neck is down between
her shoulders, and as to figure, we'll,
she has none"
Max took from his pocket French
gold piece. Look here" he said,
would you mind not mentioning my
visit at all? I'll go back to New York
and not see Mr.. Corbins. / shouldn't
like to spend my life with sucA .
woman as You describe"
Don't be in too great hurry, 4"
she said. IF you are You may make
mistakes, as the author Of 'Outre- Mer'
did"
II might have expected thatr' cried
Max. "You know Bourget, then?
What country! And to think I'm
not likely ever to see you againl"
"Why not?" You can see me to-
morrow IL you find me interesting"
He paused a moment, not sure
whether some other adjective might
not be more expressive, but he could
think Of nothing better than every
Interestingly" Then he looked straight
into the honest, clear eyes that met
his and, leaving the money on the
table, went away.
His curiosity had been aroused, he
had been amused, interested; more
than this, charmed. She was very
handsome, of this there was no ques-
ton; figure, eyes, features, expression,
all were good, and she was remark
ably intelligent Still, she was but
cook after oil, who wore q white apron
and beat eggs like any other cook.
Next day he had not to invent even
the mildest Of stratagems to carry out
his purpose. For reasons of her own
Dorothy made things easy for him,
and, thanks to an exciting baseball
match in the neighborhood, he found
the house as empty as the day before.
well, you've come for the answer
to your card?" she said. Here it is.
Miss Corbins wrote il before she had
TO go out. You really are unfortu-
nate about her. But she has invited
You to dinner tomorrow.
He interrupted: Gust now I am
more interested in something else.
You have read Bourget, 1 know. Do
you remember what he says about girls
in America-Imean girls who-haven'
much money and who are so anxious
to be well educated that, to go on
with their studies, they hire them
selves out in the holidays as servants?
That, at any rate, was true, sup
pose?"
"Oh, yes," she answered.; "there
was a girl here once who read Virgil
and Xenophon, a housemaid; but she
had to go; she was really too fond of
books"
"Madamoiselle, said Max, faltering-
ly, IL am sure you are one OF those in
teresting girls"
''You are paying me compliment
/ don't deserve" she said, presently.
II shall always be what / am now.
And don't you think" she went on,
with charming smile, that a good
cook has her valued"
Then Dorothy turned to the table
and went on with her jelly making.
She tried TO pull the cork from bottle,
aud the yicomte took il from her and
drew il.
"This not the sort of work you
were intended for, my poor child" he
said. with your mental gifts You
ought to do something more suitable"
Then she said: al presume You
will accept Miss Corbins' invitation to
dinner?"
IF do. what good will it 90 for
either you or me? shall not so much
~ see you"
'Only come" she said; you will
see me, 1 promise you"
An hour or so later Miss Corbins
received the Vicomte de Resal's for.
NAL acceptance OF her invitation.
Before going TO dinner the next
lay Max made all his preparations for
leaving Hartford on the midnight
train. When he reached the house
The haxen. haired Nova Scotian let him
IN aud conducted him through large
'olding doors to the lair Of the "mon.
,ter.''
Apparently the room was empty,
md Max thought he was too early.
lust then, through a half-glazed door,
ie caught sight of soft puns Of tobacco
smoke aud heard the tones Of mascu-
inc voices.
Corbns received him with the warm
of an American, introduced |