The herald., 1898-10-18
NUMBER IA IN ROW N

VIII Morland pushed open the door Of
the British museum reading room, and
turned to his accustomed seat with the
air of an habitue.
He had cat-like love of things and
places, and one of his reasons for COM
ing early in the day to make use Of the
great library was that 1t insured the
same seat-No. IA in row N-to his pos
session.
This morning, however, he was stopped
short. Seated already In his place was
girl, diligently reading-hatless and
also with the mein of an habitue.
Morland sighed and turned to another
seat, comforting himself with the reflec-
ton that 1t was for but one morning.
Somehow the pen would not write, the
chair would not suit him, and he left
early.
The following day she was there
again, looking provokingly business-like
and as II she meant to stay. Morland
registered a vow that he would out
morning her and regain his old seat,
with the result that when Mamie Carton
arrived next day she found the place she
had adopted filled by slim young man
with the air of an habitue.
Seeing Miss Cartons trim little figure
Fastening up the steps the next morn
ing, he overlook her, politely held the
door open for her to pass through, and
then managed by an adroit movement
to deposit his gloves in N IA before her
notebook and pencil had reached the
spot.
After that the fun became fast and
furious. Who should occupy the coveted
seat?
The air Of innocence with which the
first owner would stroll away to collect
the necessary books of reference, after
"pegging out" the claim of N IA, was
beautiful to see. On the whole the brown
gloves had the best of it.
Then, sad to relate, morning came
when Mamie fell into grievous tempta-
ton. She cheated in the little game, for
had taken part, committing the most
deadly offense against British museum
etiquette.
1t happened thus:
Morland was there first by quite the
eighth of a minute. Miss Carton saw
him vanishing through the door as she
OC6dA " dSCcuQ lAS 6tGpSs w men Snc
got into the reading room and turned
toward row N she saw him sauntering
with an air Of studied Inconsistencies
to the outer shelves.
She glanced carelessly at what she
regarded as her seat in passing, then
stopped short. The gloves had been
thrown down carelessly - they were at
the very edge Of No. 13!
H. 80.
she fell. She whisked the gloves over
the border into 13, and on Morland's
return moment later she was sitting,
with various papers spread about her,
gravely studying her notes-in N IA.
He stared at her, and, with a look of
utter contempt, which she felt though
she could not see. turned to replace his
book on the shelf and left the library.
She tried to read, but the words danced
before her eyes.
"Oh, I wish hadn't" she said to her.
self. 1T was abominable of me-horrid!
I wish he would come back and I'd tell
him so. I'll never, never sit here again!"
1T was very ridiculous" Morland ad-
mitted to himself, after q cigarette In
Bloomsbury place, "and just as we'll that
1t should have been brought to an end:
but I'm sorry she cheated OF course,
I'll never go near the place again." he
added thoughtfully.
1t was a shame-faced Mamie who en-
tered the British museum next morning
quite twenty minutes after the usual
hour. She was relieved to find that her
opopnent in the game Of grab was not
In sight. OF course he might be already
seated at N IA, but she did not 60 round
to see.
With steady step she marched as
far from that spot as it was possible to
go. settling herself and her notebook In
the third seat Of row A.
When Morland arrived shortly after
ward he found his newly adopted seat
already occupied by the hatless girl with
business-like mein. She looked up as
he uttered q slight exclamation. and
grew very red.
"Oh, I wanted to see you," she said,
ITO apologize for the dreadful thing I
did yesterday. 1t was abominable of
me, and Oh, please forgive mel"
we have been struggling against
fate" he said, though we did not know
1t. I adopted A 8 as my new abiding
place, and now you. are here before me-"
He sat down In seat No. and drew the
chair closer to hers.
why don't you 90 back to N LAP" she
asked. I'm never going to sit in the
horrid place again!"
Il think prefer A l. 1t is less-less--
less drafty."
Don't you know the legend she said,
that there was only one draft bold
enough to disport itself in this airless
erection? Poor thing. 1t was caught,
bottled and taken to the mummy de-
partment long ago"
Then, as he was about to answer, she
put out one hand.
"Woollyhead Inv No. s IL glaring at ,us,"
she whispered. 1--WE mustn't talk"