The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-08-31

| 40 not know your name.
Nor l yours. so that is a bond of
sympathy. Let u.s." went on in glow
of inspiration, Imagine that we have
been introduced at a dance. One never
knows the names in such cases."
He was certainly to blame"
Certainly. If man willingly walks
one of paradise he must be either a fool
or"
He will come back"
"In that case began, rising and
taking my hat from the chair.
Really" she answered, "a man who
willingly walks off"
But don't" objected. 81 go with
the greatest reluctance"
at is very warm in the sun, mon
sieur."
Madame, 1 greatly fear sunstroke.
1t is disease which has had remark
able fatality for our family"
l replaced my hat upon the chair on
which l had previously seated myself,
and seated myself upon the chair on
which l had previously placed my hat.
That chair was nearer to madame by
over a foot.
Monsieur is prudent" she said, and
smiled. l should have been perfectly
happy if her gaze did not so often wan
der through the window frame and
seek the sunshine outside.
NAY, | fear" l murmured, looking
at her ardently, "imprudent."
THAT is hardly in the nature of a
compliment"
Because" l went on boldly, "in the
JOY of a moment, a minute, an hour, l
peril my future peace"
She beat another solo upon the floor,
and again looked into tie sunshine. My
eyes followed the direction of hers, and
| thought / saw a hat. The hat was Sc
we're. nay rigid, it was a masculine hat.
rs the peril so great?" she asked.
She spoke so softly that l pushed my
chair little nearer to her and leant
forward.
The answer is entirely in your
hands, madame" l said
There may be no peril" she pouted,
"for who knows what tree of love may
spring from this mere grain of barely
ten minutes?"
She glanced at me sideways.
"Have you noticed the roses at the
Window"
No. l answered. They are there,
no doubt-roses are often at windows
but l have eyes for you only"
There is one, almost bud. covet
it. l must have it."
She rose and passed swiftly to the
window. Again l thought l saw the
hat. l rose. | followed her. l stood
behind her as she raised her ungloved
hand-a dainty, slender, white hand; a
hand that any man might not tire of
| kissing easily. She caught the bud,
broke its stem and gave faint cry.
you have hurt yourself" said.
"a thorn" she answered, hurriedly;
lit has pricked met is still in, fear"
1 took her hand in mine. have had
! some experience with thorns in connec-
| ton with little hands, and did not look
for any deep wound, yet l must confess
| to some considerable surprise when i
| found none at all, and even after minute
search no visible impression upon the
satin of her skin.
Madam" l said, falter;ngly, II can
see nothing"
Stupid" she cried pettishly, vet not
loudly. Look again. tell you have
hurt my hand badly. You cannot see
well. Hold it to the lighS."
l held it to the light. L looked at it
very carefully-the hand was really
worth looking at bent lower over it
lower still. Then suddenly glanced
upward. She was smiling. l saw a
challenge in her eyes. L kissed her
hand.
"Clotilde," said a voice over my head
1t was a strange voice, and it seemed
out in the garden a little above me.
looked up and recognized the rigid, Sc
we're hat: He looked bad-tempered when
he observed me; he looked penitent
when he gazed upon madame.
Henri" she cried, Il have thorn in
my finger. This gentleman is clumsy
he cannot discover it,"
She glanced at me scornfully, and
stretched out her perfectly healthy
hand to the owner of the rigid hat, who
took it. Then, in that hand, innocent of
scratch or mark, he found thorn,
plucked it out, and kissed the place
where it had been. l think, though,
the wound was after all not in her
hand and if | did not find it was not
useless in the healing.
Then suddenly | remembered that
had not summoned the landlord, and
rectified my forgetfulness in a violent
manner. When mine host entered he
was in time to see the rigid hat bend
ing under a parasol somewhat down the
road.
"Ah, they have made it up again" he
cried, with evident satisfaction. 81 am
glad of that, for the wedding is TO be in
the early part of next week, and am
to supply the wine for the ceremony"
Everyone seemed satisfied but myself.
continued my walk to Pourville, hav-
ing remembered my sister who was
waiting.-Chicago Times-Herald.
Nerve of Sparrow.
My informant was feeding with
bread crumbs in St. James park