Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-08-11
To What Base Uses.
By Waller E. Crogan.

|
hedges are starred with blossoms anc
powdered with dust. for the highways
are the roads of many.
Half way down the steep hill is lit
tie hostel, roadside inn 1t has face
OF flowers end is pleasant; it smiles
with the welcome of a courteous native
to the casual stranger; it invites in
spec.lon, it suggests refreshment and il
disguises the materialistic form of its
refreshment with the glamour of roses
and rustic porch.
The day was hot, and | hesitated at
the porch. The room inside looked cool
1t had stone floor and a latticed win
dow, which was thrust open. Then |
saw the tiutter of pink gown and a
sllvery laugh came to me. | had mar
ried sister waiting for me at Pourville,
and l was already late, but then,
argued, | always had married sister,
and she was generally waiting for me
somewhere, for l am invariably late,
and pink gown, in conjunction with
so silvery laugh was alluring. 1 went
in. The sunlight outside was very
bright, the half light in the room was
dim, and I stepped upon a dog pug
dog, l afterward discovered hich re-
sented my familiarity with his teeth
That destroyed the effect of my en-
trance. 1t produced a hurried exclama-
ton and half laugh, translated into
a cough. The exclamation came from
me. l apologized profusely to the lady
who had been indeterminate as to laugh
or cough. She was. l saw, divinely
small, cool, sweet, innocent face,
with mischief, however, lurking in the
eyes; a figure slight willowly; an air
of command and dress inconceivable
to an insular understanding mere
dream of light frills, soft silks and color
She drew herself up with some hau
teur to the full extent of her feet A
inches, from which l deducted two
inches in consequence Of a glance at
her shoes. In the labor of buttoning a
long glove, she spoke.
"Monsieur, l. too, must apologize 1t
was i'll of Fido 1t is pardonable that
in the heat of such surprise, man
should say-should say what you said
"Yet to me it is grief, protested.
a." she went on, buttoning her
glove, with her eyes fixed on me under
the curtain of their long lashes, 81
thought you were some one else. "
hate to be taken for anybody else
but myself. like to keep the fatter-
ing hope that I am unique. was
piqued.
MADAME, answered, II am sorry
that I was not the other person.
She looked at me for quite awhile,
which made me feel uncomfortable. AT
such moments l have always a misgiv
ing that my tie has wriggled. Then she
smiled The smile began in her eyes,
spread to her lips and finally took ref
uge in her teeth. 1 smiled, too--from
sympathy partly, and partly to show
her that l bore her no Ill will for her
mistake.
"Does monsieur generally enter an
inn to tread upon little dogs?" l be-
came aware that I had not summoned
the landlord was also aware that |
did not wish to summon the landlord.
81 heard you laugh" l said The
fact seemed all eloquent to me; it APP
peared SO to her.
81 was expecting some one. We had
quarreled, che made reply
"He was to blame2"
81 have not said that it was man. "
cit was unnecessary. You We're good
enough not to think me devoid of com
mon sense
"He departed in anger.
ga most i'll tempered man."
eff 1 were in the wrong
(Which is a supposition very much
strained.
II should be miserable, but as it is
laugh"
"And when you laugh the world
stops at your window.
"Monsieur is pleased to regard him
self in a very hattering lightl'
"And l, as the only tangible object
Of the world. entered.
"Ahl"
She played short solo upon the stone
floor with the tap of her shoe-it was
crescendo. Her brow--it was as marble
for whiteness and as soft as rose leaves
-wrinkled in thought, her lips--I
hardly knew whether to bless the gods
for permitting me sight, or curse
them for the hot temptation-pucke
She was evidently bordering.
at is, she said at length, ian I'M
ceremonious entrance. y"
"It is an unceremonious introduce
tion,' corrected. "The entrance was
not unceremonious'
"Unless to Fido. She laughed a
little, and l began to find her laugh
rather irritating-at times. "But the
worst of it is there has been no intro
duction.
"Does that matter3" l asked. For
nv mart l was willing to torego sucn
trivialities.
II do not know your name.'
"Nor 1 yours, go that is bond OF
sympathy. Let us, I went on in
glow Of inspiration, "imagine that we
have been introduced at dance. One
never knows the names in such cases. .
"He was certainly to blame.
"Certainly. If a man willingly walks
ont Of Paradise, he must be either a
fool or
"He will come back"
"In that case"- l began, rising and
taking up my hat from the chair
Greatly" she answered. "a man
who willingly walks out OF =
"But don't" ! objected. II go