Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-08-31
NUMBER IA.


VIII Morland pushed open the door
of the British Museum reading room,
and turned to his accustomed seat with
the air of an habitue.
lie had a catlike love of things and
places, and one of his reasons for
coming early in the day TO make use
of the great library was that it in
sured the same seat-No. IA in row N
to his possession.
This morning, however, he was stop
ped short Seated already in his place
was a girl, diligently reading -hatless,
and also with the mien of an habitue.
Morland sighed, and turned TO an
other seat, comforting himself with the
reflection that 1t was but for one morn
Ing. 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 if she meant to stay. Nor.
land registered a VOW that he would
outmorning 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 a slim
| 9ohhS man. WIN NliC VI Ill lidDltuC.
Seeing Miss Cartons trim little fig
ure Fastening up the steps the next
morning he overlook her, politely held
the door open for her to pass through,
and then managed by an adroit move
ment to deposit his gloves in n IA be-
fore her notebook aid pencil had
reached the spot.
After that the fun became fast and
furious. Who should occupy the COW
eted seat?
The air of Innocence with which
the first owner would stroll away to
collect the necessary books OF refer
ence after ''pegging OUT the claim to
n IA, was beautiful to see. On the
whole the brown gloves had the best
of it.
Then, sad to relate, n morning came
when Mamie fell into grievous tempta-
ton. She cheated in the little game
for two persons in which she and
Morland 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
began to ascend the steps. When she
got into the reading-roQm and turned
toward row N, she met him sauntering
with an air of studied unconscious
ness 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 edge of No. 49,
The temptation was too great, and
she fell. She whisked the gloves over
the border into 10, and on Moreland's
return a moment later she was sitting
with various papers spread about her,
grayely studying her notes-in N IA.
He stared at her, and, with look
of utter contempt, which she felt
though she could not see, turned to re-
place his book on the shelf, and left
the library.
She tried to read, but the words
danced before her eyes.
30, | wish | hadn'tr' she said to her
self 1T was abominable of me-hor-
rid! | wish he would come back, and
! I'd tell him so. I'll never, never sit
here again.
1T was ridiculous" Morland admit
ted to himself, after cigaret in
Bloomsbury place, land just as well
that it should have been brought to an
end, but | am sorry she cheated. OF
course, I'll never go near the place
again" he added thoughtfully.
1t was a shame-faced Mamie who
entered the British Museum next
morning quite twenty minutes after
the usual hour. She was relieved to
find her opponent in the game of grab
was not in sight. OF course he might
be already seated at n IA, but she did
not go round to see.
With a 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 Moreland arrived shortly af-
terward he found his newly adopted
seat already occupied by the hatless
girl with a busineSslike mien. She
looked up as he uttered a slight ex-
clamation, and grew red.
ooh, wanted to see you," she said,
ito apologize for the dreadful thing
did yesterday. 1t was abominable of
me, and-O, please forgive me-"
We nave Dttn OAluHSliHk dEdlubL
fate" he said, though we did not
know it. | adopted A 3 as my new
abiding place, and now you are here
before me-"
He sat down in seat No. 4, and drew
the chair closer to hers.
"Why don't you go back to n 14?"
she asked. I'm never going to sit in
the horrid place again.
II think prefer A A. 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, it was
caught bottled and taken to the mum
my department long ago"
Then, as he was about to answer,
she put out one hand
''Woolyhead in No. is glaring at
us" she whispered. ''We mustn't
talk"
Morland caught the outstretched
hand. and, TO Woolyhead's horror, he
held it for moment.
let us be content with 3 and re-
spectively," he said. THE chase after
IA was exciting, admit, but also an
exhausting one"
Mamie Carton no longer frequents
the British Museum; the household
cares of dainty residence in Hemp
stead prevent her from doing so. Be
sides, her husband says that the at
mosphere would not be good for her
complexion.