The times., 1899-09-03

she rose to go, first casting regretful
glance at the water and the steamer that
was fast vanishing in a wrath OF smoke
Hold on" he said. "Tll be a subject.
Tho actress had forgotten already "A
subject of WHAT"
.tIIl be a subject for your experiment.
You may be right after all, you know, and
if you are we will both benefit by the
trial.
She blushed-a faint, puzzled blush.
"Oh, neither of us viii be in earnest
hs fastened to add. I'VE will merely take
up the affair in business fashion-as
course of study. You and can adore each
other for two months. 1t will help to pass
the time here and at the end Of our vaca-
ton we can drop it. What do you say?'
4 don't exactly like it," the theorist
confessed. And she moved toward the
door.
''Nonsense!" quoth the man. You must
have the strength of your convictions.
Let's test the thing-for fun" He rose
from his chair in the enthusiasm of the
moment.
"All right" she said
Good he exclaimed. taking her hand.
'We'll begin by going boating tomorrow.
Perhaps" she remarked, quietly, and
walked into the hotel
But when he came back TO the piazza on
the following night she was waiting for
him. Out into the moonlight they went
her-experimenting. His coat and
cuffs were in the bow of the shell; his
rolled-up sleeves disclosed white, museu-
lar arms. With long, quick. strokes he
drove the little craft forward until the wa
ter gurgled about its nose and the smoke
from his cigar fioated behind as had the
smoke from the steamer on the preceding
evening And when the pull ended, as all
things end. he helped her out OF her seat
col foe ion
that your ride has been pleasant one"
Il have learned something, quoth she.
All through June and into July the les
sons continued. There were drives into
| the country and long strolls and like
things At the impromptu balls given by
arrangement with the proprietor OF the no.
tel they always danced together and when
/ picnics were arranged chance or the faith
1 erly old man of their company invariably
/ entrusted one lunch basket to their joint
/ care. She began feeling quite as though
/ they were engaged in serious earnest and
came dangerously near enquiring to whom
| he devoted a portion of every morning and
| two quires of paper week. Folk talked
| roo, as folk will, and both OF the plotters
I heard the comments made and laughed. at
/ them. When the undertow carried her past
/ the breakers. one afternoon and he swan
/ out fearlessly and held her up until aid
! arrived gossip ran riot-with laughter.
/ Late in the month:
THE season begins soon," said he. "Our
vacation is all but gone.
I'VE have spent it weIl, she replied.
Think how our work will have been i'm
proved"
1t was delightful summer.
And on the last night but one of their
mutual rest he and she together on the
porch as they had seventy days before and
watched the tide climb vigorously as OF old
/ for tides are part of eternity and do
not grow feeble in seventy times seventy
/ days. Curiously enough the same ridicu-
| lous ballad was being played at the other
side of the building, though in the inter-
! i'm it had become a duet. And the last
| loterer OF their party was upstairs pom
/ dering upon his ability as a matchmaker.
I'VE go back tomorrow" the man sigh
ed, sorrowfuliy.
Tomorrow" said the girl.
| Two voices blended in the words to the
| ridiculous ballad
Il had never been really happy before"
/ she commented.
Il have had a jolly good time" quoth he.
| And it ends tomorrow"
Tomorrow"
She paused, scanning the horizon for the
steamer, which was long overdue. But
there was no motion anywhere save for
the ragged edge that marked the meeting
of sky and sea.
''We shall be iaunting to town again, .
the man remarked-''to a stuffy theatre
and a crowd of people who only recognize
tragedy when it is accompanied by slow
music"
I'VE shall be in the same troupe" said
the girl
And then, as he leaned against his chair
and took to putting placidly at his cigar,
she rose to go.
Hold on" quoth he 81 want to tell
you something"
She waited.
Il when 1 get back he went on, half
jokingly-"when 1 get back 1 am to be
married. She's charming little thing and
you must know her
The girl was looking out to sea, though
all chance of the steamers passing had
vanished. But you said" she began,
hesitatingly.
'That 1 had never been in lover He
laughed. THAT was not quite true I'm
afraid the lessons have been wasted
did not need them"
The duet ended
Not wasted" she said. 81 have learned
something