Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-03-03
NUMBER M "a.

Will Morland pushed open the door
Of the British Museum reading-room,
and turned to his accustomed seat with
the nir of an habitue.
He had 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 girl. diligently reading-hatless,
and also with the MEN 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 slim
young man, with the air Of an habitue.
Seeing Miss Cartons trim little fig
ure Fastening up tho 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 and pencil had
reached the spot.
After that the fun became fast and
furious. Who should occupy the COW
eted seat?
The air of innoncence 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, sud to relate, 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-roem 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. 10!
The temptation was too great, and
she fell. She whisked the gloves over
the border into 10, and on Moreland'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 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.
20, l wish | hadn't" she said to her
self. cit was abominable of me-hor-
rid! I wish he would come back, and
I'd tell him so. I'll never, never sit
here again!"
ted to himself, after cigaret in
Bloomsbury place, "and just as we'll
that it should have been brought to an
4
course, I'll never 90 near the place
again." he added thoughtfully.
1t was 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 90 round tO geo
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 Moreland arrived shortly af-
terward he found his newly adopted
seat already occupied by the hatless
girl with businesslike mien. She
looked up as he uttered Slight ex-
clamation, and grew red.
"Oh, wanted to see you" she said,
ito apologize for the dreadful thing l
did yesterday. 1t was abominable Of
me, and-O, please forgive me!'
Eve have been struggling against
fate he said, though we did not
know it. l adopted A 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 Pm never going to sit in
the horrid place again.
II think prefer A 4. 1t is less-less
less drafty."
Don't you know the Legend" she
said, that there was only one draft
| bold enough to diSpor1 itself in this