The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-07-21

sly arm, and drew he, aside gently
to don them.
''Phyllis. said softly as she slipped
into her jacket and | dropped the fur
collarette into its enviabls place about
her throat. Phyllis, do you think Cy-
rano was the only man in the world
who was ever faithful to his love in
spite of big nose?''
She looked up, she looked down. she
blushed vividly, but 1 held her firmly
facing me-under guise of buttoning
her coat-and she was compelled to
make some sort of reply. After a mo-
ment it came, and unexpectedly gentle.
considering all things.
"No," she said sweetly, 81 don't. l
suppose there are men living even now
"a few of them anyway-who are
aithful like that
My heart gave great bound of JOY,
for had been longing to ask Phyllis
Phyllis was not always kind. Iaugured
well for my question from her late re-
mark, hut, mindful of the lesson of
the earlier evening, was careful to al
low nothing of my elation to be seen.
''Phyllis, asked again, holding
both her hands in mine under pretense
of giving her her muff, "Phyllis, do
you think I'm one of those menf''
"I-I-don't know; perhaps" said
Phyllis, blushing gloriously. but she
pulled her hands away from mine in a
hurry and set her face toward the street.
was at loss how to continue the
interesting series of questions which
might never be SO sympathetically and
conveniently propounded and responded
to again, and again Fate or Providence,
in the form of the girl who sat imme-
diately in front Of us, came to my aid.
"Oh. Phyllisl" she cried, evidently
forgetting all about the snub admins
tered by that charming damsel in dis
cussing Cyrano's lawful" nose. ooh,
Phyllis, won't you decide the question
Nh. Barnton and have been disputing !?
Do you think it would have been easy
for Roxane to love Cyrano in spite of
his nose if she hadn't imagined herself
in love with the other man, or would
that fearful member have rendered any
girls love impossible2'
Phyllis shifted audibly.
"Well, according to my opinion,
my way of thinking" she announced
with decision, ''the girl who would
stop to think of the shape of man g
nose after he had proved himself at all
worthy of her would be too small and
IN, 1f o,.f 70 ho
worth any mans love- 1t doesn't seem
to me such little thing as nose
even if it's as big as Cyrano's," seeing
that the other girl and her escort sus-
pected a pun and were preparing to
smile, sought to be allowed to enter
| into the consideration of such n ques-
tion at all 1 don't see just how il
could, for that matter. For my part,
after the first shock of getting used to
it was over, of course this with a
hasty, half furtive glance in my direc.
tion, 81 don't see how it could have
| anything to do with the question Of
| love at all"
| "Well, l don't believe l could bring
| myself to love a man with a nose like
| Cyrano's, persisted the other girl
whose escort, soon to assume nearer
relationship, if common report was tt
be believed boasted nose modelled
something after the snub pattern, ani
once more Phyllis shifted.
81 could" her attitude seemed t.
say as her friend kept on chatterinl
and laughing, and took advantage O
the moment to slip my hand over hers
as it hung at her side, the soft folds O
her pretty dress in its grasp. Phyllis
own nose is dainty little feature, bu
it was elevated in a manner more de
cided than graceful just then anothe
fact from which l augured well. No
did she snatch her hand away. as I ha'
half expected her to do.
s'Phyllis, murmured again as W
reached the street and stood waiting
for the carriage, ''do you think yo1
could love a man in spite of his bi
nose, if he happened to have onef''
Phyllis looked trifle scared, but tn
good blood which made her soldier an
cestors famous for their deeds Of valo
made her brave and trifie daring, 8
she glanced up courageously to NEE
my eyes.
i "I-I think so, !" she whispered bach
trembling a little, but not shrinkin
from my eager face in the least, an
once more was emboldened to furthe
risking of my fate.
"Phyllis, said, whispering mysel
now, "do you think you could love me 2
There was a moments silence be
tween us, and then l was helping Ply
lis into the carriage But she had tin
idly murmured eyes in the interva
and that is the reason l am now firm
my belief that Mansfield, concernin
whose histrionic genius had been cart
lessly doubtful heretofore. is the great
est actor America has ever seen or wi
see for many day to come. and in thi
opinion Phyllis, who presented me wit
. framed photograph of Cyrano an
who has not fewer than seven othe
{ photographs of the man who made hil
, famous stuck about the walls of he
> own sitting room, most heartily col
. curs.-Chicago Post.
: An UnIucky POstman.