The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1899-06-15

ity and the recollection of where we
were-"Cyrano was perfectly lovely in
spite of his nose He was so sweet and
faithful to bis love, she finished more
naturally as we came opposite fine
portrait of Mansfield which hung on the
wall near by. Her wraps were still OD
my arm. and | drew her aside gently
to don them.
..Phyllis. | said softly as she slipped
into her jacket and dropped the fur
collarette into its enviable 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 l held her firmly
facing me-under guise of buttoning
her coat-and she was compelled to
make some sort of reply After mo-
ment it came, and unexpectedly gentle.
considering all things.
mo. she said sweetly, II don't I
suppose there are men living even now
"a few of them anyway-who are
faithful like that .
My heart gave a great bound of joy.
for had been longing to ask Phyllis
certain question for many months. and
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. l asked again. holding
both her hands in mine under pretense
of giving her her muff. "Phyllis. do
you think I'm one of those menu
T-I-don't know; perhaps, said
Phyllis, blushing gloriously. but she
pulled her hands away from mine in q
hurry and set her face toward the street.
was at loss how to continue the
interesting series of questions which
might never be SO alphabetically 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. 'oh.
Phyllis. won't you decide the question
Nh. Barnton and have been disput ing2
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
~ fo iplz o. no % %
nose after he had proved himself at all
worthy of her would be too small and
little, in point of soul and heart. to be
worth any man love- 1t doesn't seem
to me such little thing as a nose
even if it's as big as Cyrano's. seeing
that the other girl and her escort sus-
pected pun and were preparing to
smile, fought to be allowed to enter
into the consideration of such ques-
ton at all. l don't see just how it
could. for that matter. For my part.
after the first shock Of getting used to
it was over. of course" this with q
hasty. half furtive glance in my direc-
ton. Il don't see how it could have
anything to do with the question of
love at all -
"Well. don't believe could bring
myself to love man with nose like
Cyrano's. persisted the other girl.
whose escort. soon to assume nearer
relationship. if common report was to
be believed, boosted a nose modelled
something after the snub pattern. and
once more Phyllis shifted.
81 could" her attitude seemed to
say as her friend kept on chattering
and laughing. and took advantage of
the moment to slip my hand over hers,
as it hung at her side. the soft folds of
her pretty dress in it's grasp. Phyllis
own nose is dainty little feature. but
it was elevated in a manner more de-
cided than graceful just then-another
fact from which l augured well. Nor
did she snatch her hand away. as had
half expected her to do.
"Phyllis. l murmured again as we
reached the street and stood waiting
for the carriage. lido you think you
| could love a man in spite of his big
nose. if he happened to have one?''
Phyllis looked trifie scared. but the
good blood which made her soldier an
| cestors famous for their deeds of valor
made her brave and trihe daring. so
she glanced up courageously to meet
| my eyes.
'I-I think SO, - she whispered back.
| trembling a little. but not shrinking
from my eager face in the least. and
once more was emboldened to further
risking of my fate.
''Phyllis. said. whispering myself
now. lido you think you could love me3"
There was a moments silence be-
tween US, and then I was helping Phyl-
lis into the carriage. But she had tim
idly murmured Yes in the interval.
| and that is the reason am now firm in
my belief that Mansfield concerning
whose histrionic genius had been care
lessly doubtful heretofore. is the great
est actor America has ever seen or will
see for many day to come. and in this
opinion Phyllis. who presented me with
framed photograph of Cyrano and
| who has not fewer than seven other
photographs of the man who made him
| famous stuck about the walls of her
| own sitting ROOM most heartily con-
ours Chicago Post
Consumption 1.-THE Snake.