Evening journal., 1900-01-26
r THE g0DDs TFE9NG

/ OF vera NOAttt
1.-THE odd thing about It is that
don't really dislike him at ALL"
you viii tell me next that he
doesn't really dislike you" said Maud
Leslie, with an unbelieving laugh.
II am afraid" said Vera, there Is no
doubt about that" / could have point
ed out grave doubts, but wasn't more
than half awake. Besides, 1 couldn't
be quite sure that they referred to me.
Did you say afraid, Ve?"
"You needn't bubble over my
words" she answered impatiently.
There was a pause.
Dear old Vel" said Maud, in a mo-
ment Here again ought to have pre-
tended that l had just woke up, and
announced myself.
Il hate himl" Vera observed incon-
sistently.
so" said Maud. heartily, do l."
I could not we'll proclaim my presence
after these remarks.
cat least ! think 1 do"
"I'm sure / do" said Maud. posi-
/ lively. "I consider him horrible"
ooh. Maud. You know he isn't"
"He must be, or he wouldn't be so
rude to you"
"I-I provoke him. you see'
"That is no excuse at all. Look at
the way he contradicted you about
those Tuscan vases. or whatever you
call them"
"t contradicted him first"
"Why shouldn't your"
4 "Because-he was right"
(Which made it all the more annoy
ing"
yes" said Vera. with a sigh.
wished l had let her have her own
way.
Never mind, dear. You refutod
him about those silly pre-something-
brother things"
"No-o; / didn't, really"
, ooh, but you did Papa and every
/. one laughed about It. Confound theml'
"Ah, butt was sorry, and he knew
IT,"
Nonsense, We"
Didn't you hear what he said to
l Sir Garvin O'Brien about them after
ward? If you remember"
Il don'tl l didn't understand a word
OF their gibberieh, and didn't want to-
Quite right, Miss Maud women
Z shouldn't dabble in antiquities. Their
4 they wouldn't quarrel with antiquar
@ ians.
al Anyhow, it disposed of my theory
e completely"
d "Then why didn't he say it at The
!. timer"
Probably he thought me beneath
argument" AS a matter Of fact I had
for once, made an effort to be mag
unanimous, and spare her feelings.
He is a great deal too superior,
. stated Maud. l felt myself blushing.
HE really knows a great deal" sug
9 sested Vera, timidly. / made up m,
y mind not to quarrel with her any more
2, "A lot of Anticipated rubbish of N
+ use to any one" scoffed Maud. / cuull
Z. feel that she was tossing her head
,. Jack calls him the lumberroom'
Jack is q young asst
Il don't agree" said Vera hotlS
Jack is"
rel mo he isn't!"- He's very nearly en-
ir gagged to Maud.
% "a charming and intelligent fellow
B. was going to say"
: NASTY little story-tellerl" / though
4 they were going to quarrel, but the
didn't.
well, I'll admit the learning ,
your Mr.. Norton" said Maud, whe
they had done laughing, but"
~ "Iie isn't my Mr.. Norton" Vera oil
jected. There was a further pause
e II Maud had gone should have felt II
n, clined to come out and place "Mr. MOI
Sc ton" at pretty Veras disposal, bt
y Maud didn't go.
A do you really like him, old Vel
10 she asked.
only Just little."
"Sure?"
"Yes-almost sure"
Il NH ~ "a I'M
d. protested Maud. impatiently. HE
of forty. at least" Thirty-seven oni
H. Il don't care If he is. He lool
nd young"
Hes full Of conceit." That real
was a mistake
"Oh. Maudiel OF course. he can
90 help knowing that he knows things
cn "Rubbishy antiquitlesi / beg vol
pardon, dear old girl, for attackiI
-. your subject; but they are. Anyho
"a l don't believe he knows half so mu'
M about them as you do"
% That" said Vera. "is utterly a
surd. 1 do not deceive myself up'
that point"
a had been studying antiquities
IN twenty years. She has dabbled
nd them for two. Her friends had pc
IN, suaded her that she was an authorii
and she had posed q little to me.
EN- had been impatient and tactless
he pointing out her harmless errors. Tn
cir was the beginning Of our quarrelir
lst Afterwards We disagreed upon ever
thing that we happened to discuss. Y
had discussed a good many things.
IS Anyhow" contended Maud "
or doesn't know much about anythl
he else--except, perhaps, chess and b
IA liai DIS
To- He rows well, and dances splendl
r rS- ~"
he III he did things as well as he thin
m he does" said Maud scornfully. Y
an win admit that my situation was ei
barrassing.
You are rather hard on hin, Maj
think" SO did l. Wont you q
To-. NIT that he has any good points?"
We "Oh-he can TALK He's very ann
,o,. ing when he comes out OF his shell.
,on rather like 10 talk to him myself" ]
E deed! But I don't believe he has
10 hit nf cnntffnnnf fn him I'm ct,ro D.