The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-12-26


her OUT"
I shall be delighted he said; but he
was not He knew that she had recently
come from somewhere in the country,
! and the dinner was to be a long one.
Il know what you are thinking" said
! Mrs Van Deeken depreeatingIy. Il was
| to have given you Marjorie Fenton. for
know you enjoy her witty filings; but
/ at the last moment I had word that
bad cold would keep her away, and so
| gee you PhiIlina- This is her first big
dinner party, and know you viii be
amiabIe to her"
Staples said that nothing could please
him more. He vas introduced to PhiIIina
/ offered her his arm, and they Joined the
| procession dinnerwards
shes really pretty" he thought as
! they seated themselves ''She has lovely
eyes, buc how she does stare out of
I them"
Phillina was thinking of all she had
heard about Harrison Staples. He was
| asked everywhere. was so cynical, and
knew SO much OF the world. Phillina knew
nothing of the world. but she thought
she would like to learn.
| After his third oyster Staples asked
/ her how she liked New York He thought
that would do as well as anything TO
/ say
Phinina liked it. but she didn't think
/ she would e1er get acquainted with the
people
1T never occurred to me that we we're
a difficult people to get on WITH" re-
marked Staples.
But getting on with people is not
] knowing Them" exclaimed PhilIina- THE
people here all talk great deal. but one
never seems to get nearer to them
II see you are a sentimental young
lady"
4 am not sentimental, and I think it
| is very unkiRd in you to say so, said
| PhiIlina, wiz look of indignant re-
proaeh- Somehow she felt deeply hurt
What a killing glance she can give!-
thought Staples, and he vas conscious
that he no longer felt bored. Now you
are angry with me-" he said. please
don't be"
But you are very unjust to say I am
! sentimental, just because I like 10 really
! know people Don't you care to know the
hearts Of your friends"
Heaven forbid said Staples. 7 don't
even want to know my own heart
rs il so desperately wicked,- en-
! quired PhiIIina- she felt that she was
I pleasing him, and experienced an exhu-
arating sensation
'Unspeakablyt Do you make a study OF
your own heart, Miss Van Decken2 -
Y never thought about it until I came
TO the city said Phinina. evidently
/ thinking about something that disturbed
her, for she blushed and hastily changed
-the subject. Don't let US talk of hearts
/ when We are having our soup; let Us wait
! til the sweetmeats for that. Tell me
about Miss Fenton, who was to have
come Ny cousin says everybody admires
her so
You said that rather wistfu3Iy. are
! you longing for admiration. Miss PhilIina.
I think I should like being admired, 90
( said Phulina. seho only knew enough TO
! say what she thought.
because I vas going TO say that With
out doubt you viii have plenty OF enjoy
ment of that kind
/ IF I could only live always in the
eity,- remarked PhiIIina irrelevantly
And aren't you going to?-
L am afraid not she spoke sadly. We
/ do not seem poor II cur town, but We are
+! TOO poor for the city. I almost wish
cousin Margaret hadn't asked me 10 visit
her. for now that I know what this life is
/ like. I can never be quite as coutented
! at home again
/ Just at this juncture Staples attention
was claimed by the butler. VINO offered
him a dish, and the pause was taken ad-
/ vantage Of by Phiuina's other neighoor.
sn old gentleman who had known her
| mother and who had been waiting for
! chance to tell PhilIina how mUch she was
like her. Staples found that the lady on
his left was engaged in conversation. so
he was left 10 his own thoughts
Poor little thing ne reflected. What
| 2 pity for her 20 be wasted in the wjids
OF country town where the people don't
half appreciate her. Why can't some rich
old fellow take i fancy 10 her and marry
her instead OF spending all his money on
| himself? Colonel Mason, for instance
/ PERHAPS Mrs Van Decken had some such
| lea in her head when she asked her heTa
Philiina very taking. Shed be a social
queen, I'm sure. I would enroll myself
I under her banner for one" Here he
I glanced at PhiIlina's lovely side face. her
little pink ear, and the waves in her
crisp, dark brown hair. Now if I only
had the money people seem to think I
have. blest If I wouldn't go to Phillina 5
rescue myself. and thinl, myself lucky
/ fellow, tool
At this point Staples thoughts wan
dered OF to Marjorie Fenton. She was an
heiress, and she seemed to take pleasure
in his society He had decided that the
! best thing he could do would be to pro-
/ pose for Miss Fenton's hand and heart
and purse. but had put 1t of because her
eynicism always repealed while it amused
him-not that he regarded things in a
higher light himself, but yet he liked
women to be different Lately be had
noticed that young Lsngworth was be-
| coming very attentive to the heiress,
and as he sat beside Phfnina he was
saying to himself: Il think l would bet
ter call on Marjorie Fenton tomorrow
and settle things one way or another
! During tie remainder of the dinner
Phnlina was monopolized by the old gen
| tleman. who did not cease his reIainis-
censes OF her mothers girIhood. She lis
tened patiently and smiled. She was sure
| that she and Staples had not had their
talk out, and felt certain that after din
ner he would find some Nay To finish II