The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1901-05-10

IF that is all. bring him along.
like his face"
We passed out of the fileroom.
phyllis. we must be going, dear"
said Ethel.
led Phyllis down the narrow stairs.
4 handsome victoria stood ut the curb.
81 shall be pleased to hear your sto-
ry," said she.
1t occurred to me that the tale might
not be 10 her liking, so | said, But 1t
is one Of those disagreeable stories
one where all should end nicely, but
doesn't; one which ends leaving the
hero, the heroine and the reader dis
satisfied with the world in general and
the author who is fate, In particular"
knew that she was puzzled. She
wasn't quite sure that l was not refer
ring to the old affair.
eff the story is one | never heard
before" suspiciously. 81 should like to
hear it,"
"And does it not occur to you,"
throwing back the robes so that she
might step into the victoria, that fate
has a special grudge against me?
Once was not enough. but it must be
twice"
And she does not love you? Are
you quite sure? You poor felloww
| She squeezed my hand kindly. Shall
! | be candid with you?" with the faint
est flicker of coquetry in her smile.
"As in the old days" said |, glancing
over my shoulder to see how near the
| a., 4 IL N
considered. Yes. rs in the old days"
"Well, | have often regretted that
did not accept you as an experiment"
Then | knew that she did not under
stand.
"You must not think | am testing"
said | seriously. THE story is of the
bittersweet kind. The heroine loves
me, cannot be mine"
"Loves your" with a slight start
"How do you know
"She has told me So" lowering my
voice
Frankness of this sort to n woman
who has rejected you has a peculiar
effect The coquetry faded from her
smile, and there was perceptible con-
y
which were looking into mine, shifted
to the back of the groom. No, | shall
never understand n woman. She should
have been the most sympathetic wom-
an in the world. yet she appeared to
be annoyed.
whats all this between you and
Phyllis?" asked Ethel, coming up.
There is nothing between her and
me-" said |.
well, there should be-" she retorted.
"That is the trouble"
My observation was: II have always
held that Immediately a woman gets
married she makes it her business to
see that all old bachelors are logged
out and disposed of to old maids
Il shall never forgive that" Phyllis
declared; never"
Then | shall always have the eXqui-
site pleasure of being n supplicant for
your pardon. 1t is delightful to sue
pardon Of a beautiful woman"
Phyllis shifted.
Forgive him at once" said Ethel,
''if only for that pretty speech"
Mr.. Holland pulled out his watch
suggestively.
"Well," | said, Il see that l am keep
ing you from your lunch. Goodby,
then, till dinner, when l shall continue
at length on the evils
William" interrupted Ethel, adj
dressing the groom, "drive on
And SO they left us.
"Shall we 90 to lunch now?" l asked
of Pembroke.
Eyes" rather dreamily, l thought
"Do you know" with sudden ANNA
ton, "she is a remarkably beautiful
woman
"Yes, she is" After all, the sight of
Phyllis had rather upset me.
Il had a glimpse Of her in Vienna
last winter" went on Pembroke. 81
never knew who she was"
vienna l exclaimed.
Eyes. 1t was at concert. Her face
was indelibly craven on my memory.
l asked q neighbor who she was, but
when | went to point her out she was
gone. l should like TO see more of her. -
SO Gretchen had been in Vienna, and
| pOOI IlllldIS udu ucNcI huOWu.
| took Pembroke to the club that aft
ernoon, and we dalled in the billiard
room till time to dress for dinner. Din
ner came. But Phyllis forgot to ask
me about the story, at which | grew
puzzled, considering what l know of
woman's curiosity. And she devoted
most of her time to Pembroke, who did
not mind. Later we went to the thea
ter-some production of Gilbert and
Sullivan. Whenever l glanced at Phyi-
lis / fell to wondering how Gretchen
would have looked in evening dress.
Yes, Phyllis was certainly beautiful,
uncommonly. For years l had wor-
SHIPPED at her shrine, and then-how lit
tie we know Of the heart! l was rath-
er distracted during the performance,
and many of my replies went wide the
mark.
AS we were leaving the foyer Phyllis
said, "Jack, man has been staring
me out of countenance."
Pembroke" / laughed.
mo And, moreover, the stare was