The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-03-06
Fairly Caught.
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and pinned me to the back of my
chair with her coal-black eyes.
We'll really Dora" l replied. "as
am not prepared to bring hydraulic
pressure TO bear on him, ] don't see
how to avoid the catastrophe. And
how do you know which one of us he
comes here to see? Besides, I'd rather
spend my energy on man who does
not shy at every girl he meets"
burned under the look she darted
at me.
"You needn't comb your hair over
your face. old lady" she laughed; IT
know the signs of the times. You've
got It bad, or you wouldn't hang out
a red flag in each cheek the minute I
call his name. Goodness don't wish
he could see you in that dressing
sacque with your hair down You look
like-listen!"
Yes, sir; just come right in,' we
heard the housemaid say.
Our hired girl was only four hours
old-counting by her term of service in
our flat-and we had forgotten to warn
her against being veraclous at the
front door. Now she was, ushering in,
unannounced, Colonel Arthur-of all
men in the world.
With dressing sacque and hair wav-
ing in the breeze, | made one wild
dash for liberty. only to find the side
door locked on the other side. ] think
! that in that moment I must have real
lied how much / wished to look well
in John Arthur's eyes
Tell him I'm out, and he'll CO."
whispered wildly: and slipped behind
the window curtains just as he en-
tered the door. | am not quite sure
that / believed my own ears as that
little fiend Dora grasped his hand and
said: "She isn't here at present but
am looking for her at any minute
Can't you come in and wait? No
don't sit there; come over here by the
window--it's so much cooler"
And over she brought him. and seat
ed him with his back so close to me
that l had to fiatten myself against
the window facing to keep me from
touching me.
That's the trouble about Dora: you
never know one moment what she is
going to do the next.
That I live to chronicle it, I can't to
this day understand; but that girl
kept that man talking till they had
exhausted every subject in life, death
and immortality Several times I VEN
tured to peep out from my hiding place
and look death and destruction at
Dora, but she gazed past me and out
into the night with an innocence that
was superb.
Where is Miss Johnston" Colonel
Arthur asked, at length.
"Oh, / really don't know" replied
my tormentor. There was a young
mana very dear friend of hers from
ST. Louis-who was here all the after
noon, and they started for stroll in
the park just before you came"
I would have given a pretty sum to
see his expression that moment-the
back of a masculine head conveys so
little.
Suddenly he got up from his chair
and took another close at her side. /
could see his face now, and it was very
grave.
Miss Dora" he said and the ex-
treme timidity which she and had so
often deplored in him suddenly swept
over him, II am glad of this op-
portunity Of talking with you by your
self. I've wanted to a long time, you
KnOW-Dut-Dut-
Oh. heavens, was there no way of
escape He was going to propose to
Dora. l saw II in his eyes--and lit.
tie fooi-in spite Of my pretty face, was
defeated at last.
II see so little of you-and-" he be-
gan.
There's so little of me to see," she
replied pertly, " and it seems to be
law of nature that there must always
be two girls to every one young man.
doesn't it?"
Dora realized. too, now, for she was
growing coquettish. How cruel of her
not to let me out!
II wanted to tell you-oh, I'm such a
duffer-"
You might have left me to find that
out" Then, seriously: But what is
it, Colonel Arthur"
well, I'm in love-please don't
laugh-Tm madly. foolishly in love
with Miss Johnston, but / am afraid
to tell her. She's so distant, don't you
know"
''She's not as distant as you think"
replied Dora, and l would have burst
out laughing, II I hadn't been shaking
and tingling.
Yes, she is; she's as cold as an ice
maiden, and" he stopped, and Dora
nodded sympathetically.
Florence is cold" thoughtfully.
| should say l was This evening
breeze had been steadily rising, and
was now blowing in a cold stream
down the neck of my sacque.
NOW / feel that / understand YOU 4"
he went on. but she-well, she Just
seems to hide from me-" / had to
stuff my handkerchief in my mouth at
this point, and I saw plainly that even
Dora's illimitable composure was
shaken
and find herr" she suggested.
"If did I'd shut up like a clam the
minute met her, I'd give half I own
to have 1t said and over with"
How much do you happen to be
WORTH" she demanded.
IT? Oh, something like a hundred
thousand" he answered-not catching
her meaning. II have plenty to sup
port her. But it's no use; I'll never be
able to say it,"
Excuse me a moment, colonel, but
the air from that window is quite cool.
Won't you please lower the sash?"
When he laid his hand on the cur
tain. behind which was nearly faint
ing, Dora escaped to the hall door like
a flash. and as he pulled the tapestry
from before my crimson face she dart
ed out, crying: Colonel Arthur,
shall expect a check for $4,000 in the
morning!"-New Orleans Times Demo-
crat