Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1901-11-15

Meredith declared that his pipe never
smoked as well as when Bonita packed
IL for him.
Touching his repeater. the faithful
little chime rang out--nlne and twen-
ty. Great Scott" he exclaimed. spring
ing to his feet. why didn't you
give me a hint it was so late? What
use are you. anyway. hanging there,
twirling your tees. when | should be
twirling miner"
Just then there came a knock at
the door. and without waldng for an
answer, his friend Graham entered
with a rush. nello. not ready yet?
What have you been about, you old
fogy2 You'll get no dances if you
don't hurry"
Don't want any. Haven't danced
for four years, as told you" an
swered John, in the drawing indiffer-
ent tone he always assumed when
matters social were discussed.
We'll, you promised me you d go
to this How do you expect to be
success in your profession if you drop
so completely out of social lifey Don't
you know that two or three conquests
tonight mean as many calls in the
course of the week."
Great heavensl You don't mean III"
tsarcastically).
Yes, and I'll wager you haven't
even thought of the dancing shoes
you promised me so faithfully to buy"
There you are wrong. dear boy. as
usual Thought of them Just in the
nick OF timo. Open the box there and
lend me a hand, win your" giving
himself a shake). He disappeared
into the other end of the long room,
which was divided by portieres, and
was dignihed by the title of sleeping
apartment. in this. his home up five
flights of stairs-the climbing of
which was all the exercise he needed,
he declared.
An astonished silence followed the
cracking of the paper, then a burst
OF hearty laughter
What in thunder have you been
about, old saw-bones? Some ones been
playing trick on you"
AS Charlie finished speaking, Mere
dith appeared at the portieres. and to
his astonished gaze was held up pair
Of white SUICIDES. dainty, high heeled.
fit for fairy. CONSERVATION dire over
whelmed them both, then recollection
came to Meredith. swift and sure. -
pair of brown eyes glances indignaniIf
into his, then a sweet voice is saying:
They must be white, Sue; either satin
or suedel" OF course, the stupid clerk
had mixed them up.
But. great heavens, where are his?
He dare not trust himself to think.
In the meantime, Charlie stood with
the dainty deeeivers poised gingerly
in one hand gazing quizzically at Mer-
edith.
you've mistaken the box, old man.
did not intend to pry into your Sc
erets, assure you. Very clumsy of
me. Kindly show me the right box"
"oh, hang it all dry up. What are
you talking about?" almost shouted
Meredith. shaken out of his usual
calm Don't you see what has hap
pened? The clerk has mixed them
up, that's all Then he related the
whole story to his unsympathetic
friend, who rolled over on the divan
in paroxysms of delight, to the detri-
ment of his immaculate evening dress.
That's the best | ever heard" he
gasped. Imagine the scene in the
boudoir of the brown eyed one, when
your dainty canoes arrived. Don't
stand there pstrified. Hurry up, get
out your old ones and come along"
But / haven't any old ones. Gave
them all to my small brother long
ago What use have I for dancing
shoes?" dejectedly. Now that all pos
si6ility of a dance was at an end, he
longed most unreasonably for the I'M
attainable. Forlornly. he arrayed him
self.
you'll have to sit out most of your
dances-if you get any" said his
friend. consolingly: mine are all en-
gagged. never take any before half
past ten"
Nobody will want to dance with me
in these thick things" sighed the
other, surveying his shoes ruefully.
However, they made start finally,
Charlie gayly arranging future pro-
ceedings as they went.
Now, II the brown eyes are there.
what luck I'm sure TO know her; I
know everybody. can see it all--in-
PRODUCTION. start of recognition, hope
less confusion, gallant friend to the
rescue-all satisfactorily explained in
a moment"
"Neverl" calculated Meredith.
clutching his arm. Suppose she's a
girl who CHATS a fellow numerically.
'Why. she can't She's in as much
of box as you are"
"oh, no, she isn't. She forgot all
about me and my patent feathers as
soon as she entered the store"
well. hope for the best, my af-
flicted friend" said Charlie.
Presently they reached the brilliant
ly lighted hall Were the first cotillion
of the season was under way. Gayly
the couples were marching back and
forth through the mazes Of the figures.
and there-surely his eyes did not mis-
lead him-was the brown eyed one. de-
murely leading all that lovely train of
followers. Meredith leaned against the
door-facing. and Graham noticed the
look OF CONSERVATION, almost of lear,
upon his face.
She's here. is she?" he asked.
yes. there. leading" he answered,
family.
That Beatrice Harloei Well. you
are lucky dog She's the iolliest and
sweetest girl on the hill"
Later on Meredith was introduced,
and one glance of the brown eyes was
enough. Totally unprepared for the
meeting no sooner did their eyes meet
than the remembrance swept over her
Of the great clumsy thing in front
of the shoe store. Laughing, she put
out her hand: oh. Or. Meredith and
| have met before. If rather uncere-
moniousIy. You must excuse our
hoefa ~ This affarnoon-ua ,ra-o q,