The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-20

plate to her with two-thirds of the
chicken upon il, and he spoke roughly. be-
cause he was wondering where others
were ne had met that day; you must eat
You cannot understand" she said
seriously; you have not the horrors in
your mind that ! have in mine. You can
not grasp what 1 mean. You have never
been really, truly hungry-starving, I
mean"
u know little about It," he answered,
with a laugh in spite of himself, and he
placed the remainder of the chicken upon
could not wait any longer, no, not even TO
be polite to the girl who, now he quite rec
osnized, was remarkably fascinating.
Please start" he said with a smile
I'm really very hungry. but 1 feel 1 must
see to you first as my guest"
She raised her knife and fork, and then
with a strange little laugh placed them
down again and rose to her feet
4 feel better now. L must be going
she said resuning her cloak.
BE going he echoed, in establishment
and he sat looking at her with wide-open
eyes, and then slowly rising he walked to-
ward her
You won't do anything of the kind" he
said, shortly Il don't know what your
reasons are, but know you've fallen into
my charge, and you don't go into the
world alone so long as I'm alive. There's
pluck and there's grit, and you've got
both. and there's foolish pride, and you've
got that as well. You shall pay for your
supper one of these days, but you shan't
go until you've had it. You shall only go
then in a cab. If | have to lead the horse
myself all the way, and you shan't go at
all unless you promise TO accept the first
suitable berth we can find for you. and
that will be vacant tomorrow. God bless
my soul" he continued, impetuously
I've friends here; what would they do IL
they heard 1 let you go like this? Twenty
four hours without a meal, and then be-
cause of ualrry pridc--'
"It is not that" she answered. II do
not know your name, but
My name is Carroll he answered.
abruptly, and then felt he ought to kick
himself because his eyes strayed from her
face TO the chicken.
She held out her hand to him and in
stinctively he took it, although he was
quite determined it was not to say good
bye"
-"I cannot accept your hospitality" she
said, because 7 am not what YOU think
me. 7 have told you no untruth. but I've
acted one You think me destitute and
alone in the weird. but" in spite of her
self the girls eyes began to dance little.
and smile lowered round the corners OF
her lips. I'm not I'm on the staff OF the
Mirror -
We're doing a special for tomorrow.
One Day of the Life of Wanderer in
London, and +"
roll. nothing TO eat. homeless. and an
outcast. Why. I've done the same Sent
your copy on?"
NO, 1 was
Give it to me I'll send messenger.
Have You wound up by forming a sub
scription list?'
No l dill not think of that
add il on then. For once the Mirror
and the Courier will work together
The girl took a packet from her pocket
and scrubbed few paragraphs upon the
last sheet and then handed IL to him, and
lie dashed out Of the door.
When he returned In two minutes she
was as he had left her. gazing into the
fire with a little flush upon her cheek and
the light playing upon her waving hair.
and as he paused for second an idea
came to him that was not novel for
bachelor.
footsteps approaching her, and as she
looked into his face there was Just the
shade of an idea in her mind, too.
Are you hungry he asked.
starving she answered.
He waved his hand toward the patient
Il do nope the Courier and the Mir
ror'-that is, you and Twill always be
good friends" he said.
honest wish he sh auld Just touch with the
tips of his fingers her hand as 1t lay upon
the table and because of the camaradeTie
which exists among journalists it was
right that she should let her hand remain
so for just ten seconds, and then, OF
''1se greatest wish OF my heart would
be"
Might 1 ask you to pass the salad?'
she interrupted, with the dawn of a twin
kle In her eye--IIuan Nee in the Strand
Magazine.