, 1902-04-18


Aren't you woman enough to know
what is the matter with me?"
the literary woman re-entered the
room and went up to Vaughn who
was not playing.
Mr.. Vaughn l believe these are
Ihe-er-"
Morton grinned.
Tried her best to express an opin-
ion and broke down."
A smile went around the table, but
Morton's grin became exceedingly
dry when the literary woman paused
beside his chair and said something
about his stepping out on the gallery
for a moment. Vaughn's warning
rang in his ears; his nerve deserted
him.
Not right now" he stammered.
That Is, 1 must beg you to excuse
"As you like" she cut in dryly,
but the man seemed"
"The man? l thought--Oh the
man"
He went out abruptly and a a of
irrepressible laughter rippled through
the room. The literary woman dis
creetly forebore to question. and pick
ing up a magazine turned to a seat
| on the opposite side from where
Vaughn sat chatting with their host
ess.
Presently, when the hostess excused
| herself to act her role Of umpire.
Vaughn ose to lean against the man.
tie.
ANY objections to a bit of fresh
air??" he murmured with his eyes on
| the fire.
Miss Nordham continued to turn the
leaves of her magazine for a moment
longer. then she, too, arose to stand
before the fire. A moment later the
door that opened upon the southern
gallery closed softly. Morton looked
around quickly.
"Ill be blessed if they haven't slipped
through my fingers after ALL" he ejac-
ulated. Il tell you. Miss Nanny, a
chaperone's lot is truly a hard one. l
have followed those two through the
length and breadth of the land l have
sat upon balcony ratings and listened
to metaphysical discussions until I
could see nothing before me but the
fate of that young fellow who went
to sleep and fell out of the window
while the apostle was preaching. You
remember? The first man on record to
60 to sleep under q m have
kept late hours and early hours, /
horo h{LeI and hootnI
"Wha did you do 1t for?" interrupt
ed his hearers.
Morton shook his head sadly.
Trying to keep that friend OF mine
from making a fool of himself about
a woms who doesn't care a shot for
him. Too late now No doubt he is
telling her at this very that
he loves her and she is making copy
of him. Oh. don't try to protest. She
makes copy of everything. She knows
how to get It, too. I've seen 1t all.
Man, woman, child. dumb beast, barring
their best and bravest for her benefit.
And what does she give In return?
Words? Plenty of them. bright and
brilliant as o please, But heart?
Why, she would rather be caught she'd
ding blood than shedding tears. H. is
your deal. Miss Nanny. There is no
use crying over spilled milk, but 7
have known all along that as soon as
she turned him down. Vaughn would
rush back to grub work in the Museum
and my holiday would be over"
His unsympathetic listeners laughed
frankly at this ingenious betrayal of
the real source of his anxiety.
Yes" he admitted mournfully, self
Ia at the bottom Of 1t. Sometimes It
seems to me that self is at the bottom
Of all our troubles"
II Morton's predictions concerning
the fate of his proposals had been YER
ihed Vaughn's dark face betrayed no
hint of chagrin as he followed Miss
Nordham into the room, and his voice
was as deep and even As usual when
he spoke.
II have some good news for your.
Norton"
Good news!" stammered Morton.
AYE" assented the older man. Miss
Nordham has expressed 4 decided opin-
ION. She says she believes you are
one Of the best-hearted young fellows
in the world.
"Oh. stop your guying." Morton
rrumbled. "You make me sleepy"
II think 1t Is time We were ON
bikes" Vaughn replied quietly. and
turned to thank their hostess for .
pleasant evening.
Had II been pleasant really! Nor
toA had seemed I be hopeful that
..Ho<Aing lad happened. The ladies were
discussing the question In undertones
A. 1901 -~.~a~. -hnA = sA~n rams nm