The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-23
Mrs. Ptkington's Book 5ea.
BY DRUID GRAYL.

ways intend to be lord of a barren, cur.
tailed heritage, 1 hope.'
by Jove, no." sighed Harold. "But.
there's my book, you know"
Bother your book; let's get on to the
other books" said his sister, who, hav-.
ing planted her shaft home was content
Now, I've told you that Miss Singleton
makes quite craze Of the amusement
l mention her name again only to show
it's possibilities; for she's really clever.
For instance, last time we met she wore
a narrow letter A, in scarlet, which ran
from top to bottom of her dress Guess
what it signifed."
The Scarlet Letter. I should say"
responded her brother promptly
Just what everyone else thought, but
quite incorrectly 1t meant 'Innocents
Abroad; do you see? In no sense A.
broad. Wasn't it clever?'
There was an ingenuity about it
worthy of better cause she ought to
be writing burlesques where puns are
welcome. I thought they were ousted
from modern society"
Net in a case such as the present,
stupid" responded Mrs. Oden, with true,
sisterly frankness. ION another occa-
sion she wore a card with a grub inside.
a corncob painted on it. Can you guess
that?'
81 can't" remarked her brother. TITS
beyond me. I quite perceive that am.
the untutored savage you made me out to
be-"
1T meant Within the Maze See,
maize and maze? Clever again. Ad-
nit it,
Another pun
It's inevitable What is a rebus but
pictorial pun?"
Il always thought there was a differ
ence between a riddle and a mere conun,
drum
well, as you're so clever, perhaps
you'll invent yourself and me something
distinctly novel, L haven't won a prize
yet; my poor lite puzzes have been
solved straightway. I've been so despair
ing that 1 almost went on one occasion
with my blouse inside out to represent
The Seamy Side You may dress for
the title, or wear a mere label as you
please you know"
I'm very glad you didn't" said her
brother, Indignantly. He shared the old
fashioned prejudice against a woman
making an undignifed exhibition of her.
self.
But, when he came to consider the laws
of the game, he found himself more
hampered than he expected. AS his sis
ter had said, the pun asserted itself per-
! sistently. 1t was hours before he could
solve the difficulty, apart from this form
! OF wit, and even whe he had hit upon
a change, the result did not strike him
as being at all satisfactory. However,
he led to neighboring house, like a
lamb to the slaughter, carrying in his
pocket blank label for himself. whilst
his sister wore a picture of semaphore
with the danger signal showing, sur.
rounded by moths
wac
to several other ladies present incIud-
ing the heiress, who was certainly en-
thusiastic, not to say tiresome-she was
so saturated with the business in hand
that she appeared to. know nothing of
the works whose titles she was so glib
with.
Look around, do, Mr. Carstairs," She
said; are you puzzled? I am not See
that lady with the word ebb in a knot?
That's The Ebb Tide, I'm positive
Fine novel; said Carstairs; contains
some of Stevensons best work, think.
Do you? That scene
Il haven't read it,o she INTERRUPTED
1T takes me all my time to study a Ii
brary catalogue tor keep pace with my
competitors. Isn't it an interesting pas-
time? Much better than gossip and rnu-
sic. We are to have music teas soon.
though, and then play teas; then, of
course snail have to look up music
sheets and play bills. That girl over
there with the letter sewn on her
shoulder has not puzzled me. The title
Is I've an o. 'Ivanhoe,' you know
Where does the aitch come in?" ask
er Harold bluntly.
oh, it doesn't do to be so particular
as that. I'm afraid you are awfully pe
dantic Mr.. Carstairs. Still, I must say
that L like to preserve the exact sound
myself. Now, for instance, on one occa-
sion L wore dana small Indian COP
per coin, you know, the fortieth part Of