The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-12-28

to initiate anybody. but was simply a rIa' n.
everyday American girl. and was gla,i of il.
When she laughed she laughed-hGnest.
true-hearted. unaffected, happy iIuS I =.
When she talked-and she talked a great
DEALT was somewhat through her nose.
as a Hoosier, born and bred. Her OCCASION
al misSivingS that somebody might IN stake
her nationality We're unfounded. though FOR
FEAR Of ii she wore a small American :laE
pinned to her bosom. Nor could -, tn,
raillery and expostulations of BILLY in
duce her to give this up.
l soon discovered that Mary Ann had
round a new way to haraSS that young
man. She had started a Irritation with i
handsome Frenchman nam.i Dubois. He
had obtained an Introduction through an
old-time friend of Billy" and had man
aged to encounter the couple everywhere.
she gave him every encouragement that
manners could convey.
oh. he is the handSumest man | ever
saw she would eXcldim.
For goodness sake. Mary" cautioned
Billy: be careful before these French
men! Try to remember
Now. ] won't have any Of your lectures,
Billy Jones-thats fiat
Think of your position and home"
We'll. we're not singing in the choir Just
now" she retorted. 1t VAL be time enough
to take up that-that-I don't believe Ill
ever go back there again. anyhow"
This. with a sly glance at me. was apro-
POS VI TIE ItdI Ing t.CS| oil Billy : EItJ-
ton, and his evident anxiety to have her
return with him. II was quite unnecessary
for her TO abuse my cOrnS in order TO make
me understand that all of this was mere
persitiage-the peculiar privileges of a life
time of daily intimacy in which romance
is a stranger.
Now. this Monsieur Dubois was certainly
a very handsome man. with swarthy COM
pleXion. Coal-blaCk eyes ami thick, Cr.SUy
hair that contrasted strongly with her soft
face and golden head. .As he couldn't Ua-
derstand a word of English. Billy" Wis
compelled to serve as Interpreter DetweeQ
his sweetheart and would-be rival.
This situation amused Mary Ann very
much indeed. and she wickedly made the
duty as CALLING as possible. 1t j Il trying
thing for a man to he strictly just under
such circumstance. and "Billy." while not
assailed by the demon Jealousy. UHqIestion-
ably showed growing ~restiven- s. The
Frenchman. who would have simply kicked
Billy the circumstances reversed, now
treated him with polite contempt.
We had scarcely been seated ten minutes
when Monsieur Dubois presented himself.
to "Billy's'' evident annoyance and Mary
AIMS affected pleasure. We bowed coUr-
teously. while she frankly extended her
hand. He held that hand rs long as de-
Gently possible. and | began to dislike the
Frenchman then and there.
ASK him what he'll have to drink" said
d <Ailil- dbidl filAtN l't dN iii iliIilltttu
by the indianapolis choir.
Billy" graye!y turned her request into
French. at the same time indicating her
pocketboOk. Monsieur Dubois smiled ut her
admiringly and was evidently charmed at
the customs of the American country.
In this all those in the vicinity who had
witnessed and heard also Joined.
How intersting!" exclaimed Mary Ann.
watching the water trickle down through
the lump of sugar poised on top of the COB
let.
"Absinthe." said Billy"
Look at the green clouds In it" she
chartered.
They're nothing to the green clouds on
the brain of the man who drinks it az a
beverage suggested Billy
Monsieur Dubois raised his dark eve
brows. inquirin2ly. Billy" EXPLAINED
I'D like to just taste it," said Mary Ann.
The Freedman had guessed this and
now offered a glass and spoon.
Il wouldn't do that, Mary expostulated
Billy"
wouldn't your" she retorted. defiantly.
And she accepted at once.
Monsieur Dubois laughed. He surely IN
the situation.
How queer" she commented upon the
taste of the liquor. It's sweet-no. it's
kind o bitter sweet. I've a notion to order
one for m~yself-its certainly nicer than this |
lemonade!"
As Billy" did not forbid it. she did not
Billy" was in a deep brown study. !
during which l was frequently called in as
interpreter in an uninteresting conversa-
ton.
Let us take a stroll In the Luxembourg |
Garden" she finally suggested. as evening |
began to attract the usual cafe crowd.
Monsieur Dubois did not waft-he OWNED
her purpose-he CALAMITY offered his arm.
AS we crossed the Boulevard st. Michel |
she looked over her shoulder at us and
joyously. 1t was so amusing to
have a handsome beau who could neither
understand nor be understood. But there
IS an unspoken language more eloquent
han mere words-the glance of the eye. the
pressure of the hand-and no doubt Mon
sieur Dubois was well skilled in this uni
,ersal tongue. !
BILLY" walked along by my side for some
in silence, then said, as If to con-
himself and to excuse the girl he loved:
She doesn't mean anything. 1t is Just
her ~way-pure deviltry. She is so spirited
and full of life, But don't you know that
Kind of a man doesn't understand that sort
If a girl? No Frenchman does"
I'm afraid Mary doesn't understand the |
any better" said /.
True enough. You see. she works in an
flee among men-meets strange men every