Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1902-09-25

:" INNING, UldCk eyes.
Would you honor me by coming as
my guests to the Pines?'' he said des-
perately, remembering that his credit
ought to be good there.
But old Mrs. Glendennin broke in
with: well be delighted to be your
guests, Mr.. Caldwell but won't you
humor us by taking us to the Shell
burne? It's all the same to you, 1
suppose, and Anne has her heart set
on the music there Haven't you,
Anne?"
And so to the Shelburne they went,
Steve trying to forget that he had less
than dollar, living only each success
sive moment in her presence. hectic
with alternate joy and embarrassment,
till they were well along toward the
coffee. He urged the ladies to order
this, that and the other anything that
would defer the catastrophe and pro-
long his rapture. On tenter hooks of
delight and terror, at last he saw Now
att strolllng across the verandah. He
hailed his friend as a deliverer, and
Jerry was soon chatting with them
No, he would have nothing; he had
just dined; he was going for a sail
with the Hildebrandts. Steve winked,
grimaced and in q dozen ways tried to
send him wireless kilograms of distress
financial distress-but Mowatt, curse
him, either could not or would not see
them
Matters were becoming desperate.
Steve saw the waiter making out the
bill. He excused himself moment
and tried to walk jauntily as he ap-
preached the cashiers desk. He ex-
| planned that he had cleft his money
in his other suit" Was he a guest Of
| the Shelburne? No. Then the cashier
was "very sorry to say, but" etc.
| Steve grew red and gray by turns, but
he went back to his table and sat like
a craven image for whole minute.
Then he twiddled his watch chain
furiously for another minute. Miss
| Glendennin. who sat next to him, no.
| ticed the ruby Chinese ring he wore on
the chain and leaned over to examine
it. Here was a brief but priceless
oasis in the desert of his troubles. He
felt the pressure Of her perfect hand
fragrance of her ebon hair But Now
att came around suddenly, shook hands
with Steve, and said good-by. Cald-
| well could have throttled him as he
stood an instant grinning into his face.
1t was evident that Jerry understood
the awful predicament his friend was
in, and was deliberately deserting him.
But the economical villain gave Steve
no chance to say word, much less to
make quick and dexterous touch
He bowed grandily to the ladies and
was gone like a flash.
AS Caldwell turned round he caught
feeting look of puzzled curiosity up.
on the expressive face of his idol.
"She's on to me-" he thought, and
blushed like schoolboy. Mrs. Glen
DENIM was getting nervous The
waiter had brought the finger bowls
long ago and was skulking near a pill
lar with anticipation of a liberal fee
Steve's right hand wandered aimlessly
into his trousers pocket.
"Eighty-fve cents, count 'em," b,
thought, grimly biting his mustache
Then his fingers stole up into his yes
pocket. He felt a hard, round bit O.
metal, clutched it, looked at Mis-
Glendennin and turned purple HI
pulled out $40 gold piece and triet
to look his gratitude at her. He sue
ceeded in looking foolish, but sh
: smiled family and sighed with please,
relief. The old lady noticed nothing
i Steve paid the bill and gave the bob
bing waiter dollar. When the,
J, walked into the cool air Caldwell fel
Y as man feels whose reprieve is dc
e llvered at the gallow's trap He wa
|. sure now that Anne, his Anne, was a
e angel. Such tact, such sympatheti
e acumen, such considerate regard fo
IS his feelings, his dignity, his vanity!
= He told her, in whisper, that sh
r, was a goddess. In the evening b
found that Jerry was yet out on til
water, so he borrowed $40 gold piec
I. from the hotel clerk and fastened t
his tryst with Miss Glendennin.
was midnight when he returned to hi
4 room and found Mowatt in paiama
smoking pipe.
ID Jerry" said Caldwell, ''Im going I
marry that girl-yes, Miss Glendenni1
ID If can and think can. You didn
Il. see that was broke to-day at Dime
to did you? Of course not. You foun
le it easy to go blind, deaf and dumb a
I'd at once. But forgive you Do ye
it. know what she did? She saw I was
a. a fix about settling the bill and 81
ok managed to slip $40 gold piece in
be my pocket while she was examini1
er this watch charm. I'd die for woms
lis like that, Jerry"
ed "But are you sure? How do "
az know?"
m II made her admit it tonight. Fir
er she said no, of course, and tried to g
lie angry when I insisted on paying b
cl back, but