Sunday Washington globe., 1902-02-16


spectacles back upon his forehead and
placed a chair for his guest
About minute, replied Helen, smiling,
but perhaps 1 have interrupted you ia
your work."
Not at all. no, at all, " hurriedly replied
the little attorney. The fact OF the matter
is that l am heartily glad that you came to-
day Helen, for you see this fine Nav day
sort of uiakes me decidedly indoleut, and I
want to lay aside such dry matters as the
law and have good talk with someone who
is densely ignorant upon such a subject, as
find that it refreshes me wonderfully, but
II tell you a deep secret Helen will you
promise that you will not mention 1t 20 any
one, my dear?'
Certainly, said Helen, laughing, but
is il so very terribleF
Tremendously so, cried Mr. Larkins,
while his bright little eyes had a merry
twinkle in them If It became known
among my clients il might injure my bust
ness awfully. It's malady that I am suf-
feriug under just now. II came on me sud
denly this morning aud has been making
terrible inroads on my constitution ever
since"
" am anxious to know what il is" said
GiElGMs IER0l1Auk NAls lfdl hlAH AlaAA aGAiOuolgs
TITS what the boys call spring fever"
cried the little attorney, throwing back his
head and uproariously, and It, hal hal ha
has got he hel he tremendous hold upon
my vitals; ha ha hal" aud the genial old
fellow laughed until the tears streamed
down his withered cheeks at his innocent
little joke.
Yes" continued Mr. Larkius, as he
tlrffs
handkerchief, II am taken this way every
year about this time, Helen, and while the
disease hangs on to me can do nothing
but sit aud look at the bright sunny streets.
and think of the country and its green
fields, and this is one of tha reasons, my
dear girl, that l was so delighted to see you
here to-day, explained Mr.. Larkius as he
went OIL into another paroxYsm of laug lter,
as the remembrance Of his neat little joke
again appeared to him.
This is the time Of the year that the
school boys are attacked with this insidious
disease. isn't it2" inquired Helen, smiling.
yes, yes" replied Mr. I.arkins, rubbing
his hands together and smiling genialy.
When / was a boy my dear, Just as soon
as spring rolled around we lads would be
certain to catch the fever; then we would
play AAuaAA AAOMA o%hDoA aAA ~ ANoAAAAA6
through the woods and meadows All,
those were the days; but to change the sub
ject, Helen, how are all the folks3' in
quired the little attorney, as he helped hin-
self to a pinch of snuff
Very we'll, indeed" )" replied Helen.
And those two young gentlemen who
appeared at your house on the night"
ooh. you mean Mr. Gordon and Mr.
Browne?" interrupted Helen. Hal re-
ceived letter from Mr.. Browne, in which
he mentioned that they were having lot
of fun and were in excellent health and
spirits"
"Well, don't you know" said Mr. Lar
kins, that / like those two young men
very much2'
Il should imagine said Helen with
/ downcast eyes, that they would be ex-
/ tremely popular"
/ 'Yes, 4" repeated Mr.. Larkins, I certainly
| like them very much from the little have
seen of them. But Jollyby--well he, Helen
simply adorns them, and the one called
Gordon is a brilliant man, if I am not badly
mistaken, although he does try to concea
il under the guise of a droll, dry humor
why, when he was down here on that bust
ness of yours he knew as much about the
forms of law as did myself; / assure you
he certainly did. added Mr.. Larkius you
never heard him mention that he was ever
connected with the law, did you. my dearp'
inquired the attorney.
NO" said Helen, blushiug, II never
heard him mention anything connected
with his past life; only know from Hal
that he is commissioned at the present time
to illustrate his own articles on out door
life for some publishing house"
Yes" cried Mr.. Larkins, gleefully, !
can vouch for his artistic abilities, as have
some splendid specimens Of his work al
home"
You surprise me-" said Helen, and
should be delighted to see the pictures"
Impossible, utterly impossible" re
piled the little attorney, while his bright
little eyes twinkled mischevously II do
not believe that Mr.. Gordon himself II
aware of my valuable possessions"
But how9', began Helen, when she was
interrupted by Mr. Larkins.
You see" said the little attorney, smil
ing, while was busy getting the paper
ready for the two young gentlemen to sign
l noticed that Mr. Gordon was passing ava!
the time in drawing figures on paper. Well
every little while he would pass the pape
over to Mr.. Browne, and that gay young mar
would laugh uproariously; but paid no par
ticular attention TO the occurrence until the.
had completed the business they came her
for aud had left quite awhile; then care
lessly drew the paper over TO my side 0
the table, and assure you, Helen, that
enjoyed Mr. Gordon's work fully as heartil
as did Mr.. Browne; I really did, indeed, m
dear, although perhaps" mused the littl
attorney II know some old 'fogies, lik
myself, who would have been tremeBdousl
worked up over the matter"
why" said Helen, were they so YER
personal?'
Yes, replied Mr. Larkins after consid
ing, "a might say that they were extremel
PERSONAL They were pictures of me, m
dear in the most extravagant costumes an
attitudes Some mused Mr.. Larkins ha
but very little of the former about ther
eitherl"
How very bold in Mr.. Gordon to hav
did such thing said Helen laughing be
cause Mr. I.arkins was laughing
why he did not mean for me to Sc
them" hastily explained the attorney, %
was simply an oversight on his part that h