, 1902-06-23
Old lefaire as 0the||o.
BY ADA MAY

UuUvrighf. lu-. hy Daily Story Pub Coz
Every one in the reception room
smiled as Burney passed through. She
carried one of the letters on which the
conversation had been turning. Be
hind trUttcd the mountainous figure
OF dear old i~.efaire. whose rosy. brown.
expansive visag", was conspicuously
written with a consciousness OF his
lOwly position as her satellite.
Miss I.oZenby of third floor. back.
had been ~reCounting the story OF her
little scance the evening before when
happening upon him alone by the fire
light. She look the ottoman by his
side. explained she wanted to go over.
c~onridoutially. with him. some curious
facts which had been noted in con-
|ncrtion with Burney's recent cores
p%ondpnCe. pointing out the number OF
envelopes addressed to her in a GER
tain fine. vertical handwriting which
had been observed on the hall stand
anI recalling the stranger of the after
moan Maude Hughes went away.
From behind the palm tree between
the two front windows Miss Lozenby
spiod d tall. graceful. blonde walking
at Burney's side as she returned from
hrr farewell to Maude. And he had
pruItled on like a ~schooiboy until the
early autumn nightfall. With the next
morning the daily letters began to ap-
pear. one by the early eight o'clock
mail. another every evening. although
once she had seen a note when coming
| 80, f,.,,,, il, ,,rIppr u1irh ynttGt h1Np
been an extra third. since Burney al
ways took the morning arrival with
her. as she left the house after break
fasting.
Il told him to be a man cried Miss
l.Ozenby with martial spirit. and
quoted thai from Othe!lo about rather
loving as a toad in a dungeon than
keeping a corner OF the thing one loves
for others use. He ought not let a gid
dy young woman that's ready to work
upon any creature in trousers play
with his mans affections-al! for
another tickle firtation.'
As the lady went on a pair of lively
eyes representing third floor hall,
front, agitated her audience by flash
ing the dispatch that the characters of
her narrative were present realities.
In unobservant ignorance Burney.
with I.cfaire. ran the gossipers' gaunt-
let, but the little hall-boy. always pry-
ing into affairs on the other side of the
Iportieres. found his countenance all
too narrow for his smiles. as the pair
stepped out of the vestibuls for their
twilight stroll.
Why. Peter, Peter" exclaimed the
girl. softly laying hold of the large
arm by her side, how amusing that
all of a sudden you should care to
know all about my correspondents!
Aren't you getting too inquisitive?'
Burney vas gently and very seduc-
lively sportive. You don't want to
become effeminate, do you? Do you
think it's your style, dear, a burly
thing like You? Oh, well, an Amazon,
perhaps 0 could do that. Only per-
%sonally. I would find you quite charm
ing. I believe, if in you native role
of wise-acre bachelor you would 60 on
with that very enlivening dissertation
Of a few moments ago on the Nature
and Destiny Of Flirting; a Plea for
tteFnal f&Ilulltles. nat Is what you
We're talking about, isn't it,"
DO you know. Peter, it convinced
me that you're a born orator-on that
topic. | mean. of course; a most worthy
cause to champion! fairly thrilled
at your exordium o. the high calling
of adorable m Ones whole body
feels different Gas. Of course. you I'M
derstand) when one is thrilled by an
orators impassioned use of the
queens English. The blood runs rae
lily and travels such unbeaten tracks
of ones anatomy. Well, that's the way
l felt. Peter. when you were d%escanting
upon Natures angels Of loveline.s'-
glorious eyes'-'cheeks like pearls and
rubies'-hearts n %sympathies d.
vine, etcetera. etcetera.'
and you said the attraction be-