The Savannah morning news., 1902-03-09

'And what is-a sweetheart?" Mella
asked, in very subdued voice.
"A sweetheart? Don't you know?
Then I'm afraid 1 can't tell you-not
yet" He fiicked at the team and sang
a bar of the ''Valkyries' Ride" as il
he were happy about the aseendancy
of his star
You know. you are the first regu-
lar artist 1 ever met" she said as if
apologizing for something. Go on
about your note
We'll. then, second place, that idea
of leading man, all tar and feathers,
toto the altar"
Nobody dreamed of such a thing.
Mr.. Garrardr'
"Of course I know that Why do
you keep calling me Mr.. Garrard? If
you get cross with me I'll shut up.
What 1 mean is-well, public opinion
in love affairs-'Cupid awakened by
public sentiment-think of that for
one of those allegorical chartsl"
Il told you it was all joke, didn't
u"
Joke! Don't I know a joke when I
meet one in the road. / tell you. the
Latin Quarter couldn't equal it in a
century. You're not angry with me, are
you?"
She turned her head away. "No-I
The moonlight's right in my eyes.
What else?"
only one thing more-funniest of all,
though-You all took it for granted
that l was to blame. You forgot she
was only 16 at the time, she's
grown-up young woman now. How do
you all'-he checked himself and be-
gan again; how did you all know she
hadn't changed her mind since she
grew up?"
Isn't 16 grown-up?" Mella asked very
quietly, smiling--but Charlton did not
see the smile.
well, hardly. How did you all know
she hadn't turned me down without
getting out any handbills? Of course,
I'm not telling anything: I'm only ask
ing, How did you know"
| 1--WE didn't know We were-I was
just a silly country girl They all call
me Tommy-eXcept Nab"
and except me. Mella."
| Mella gave little sigh. "And so all
| that's a note?" And she smiled to
| herself, nesting back in the shadow
And from then on Charlton had to car
ry the conversation, until they entered
Yellowbanks and saw the bright goldan
glow from the windows of the BartorB'
away down Augusta street, and could
hear the chorus of last winters yell
] lOW OdhhS OpSId
Never, oh, never our hearts shall
range
From that old, old love again."
Then Mella said, "I'll have to burn
this FELLOWSHIP, or grandma will find
me out"
Burn that? Never! I'm going to take
1t and keep it among my most precious
souvenirs"
She answered him with a decisive
shake of the head, though smiling.
Were just in time. The electric light
| goes out at IL, you know. Next turn
ing on the left. And-Mr. Garrard, you
don't think me-vulgar, do you?'
"You vulgar! 1 couldn't if tried ever
so hard"
AS he was leaving her. standing in
| the side entrance of her home, shrink
ing into the shadow, lest any one might
see her in that ugly white gown, he
asked her once more, do let me take
| the pillow Slip"
| She shook her head. EAU revoirl"
EAU plaisir! Two dances, remember!"
! When she nodded and smiled and
vanished through the side door Meila
| Harrison, leader of the Ku-KIIx, van
ished from Charlton forever. Her
| promise of two dances was redeemed
Iby another Miss Harrison, to whom he
| was introduced at the Barton party, a
| splendid young woman in pink satin
and lace, with dark hair in immense
tight coils that glowed Hike old ma
hogany wherever the gaslignt touched
them, a stately and self-possessed
young woman, too, who sang "Nobil
| Signor' with great applause, but yet
managed to murmur parenthetically to
| Charlton, you see, / can act a bit my
self"
This Miss Harrison he saw many
| times after that night.