The Washington times., 1903-08-30

How can you hate anything so pretty
and so charming"
II don't know whether you mean him
or me-" she said.
Il certainly didn't mean him." I re-
turned
'I never even gave him the little
photograph" she said. Il happened 20
show it to him, that was all. Before 1
knew what he was doing he had stuck
It In his watch"
You ought to have made him give #
back said. 81 think it was an awful
impertinence."
4 thought so, too" she said: "and I
even told him. so. But then. he wanted
to hold my hand. and that sore of
changed the conversation"
q hope you didn't let him do that. -
said.
Il should think not" she returned.
You ought to have spoken to some
of the men OF the party said.
Il might have done that" she return
ed. IT'S pity now / didn't. thought
OF It at the time: but the awful thing
was, Mr.. Houseman-I hardly dare con-
fess it to myself-but was pleased"
You've surely changed your mind
since!" I calculated
I'D give my diamond bracelet to have
II back" she said solemnly; and If you
knew what that diamond bracelet meant
to me-but nobody-no man-could real
ize it,"
How long ago did 1t happen?" / ,n-
quired.
Tuesday week." she said. Ten days
ago,"
And you've never seen him since T.
went OF.
THAT was one OF the things that sur
/ prised me so rnuch,'' she said. When
you have been paid a tremendous lot OF
attRtion, and you've had TO refuse al
in the same afternoon, a polo-pony and
prize bull pup. and a spirit-iask with
| the Skirving crest, and a gold eigaretts
ease with the Skirving crest. and a gold
match box with the Skirving crest, and
plated sandwich box with the Skirving
crest-well. you naturally expect to see
something next day
"Of Skirving," 1 said, filling up the
pause.
"of course I didn't care" she went
on. 81 was really almost thankful. The
man had a dreadful fascination for me
But as l said, I was surprised
How did you hear he had been show
ing your picture in those places?"
asked.
Charley Hopper told me-" she re-
piled
Charley Hopper" I repeated. 'DC
you mean the chap with the long hair
and the crushed collar. who protends tC
drink absinthe at the Country Club?"
Yes" she said
He always reminds me of one o.
| those things that scurry out OF sigh
when you turn over log l said
IT'S being decadent. you know" sht
said; at least. trying to be decadent
He can't live down the fact that hc
supports his widowed mother and is
paying to get his brother through col
] lege-it awfuIly hard on Charley, Well
Il was he who came and told me first
DO you know, Lynn he said dhereh
/ a fellow downtown who's been showing
, your picture in his watch among prett!
queer company in pretty queer place,
I don't know if you like that kind o
| thing. but I don'ti' OF course. l asked
/ Charley what the man was like. and h,
described Skirving 10 a T; a tall hand
some man, with a well-cut mouth and
devil-may- air. and wonderful eye
that seem to see right through you"
Did your decadent friend stop a
that" ! asked.
He said he thought he ought TO men
tion Il to me-" she returned.
Mention iti'' 1 repeated. He ough
TO have taken the fellow by the cola
and bumped him heartily against tn
| WALL"
Il wish he had" said Miss Martin
! vindictively. ooh. how / wish he had,'
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