Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1903-02-21

a call that was almost past due, and
gave him slight, friendly pressure of
her little hand, he felt-well, he did
not know exactly how he did feel.
But he made the call, and he found
the young lady SO bright and lively,
and the people SO generally pleasant,
that he soon made another, and then
another. Then he gave a little theater
party and supper and Mrs. Barth and
Miss Barth were among his guests, not
long after which he was invited to
dinner and found callow youth
named Symes, who, by the way, was
rather attentive to Miss Mary, one of
the most disgusting specimens of hui
manity he had ever encountered.
AS his women friends had been very
few, it was quite natural that he
should think of Miss Barth more or
less. He had, to tell the truth, rather
analysed her. She was amiable,
though with a pretty spirit of her
own. Clever in many ways and well
read. He liked to talk with her, for
she was sympathetic and had the rare
and precious gift of sense of humor.
Yes, he liked her better, perhaps, than
any girl he had ever met-but-and
that was a serious matter-she had
absolutely no appreciation of china
beyond mere prettiness, and she was
shockingly Indifferent to intaglios and
worries and bronzes.
mo-" he said to himself, cit would
never do-never in the world
But it showed that at least he had
considered it.
Nevertheless he continued his visits,
and his liking for her did not dimin-
ish. Once or twice he found the man
named Symes there, and on those oc-
casions he went away feeling vaguely
depressed. At last he invited Mrs
Barth and her daughter to inspect his
curios, and they came.
1t would be hard to say Just how
many times Hollister was chilled and
disappointed by the girls attitude to-
ward his treasures. On the other hand,
it may be said, it would be hard to
say how often he experienced differ
ent emotions altogether. But he had
kept back until the last the Venetian
vase. He banked on that.
Now come over here" he said. eff
you don't like this-." and he
showed it to her.
Genuine admiration sparkled in her
eye. "Oh," she gasped. THAT is love
ly,"
She stretched out her hand to take
it, in much the attitude of the Eve.
and in that instant her foot slipped on
the rug that covered the polished floor
There was a slight crash, a musical
jingle and the vase lay shattered in
thousand fragments.
For the smallest possible space of
time HOLSTERS face changed. Then
in perfectly even tones he said, as she
involuntarily stopped, Take carei The
glass might cut you" Then he add
ed, meeting her dismayed look with
a reassuring smile. Its nothing. 1t
was a pretty thing, but I've lots of
pretty things. though 1 really don't
believe you think so. Please don't feel
badly about it OF shall be sorry in
deed
Two days later HOLSTER was in the
Barth parlor. and Mary came to him.
holding out her hands impulsively and
with actual tears in her eyes.
'Oh. Mr.. Hollister!" she cried, 81
want to tell you. That vase-I saw
Mr.. Binney yesterday and he told mo
that he believed it was dearer to you
than anything you had. And I broke
it. And you were so kind and good
about it, 1 can't begin to tell you
how feel. =
He took her hands in his and drew
her gently toward him. Let me tell
you something he said in a voice
that shook slightly 1T was a thing
/ cared for-perhaps as Binney said.
But when it smashed l give you my
word 1 did not feel a pang. Do you
know why that was?