The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-06-03
The Odd Thinq
About 1t.


dow seat, behind the library curtains.
The twilight and the end OF the falnt'
grabbed writing came together; and
then | suppose | fell asleep. | woke
at the sound o. Vera Rutherfords
voice
'The odd thing about it is that
don't really dislike him at all.
"You will tell me next that he
doesn't really dislike you," said Maud
Leslie, with an unbelieving laugh.
Il am afraid" said Vera, there is
no doubt about that" l could have
pointed out grave doubts; but wasn't
more than half-awake. Besides,
couldn't be quite sure that they re-
ferred to me.
did you say afraid Ve?"
"You needn't bubble over my
words" she answered impatiently.
There was a pause.
Dear old Vet" said Maud, in a
moment. Here again l ought to have
pretended that just woke up, and an
nounced myself.
81 hate him!" Vera observed in
consistently.
80" said Maud, heartily, "do T."
/ could not well proclaim my presence
after these remarks.
AT least think do"
I'm sure do" said Maud, positive
ly. 81 consider him horrible"
ooh, Maud. You know he isn't"
HE must be, or he wouldn't be so
rude to you"
IL provoke him, you see."
THAT is no excuse at all. Look at
the way he contradicted you about
those Tuscan vases, or whatever you
call them"
~ contradicted him first"
"Why shouldn't your"
"Because-he was right
(Which made it all the more annoy
ing"
Yes said Vera, with sigh. l
wished l had never let her have her
own way"
Never mind, dear. You refuted
him about those silly pre-something-
brother things"
Moo l didn't, really"
ooh, but you did! Papa and every
one laughed at it." Confound them!
"Ah, butt was sorry and he knew
it,"
Nonsense, Ve."
Didn't you hear what he said to Sir
Garvin O'Brien about them afterward?
If you remember"
dor,ft Admit xuord
of their gibberish, and didn't want
to-" Quite right, Miss Maud; women
shouldn't dabble in antiquities. Then
they wouldn't quarrel with antiquari-
ans.
Anyhow, it disposed of my theory
completely"
"Then why didn't he say it at the
timer
Probably he thought me beneath
argument" AS matter of fact had,
for once, made an effort to be mag
unanimous, and spare her feelings.
HE is great deal too superior
stated Maud. | felt myself blushing.
''He really knows great DEAL" sug-
gested Vera, timidly. / made up my
mind not to quarrel with her any
more.
"A lot of antiquated rubbish of no
use to any one" scoffed Maud. could
feel that she was tossing her head.
"Jack calls him the 'lumberroom'! -
Jack is young ass!
II don't agree" said Vera, holly
Jack is"
mo, he isnt!" He's very nearly
engaged to Maud.
"A charming and intelligent fellow
was going to say"
NASTY little story-teller!" | thought
they were going to quarrel, but they
didn't.
well, I'll admit the learning OF
your Mr. Norton" said Maud when
they had done laughing. Out"
HE isn't my Mr.. Norton" Vera OBJ
iected. There was a further pause
If Maud had gone | should have felt
inclined to come out and place "Mr
Norton" at pretty Vera's disposal, but
Maud didn't go.
"Do you really like him, old Ve?'
she asked.
only just little
"Sure?"
''Yes--almost sure"
'I can't see what you like in him,
protested Maud, impatiently Hes
forty. at least" Thlrty-seven only
Miss Maud.
81 don't care if he is. He look
young" :,
"He's full of ccnceit." That reall.
was a mistake.