The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-07-16

winter. with no fuel but written proposals.
Fllrt! Nancy would flrt with a snow
man. What's more, he'd thaw, even if
the temperature We're thirty degrees below
zero"
Sir Henry noticed that the maid, who
was filling the glasses, had flushed furi-
ously. While he watched her she raised
her eyes and shot one vindictive look at
the host, who received it with imperturba-
bic serenity.
Jealous" thought the baronet Surely
when the thing is as open as this, his wife
must see 1t. Well-bred little woman to
bluff it out so placidly."
Il don't think would care for your ir-
rosistible young woman" he said with a
touch of hostility in his tone. I'm not
fond of that sort of girl. OF course, I'M
derstand that, being your friend, she is un-
| doIbtedly delightful, but personally I've
deep-rooted objection to the emancipated
| modern girl. We have the type in Eng
land. You seem to have more specimens
Of it here, tho I'll admit your girls are
more attractive than ours. I've an old
fashioned taste for a simple, unworldy
| type Of girl who doesn't flrt with every
man she meets and commonize herself in
doing it,"
Winston cholled painfully on a h-bone,
and his wife unfeelingly laughed at him.
| TRY bread-crust," advised Sir Henry
with polite concern
The dinner went smoothly. The wait
ress was as deft as she was pretty and the
guest had to take himself mentally by the
throat in order to keep himself from fol-
| lowing her every movement with his eyes.
He was distract, and his share of the con-
versation traled off into inanities when
ever the maid was within his range of
vision.
Once or twice he pulled himself UP with
| a round turn, conscious that some one
had asked him a question, but absolutely
| in the dark as to what the question was.
He stumbled out Of the predicament as
best he could, and inwardly cursed him
self for fool; but there was one little
shining lock that fell over her left temple
and huttered there as she moved about.
He wanted to brush it back, and yet
knew he would miss it if it were sup
pressed. Then those dimples. One of
them was but a hint of dimple. It was
constantly lowering on the verge of self
revealing, yet it never deepened and
showed what it could do. If the demure
lips would only smile that dimple would
surely develop maddeningly. If he only
! dared make her smile Then he won
dered what he could say that would make
her smile. Nothing, under the circum-
stances. OF course maid could not show
that she listened to the conversation. But
If he were alone with her, If she weren't
a maid, if-oh, by Jove, what a bally ass
he was making of himself!
/ Just as he reached this unflattering con-
clusion she lifted her long lashes and
gave him one direct look-half mo cking.
half-serious. wholly disconcerting. He fell
himself flush to the roots Of his hair He
had an awful conviction that he was
looking like a fatuous fool. He set his
wine-gass down hastily.
The maid came to his side to fill it
He noticed how white and beautiful
her hands were. and how exquisitely he,
: wrists were moulded She used violet per-
fume-a very delicate, subtle violet.
Don't you think so, Sir Henry?" asked
Mrs Winston's voice from some far-aWay
world.
Eyes, indeed declared the barone,
earnestly.
"still, it's odd for an Englishman te
feel that wa, about it.
ooh, don't know stammered the
baronet. He doesn't yet know to wha1
heresy against race and class he had com.
mitted himself
| Fortunately Mrs. Winston loved nothing
better than the sound of her own voice
and the guest hoped that his own preoc
cupation would pass unnoticed. Winston
to he sue, didn't say much, but hi
laughed q great deal Sir Henry felt thai
1t would be easy for him to dislike his
host. Winston had seemed very GOOD
fellow in London, and he had been yer,
decent about his New York clubs and al
j that; but he appeared rather foolish a
, his own table. A fellow needn't grin likt
Cheshire cat in order to seem amiablb.
/ Then, too. married man really ough
} to pull up bit. He certainly owed some
thing to his wife. He had no right tt
carry on an affair with maid in his owT
home. 1t was not only immoral; It wa,
deuced bad taste.
The haronet worked himself into a fin,
glow Of virtuous indignation and looked
, sternly at Winston. Then he tried to Iool