Smyrna times., 1904-10-12

pressively, making a frantic but inef-
fectual attempt to recall what he had
been saying, las was saying-that is
oh, hang it ali, Cynthia l was so
busy looking at you that l forgot what
was saying. Don't know where I'm
at"
At this plain avowal they both
laughed, and he went on with mascu-
line frankneSs:
Il say, you've done yourself proud.
You're ripping, you know And he
gaZed at her with so much of the ole
boyishness in his face that the reproof
that rose to her lips was suppressed
| Then a black thought suddenly
clutched at her.
"You aren't married. are you?" she
demanded 50 abruptly and intensely |
that she WINGED the moment the words |
were out, while his prompt negative
was tempered with a certain shame as |
he recalled some events of the previous |
! year. Cynthia was so direct that she |
inspired him with a desire to meet her |
on her own ground.
mo, I'm not married, but l am
afraid that l should have been except
for the firmness of the young lady's
mother" he acknowledged honestly.
"She had other views for her daugh-
ter. You see, l wasn't rich enough.
and I'm mighty glad l wasn't-now."
he added with a fervOr that was be
yond suspicion.
Still, Cynthias manner seemed to
take on a slight coating of ice. so
you're a blighted being" she said
thoughtfully, her chin resting on the
back of her hand and her eyes fixed
upon his face speculative,y.
They parted few minutes later,
reluctantly, it is true, yet with the
feeling that the fine glow of the meet
ing had suddenly faded.
Hes mourning for that hOrrid lit
tie thing with the mercenary moth
err" reflected Cynthia scornfully and
without any conjunction whatever
anent the injustice of calling an un-
known damsel "a horrid little thing"
while Jack Mayhem, his eyes dazZled
by the fine, open face of his old play
mate, wondered how he could ever
have fancied pretty little pink and
white Dorothy.
AS he remembered Cynthia's mouth,
with the little curlycueS at the cor
ner that looked like baby smiles. his
face grew gloomy.
Depend upon 1t. old fellow. you'll
find there is some man in the back
ground" he cOnfded 10 himself darkly
ON the way homeward. Don't get
the idea that there's any chance for
; you. girl like that Here he gave
l l up at loss for words to express his
, convictions ON the subject
But in spite of this mutual cynicism
Miss Williar and Jack Mayhem were
. seen together very frequently during
} the next three months They affected
palm rooms and art galleries and sucl
places where a certain soft splondOl
and quiet made for sentiment and low
: toned conversation.
1t was upon one such occasion tina
a patron of art who had closed thu
: book of romance before the yOun!
:, people in this story were born over
heard the following extraordinary bi
Of conversation. He was sitting witt
: one eye screwed up critically in tn
: effort to form a judgment of a Claud
Il Monet on the wall before him whel
: he heard the young man murmur anN
II iously:
+ You don't suppose your mother wi
I say that I'm not rich enough. do you?
u Indeed, nor' replied the girl at hi
e side confidently. My mother is nc
that kind Besides, didn't our mOtl
is ers know each other before we wer
y bornw
IT The patron OF art looked slight
d puzzled. From the tail of his coo
IL estimating eye he sent furtive glance
NJ at the pair, vainly endeavoring to 70
S' low the young lady's reasoning.
Ut There was an ecstatic silence for
lg second, during which the patron {
v art found the two decidedly interes
~ ing from an artistic standpoint.
Is. was an eloquent mOment-and pain
, able 1t was really a pity. Then Il
ls' girls face dimpled and she began
" speak.
ne "Oh, Jack" she said, and her tOl
Oh was a caress, isn't it lucky that
IL got you out of the grab bag after all
re- The patron of art moved away, sha
he ing his head as if the times were &c
lis ting beyond him. Got him out of t
10 grab bag" he murmured, just to s
ISL how it would sound-"got him out
a. the grab bag"