Amador ledger., 1905-04-28

bther like little waves across his Quiv-
ering lips, while his eyes held hun
dred dancing smiles. Then suddenly
all humble, fiattered gravity.
'I'll do my best, MISS" he replied,
though, as to having thought the mat
ter out for myself, l can't claim that
have. Still, we-us union men-think
labor ought to have a chance, and
we're going to have it too. Well have
capital on Its knees to us yeti Well
knock the props from under 1t, and
don't you forget itv'
With thinly concealed anxiety-the
anxiety Of one who was playing part
and who wondered If he had done we'll
-he watched the effect Of his words.
But he need have had no fear, for his
listener had no standard by which to
Judge him. She had listened with slow
ly kindling eyes and the general ap
pearance of one coming into touch
with the realities of life for the first
time.-
When at last the car halted at Co.
lumbia she alighted with the convic-
ton that the man in the blouse had
infused a new interest into life. while
he, as the car coasted down the hill
into Harlem, stared blankly after her
disappearing figure for second and
then burst into uncomfortable laugh
ter.
"The Jokes on me-" he conf1ded to
himself ruefully. "It seems, then, that
blood doesn't always tell and that 1t
does take the tailor to make the man."
He glanced at the address she had
scribbled on a slip Of paper for him,
shrugged his shoulders and narrowed
bis eyes thoughtfully, the outcome be-
ing decision that she needed the les
son. Besides, the corners of her mouth
were distractlng!
In the days that followed Miss Sim
clair was more and more amazed at the
intelligence, as we'll as the contradic-
tions, of John Clayton, electrician. His
speech would flow on with a smooth
elegance astonishing in a man Of his
class, then, without warning, break in
to the most ear splitting errors.
"Hack-kneed phrases! Mere hack
kneed phrasesv' he exclaimed fervently
in the midst Of a discussion one day.
'You see, miss, in your en-vy-ron-ment"
he accented the third syllable strong
ly-"you can't see the things that
see." Never by any chance did he use
her surname. Yet his manner at times
in moments of self forgetfulness, she
fancied-verged upon perfection. New
er in her life had she met with such
contradictions. And never in her life.
she mutely admitted to herself at last.
In a state of breathless dismay-never
had she met a man so entirely interest
ing.
OF himself he spoke but little, but
sometimes in the very midst of some
deep question he would catch a soft,
absent, woman look In the eyes fixed
intently upon him-a look that had to
do not with wealth, position or the bet
terment of the working classes, but
that made him grow strangely warm
and inwardly call himself brute.
It was at dinner party three months
after their first meeting that the un-
masking took place-one binding fash
of surprise when Mr.. Harrington was
presented to her, and then Miss Sin
clair was herself again.
"Well?" he murmured brazenly when
he found himself seated beside her at
the table.
Pray, what Is your real name, and,
If 1 may ask, do you regard life as
bal masque?" Deity she managed to
impart to the question that elusive
touch Of insult the use Of which is one
Of the most delicate arts that society
has to teach. But Harrington did not
vince.
John Clayton Harrington, electrical
engineer. who has a mind to know
street railways from the ground up,"
he answered sturdily. At the answer
sudden gladness leaped into her eyes.
Her head was bent low; her voice
changed.
IL am glad. should not want you
to be-insincerew
Wholly Unqualified.