The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1905-09-23
The Persistence
of Ludlow 3 3
By BELLE MANDATES
MISS ROGERS sat in the little sit
WI ting-room of her tiny fiat so alb

MISS ROGERS sat in the little sit
W ting-room of her tiny fiat SO alb
sorbed in doing nothing that she gave
a jump when her electric bell announced
q caller.
MY nerves will never adjust them
selves to that bell," she thought, as she
went to the tube to parley with her
caller. She met with no response, bur
presently there was a rap at her door,
and she opened it to admit a cookbook
ing young man.
"Mr. Ludlow! might have known 1t
was some one not accustomed to fiat
calls. There is a tube"
ooh, know all about your telephone
tubes, but as soon as rang fastened
right up here before you could move
again!"
Now, really, haven't moved"
Since you gave me permission to
come and drink tea, have called at no
less than three places to learn that Miss
Rogers had just moved"
Il trust you haven't come to tea to-
night"
why not? You said any night"
Yes; but l expected few minutes
notice. l have nothing in stock but
waters, olives and candied dates"
Then you have an abundance. Any
thing more substantial would be out Of
keeping with this liliputian domicile.' -
'Liiliputian!" she cried 81 assure
you that this fiat is considered gigantic
for one person"
Really! l haven't an intimate ac-
Quaintance with flats"
Il should suppose not"
But | would like to. Suppose you
show me over your spacious apart
ments'
Certainly; come into the next room,
which, as you will observe, is my dining
roum.'
He gazed in wonder at the plate racks
and cup cabinets.
'Dining-room? should call it cup
board" he exclaimed why do you
hang your dishes in shipboard style?"
81 shall not have to tell you the name
of this ROOM" she said, ignoring his last
remark, as they passed on.
81 see. A sort of buffers pantry!" he
declared, triumphantIy.
Buffers pantry!" she shrieked. Its
my kitchen! At the end of the hall is the
bathroom, and adjoining my sitting
room is bedroom, which suppose you
would call sleeping car section"
ut seems to me bedroom is rather
superfluous considering the ingenuity
exercised in the other rooms. Can't
you touch button and let down a mat
tress on the bath tub?'
Il will consider that suggestion Now,
you may help me to set the table"
What is that, breadboard?" he de-
manded, as she brought forth folding
table.
What do you think of my fiat?" she
asked, handing him an end of the table
cloth.
Wonderful! 1t seems, though, like
those houses we used to build out of
cards, and which kept us in state of
suspended breath lest they should tum-
BILE down. And your furnishings are on
the plan of an accordion. Pulls out and
closes in. But where in the world are
those people?" he asked, hearing voices
near.
The people in the next fiat They
talk continually, which is not to be re-
GREETED, as it prevents their listening
to their neighbors'
81 see now the force of Hathley's COM
parison. He told me his sister was en-
tertaining girl who was as thin as the
walls of an apartment house. Can you
hear your neighbors above and below
as plainly?"
you will think SO before long. At
half-past six the pianola above will re-
sumo At seven, the baby on the left
will give an exhibition of lung power,
while at the same hour the Episcopal
minister on the floor below will practice
intoning"
"And you mean to tell me, . he gasped,
''that you sit here calmly in their midst
without setting UP something as coun-
ter irritant?"
What would you suggest?"
81 have in mind hilarious parrot that
never talks, but screeches always and
forever on C in alt. That might be self
infiction, but your dainty refresh
ments are ready to serve. Will this ia.
BILE remain table through one consec-
utive meal?''
ut won't" she returned, "if you cut
the bread so vigorously"
And may come often and drink
drink tear" he asked. pIeadingly. as he
was taking his departure
Yes. If you will set the table. she re-
piled, carelessly.
She had first met Billy Ludlow at a
crush at the Fields. which she had at
tended as a society reporter one Of the
unplaced habitues of high life. IN but
not Of, . as she defined it. She straight
way forgot the existence of the youth
until he called at the Office to see her on
some flimsy pretext. Thereafter she met
him frequently in her walks in life. and
their acquaintance had grown until this.
his first call at her home There now
followed many calls and devices for the
cultivation of a friendship which with
him grew into the stronger feeling.
But Ruth Rogers had literary ambi-