The Washington times., 1905-08-27

ditions which had recently arrived from
Europe to his collection of bronzes and
pottery, and some little pictures he had
bought at the English water color ex-
hibitlon. As they walked about the
rooms expressing their admiration OF
the profusion Of pretty things which
filed the cabinets and encountered the
tables in words equally pretty and pro-
fuse. Sleeny listened to their voices as IL
it were music played to cheer him at his
work. He knew nothing OF the things
they were talking about. but their tones
were gentle and playful: the young
lady's voice was especially sweet and
friendly. He had never heard such
voices before: they are exceptional
everywhere in America. and particu-
larly in our lake country, where the
late springs develop fine, high sopranos.
but leave much to be desired in the talk
ing tones of women. Alice Belding had
been taught to use her fine voice as II
deserved, and cordelis's intonations
could not have been more soft, gentle.
and iow-an excellent thing in woman" :"
After a while the voices came nearer,
and he heard Farnham say:
Come In here q moment, please. and
see my new netsukes; I got them at
a funny little shop in Ostend- IL was
on a Sunday afternoon, and the man
Of the house was keeping the shop. and
I should have got a great bargain out
Of him. but hts wife came IN before we
were through, and scolded him for an
imbecile. and sent him into the back
room to tend the baby, and made me
pay twice what he had asked for my
little monsters
By this time they were all IN the
library. and the young lady was laugh
ing. not loudly. but musically. and Mrs.
Belding was saying:
Served you right for shopping on
Sunday. But they are adorable little
images, for all that"
Yes said Farnham. $50 the woman
told me. and she added they were au-
thentic of the twelfth century. I asked
her IL she could not throw OF a CEN
tury or two in consideration of the hard.
times. and she laughed, and said 1
plagued. and honestly she didn't know
how old they were. but II was drole. tout
de meme. qu'on put adorer un petit bon
Dieu dune laideur pareille-"
Really, / don't see how they can do
it, said Mrs. Belden, solemnly; at which
both the others laughed. and Miss Alice
said, why, mamma, you have just CALI
ed them adorable yourself
They went about the room, admi-ing.
and touching, and wondering. with the
dainty grace of ladies accustomed to
rare and beautiful things. until the now
elites were exhausted. and they turned
nounced luncheon. and they yielded TO
Farnham's eager Importantly. and re-
manned TO share hts repast.
They went to the dining-room. leaving
Sleeny more than content He still heard
their voices, too dist@~+ - distinguish
words: but he pleased himself by be-
neving that there was a tender under
standing in the tones OF Farnham and
Miss Beldinv when they addressed each
other. and that il was altogether a fam
flT party. He had no longer any feeling
OF slight or neglect because none of them
seemed aware of his presence while they
were in the room with him There was
on the contrary. a sort OF comfort IN
the thought that he belonged to dir-
ferent world from ther,- .hat he and
Maud were shut out-shut out together
from the societ- and the interests which
claimed the Belongs and Farnhams.
You was dunderheaded fool he said,
cheerfuily apostrophizing himself again.
''to think everybody was crazy over your
girl"
He was brought down to a lower level
by hearing the door open. and the voice
OF Offitt asking If Mr.. Sleeuy was in
mo one OF that name here" said
Budsey.
''I was told at Matchin's he was here"
"Oh, the young man from Matchin's.
He is in the library" and Ofitt came
IN, looking more disreputable than usual.
as he had creased his hair inordinateIy
for the occasion. Budsey evidently re-
garded him with no favorable eye; he
said to Sleeny: This person says he
comes from Matchin's. do you know
him?''
"Yes, it's all right said Sam. who
could say nothing less; but when Budsey
had left them, he turned TO Offitt with
anything but welcome in his eye
We'll. you've come, after ALL
Yes, Offitt answered, with an uneasy
laugh. Curiosity gets US all from Eve
down What layout this is. anyhow"
and his small eyes darted rapidly around
the room. Say, Sam. you know
Christy Fore. that hauls for the Safe
Company? He was telling me about
the safe he put into his room. said
nobody'd ever guess 1t was safe.
Where the devil is it?''
Il don't know It's none Of my busi-
ness, nor yours, either
Il guess you got up wrong foot fore
most. Sam, you're so cranky. Where
can the - thing be? Three doors and
two winders and fireplace. and all the
rest bookcases By JinXl there II is. I'll
swear" He stepped over to one of
the cases where a pair of oaken doors,
rich with arabesque carving, yelled q
sort OF cabinet. He was lingering at
them when Sam seized him by the
shoulder. and said:
y *
Look here. Andy, what is your game,
anyhow? I'm here on business, and I
amt no fence and I'll inst rrOuhla vo,1