The Cairo bulletin., 1905-09-14

HHll interests, since Ac tlciAt ~ nc a
partner therein before he was many
years older.
Having replaced his hat, he extended
two fingers TO Gladys with an air of
the highest fashion and cheerful grin.
We'll, IL you say so. suppose I'm
not" he said. with a Righteousness of
tone which in the society In which
Loftie was a shining light made up for
any lack of verbal humor. ITS not
for me to contradict a lady. Is itf'
''Oh, but ALI. dear. I'm not late-not
really. | can't bel started ever so
punctually"
Loftie's boyish eountenance. which
had a stunned an expression OF injured
indignation. relaxed into broad smile.
and he laughed triumphantly.
Il gave you a turn. though, didn't
IT. he said.
"Come on he added. slipping his
hand through her arm and turning in
The direction of the theater. Il want
TO get good place. They say this IS
first rate show
The play was a melodrama Of the
most thrilling description. and in the
short interval between the first and
second acts Gladys. pink checked and
bright eyed with excitement. was
voluble on the subject Of the hero's
wrongs and the heroine's froek, and
demanded a full explanation from
Ioftle-who was more than willing to
Law down the law-as to all the pos
sibilities connected with the machina-
tons set on foot by the villain. Per-
haps the second act was not quite so
deeply interesting At any rate Loftie
let the discussion OF its merits drop
before the curtain rose again and sat
for moment meditatively studying
the programme, Then he said casually:
Busy at your place just now,
Gladysi"
Gladys nodded She was eating a
chocolate cream. which interfered with
speech for the moment
That's a big consignment you've
Just got from Ceylon. isn't it?''
Gladys shook the bag Of chocolates
and peered lnterestedly into its depths.
She was wondering what kind she
liked best.
is it9' she said indlfferently. Il
don't know, All, I'm sure. Have a
choe."
Loftie put his hand into the bag she
held out TO him and drew out a choco-
late. Then he looked at 1t as though
he We're not quite sure what II was
meant for.
Making an offer to Clarkson'sfr he
said
The excessive carelessness Of his
tone. might have appeared q tribe In
natural to any one whose perceptions
were not concentrated on chocolate
creams. but Gladys only thought that
/ 1t was rather slow" of him to talk
/ business.
ayes, she said. Il typed the letter
this morning"
.oh, you did, did your said Loftie
what are you offering thems''
Gladys tossed her head coquettishly
| She was tritle thrown of her balance
with excitement
How tiresome you are all OF a sud
den" she said. II didn't come here L
talk about that stupid old office. Say
something more lively
.Tll be lively" said Loftie, putting
the chocolate into his mouth as earnes
Of his words, iii you'll just answer my
/ question, Gladys,
II don't know what your question
| was" she said willfuIiy
| Gladys, don't be silly Just tell nj
the terms your people are offerinl
| CIarksonv
/ Perhaps his perenlptory tone acted q
ali irritant Oh the girls excited nerves
She lifted her little pointed chin in til
air and turned her shoulder towar
him.
vi shan't tell you anything at all
you speak to me like that she SAX
80 there! Little silly, indeed. It's 80
that's silly, think
He resented her rebellion now with
promptitude which characterized a
his actions
"why, whatever's come over yol
Giadysf Flying out like that just p
cause I want to have 4 little rationi
conversation. Catch me bringing 80
to the theater again. that's air.
you can please yourself about tina
!, I'm sure
The sentence issued shortly from y
3 averted profile, and dead silence II
! upon the pair
Quite thirty seconds must have pas
/. ed during which the young man al
Il the young woman contemplated opI
10 site sides Of the auditorium In sileni
' Then flush crept over Gladys IA
! and SHE stole glance ont Of the &
ners Of her eyes in Loftles directi'
IA Perhaps he caught the glance, AT a
N. rate he had the sense to maintain a
no even to intensity the Indignation of
y. expression. and Gladys color de-
al ened, Another thirty seconds pass
RS and then small voice, half iniul
IL aud half appealing, said
!, AFR
rot No answer. MIR; Alfred Loftle 7
IN served countenance of stone.
Il 1--WE were having such a nice ev
M ing, Alf."
~ I'm not aware that It's my IA
that we're not having nice even
~ now