The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-06-24
, = . . 4. y y = y . y
MAKING AN IMPRESSION.

| Gretta was curled up In nest OIL
newspapers reading the How to Be
Beautiful" page, when the telephone
rang. Ten minutes after she had an
swered it she reappeared in the parlor
with an indefinable change for the bet
ter about her hair and general appear
| ance. Seating herself on the daven-
| mort, she began induStriOusly reading
a small leather bound volume which
she had brought from upstairs with
her.
who telephoned, Gretta?" asked
her mother.
! Mr.. Matthews. He's coming out at
once, and here am with this overcast
ing little book on Dante that he loaned
me the last time he was here-and l
| haven't read a word in it YETI
80. you thought you'd like to have
him find you at it?"
Not for the worlds He's supposed
to think l devoured it the evening ne
left it here He must be very intellec-
tual for he said he thought I'd be de-
lighted with this thing. Oh, here comes
| father! Don't let him interrupt me
| will YOU, darling?-because l simply
must have something intelligent to say
to Mr.. Matthews about the book when
| he comes"
So Gretta's mother lured her nus
band to the front porch and kept him
there for Is minutes. Then, young
Matthews came briskly up the steps.
Go right in, Matthews; the doors
omen and Gretta's in the parlor, SAID
Gretto's father.
There was a slight flutter in Gret-
~,
greet him. It fattered Matthews, but
it was gone directly.
"By the way" she remarked, aftera
fsw commonplaces, i've never said
word about that charming essay on
Dante you brought me to read. what
a complete study it is-both OF the
man and the poet-isn't it?''
yves" Matthews answered, Win
II strange lack Of enthusiasm.
But what a hard life ne had, belng
an exile and all! And to think that ne
was really expelled by faction OF MS
\ own party-the Guerphs! That was
when he went over to the Ghlbelllnes'
of course"
Il AS Gretta uttered the words the Pc
culiar expression with which Matthew's
was regarding her, filled ner with a
horrible dread. Perhaps she had salo
"Gnibellines' when she should nave
said "Guelphs'
Il Eyes. indeed, fine essay" Mat
i thews was saying, with depressed all
Then. Frightening, he added, suppose
we look over some OF the passages ~.
/ gether-that is, if the book Is nanny.
A sudden color flooded Grettas race
She hesitated. and then answered colo-
ly, "it-isn't handy
l Without further explanation she
dashed into a lot of talk that went OH
for 20 minutes. At the end OF that tliiie
while she was still talking, Matthews
rose with a determined air, crossed
the room. and sat down on the IA
venport beside mere.
Il don't understand he SAID.
J understand WHAT
"Why YOU snubbed me so about that
hook. Have you lost it? l don't care
if you have" ;.
"Oh. no; know exactly where II Is.
Indeed! Then you simply don
wish to look at it with me?'
"Oh, yes, 1 do"
Then, why
"Recause-if you must know" she
hurst out in desperation, its on the
floor behind this davenport, and ola
not wish to tell you!"
ION the floor?'
Eyes; l threw it there when you came
in. You almost caught me trying 10
get a few of it's facts into my head SO
that I could impress you with my ap-
nreciation of the dry, old thing
To her establishment Matthews gave
q relieved shout of laughter. DRY Old
| thing, is it," ne echoed, Il never READ
a word Of it!'
why, you loaned it to me as II y.
were the favorite gem of your library!
Il know" he confessed, Il had
bought it that very day. 1t was an at
tractive binding, I thought. TO tell
4 the truth. Miss Gretta, l had an IDEA
that you went in for Dante and tnat
sort of thing, and 1.-The fact is, was
mighty anxious to make good I'M
preston"
"Oh!" said Gretta, but there was
volume of charity in tine word. Ihen'
after little while, she added Vlrtuous-
ly. Lets begin and read it all through
together, shall We?'
IF you say so,' agreed Matthews.
But though he stayed long time
! after that the maid who swept In the
morning picked up a little book on
Dante from the floor beside the daven-
nort.-Chicago News. -. ...'