The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-10-28
REGARD
 .' TO ETIQUETTE
BY OTHO B. SENECA.

fCopyrighted. 1906. by Homer Sprdgu~y
 It was characteristic of Ross BraCy that he laughed. although somewhat bitterly. as the gaudy auto-car dashed by. He had received but the merest nod of recognition from Miss Danvcrs.
 Ross. my boy" he soliloquized, you must have made a mistake m thinking you were invited to join this festiv. crowd"
 He took a small envelope from his inner coat pocket, and read portions of the note in mumbling undertone. ada ing caustic comments as he proceeded.
 My dear Ross Nm. dear Ross feels pretty cheap-about 23 cents worth at the present moment! 'Thera will be small party of US at Wiers from the 18th to the 27th.' Well, I'm only two days fin the rear-not bad for laboring man! It would be very pleasant if you could be there ar the same time M-m, pleasant! I won der just where the. pleasure comes in :. We'll. here we are. Ross. brace up!"
 He furtively licked the dust from his shoes. and ran lightly up the broad terraces to the hotel plaza.
 He had hoped that Efae would walt for him. She must have known that he was on his way to call upon her.
 The torturing minutes seemed hours after he had sent up his card. and he felt the scarlet flood mount to his fore head again and again, as some laugh ing girl stole a second glance at his handsome face and stalwart figure.
 When Efie came down the stairs sowned in white. she seemed to the embarrassed young fellow tEe embodi- ment of coolness and self-possession.
 Her greeting was hardly courteous. ir degree removed from cordiality. and she spoke with some asperyy.
 why, Ross Brady. where arc vol. staying? l expected you to register hcre!'
 He crimsoned under the reproof of her voice and manner. Then the squaf e shoulders were set back, and the heav.' chin hardened.
 You knew. Fife" gravely, that l could not afford the rates here. I am at a farm house a mile away. I can be with you whenever you wish. Fife, pleadingly. |
 She seemed not to hear him.
 And your call just now. Ross" fret ully. "is wholly without regard to eti uuette. I only came down to tcll you that you can come again tomorrow. and be sure to send up two cards, ore for me. and one for Mrs. Lyons. tn" chaperone of the party"
 He laughed shortly.
 "Efie the card sent up is probably the last one I have--my vacation :s necessarily a brief one, and
 "Oh, Ross" in an excited whisper "Hepe comes Miss Van Vance--do go! I mustn't be seen talking to you Ike this. She is from New York, and awfully-
 Brady waited no longer. He h 'wed formally to Effie. and turned sharply Vance on the threshold. She looked squarely into his eyes as they passed, with an expression that he afterwards recalled and wondered about.
 she's a good deal older than Fife and those other girls hc unused T wonder - then he shrugged his shoulders impatiently What differ ence does 1t make, anyhow? I'll wrIt. Efle .note-I was a donkey not to think about cards. I don't wonder sht was annoyed. She wants to be correct about matters of etiquette. of course
 But Bradys honest heart was sore indeed on-the following day, when the messenger returned with no answer 10 the pleading little note lie sent to Fl fie. ..~
 He put on through suit of flannel and started for a tramp. striding rapidly along the country road, his handsome face moody and forbidding The sound of wheels reused him from his unpleasant reflections.
 Tt is country etiquette" said clear voice. flor one who drives to ask one who walks to have a lift,'"
 He turned quickly It was Miss Van Vance, seated in light Stanhopr, driving high-stepping hay She smiled down into his astonished face, reined and turned the animal with a quick movement of her supple. wrist. glancing invitingly at the seat beside her.
 Brady hati never before been chai. lenged in just such a way. and his blood rose. His usual diffidence van ished; he stepped promptly into the ve- hicle ant seated himself. saying easily 'ls it etiquette for the one who walks to introduce himself ;o the ane who drives?"
 Tt isn't necessary" cooly. You are Ross Brady: you were brought ID on farm in Northern Vermont; you have studied all sorts of ologies and isms. and you are now taking the advancen course in metallurgy at the Harvard Summer School"
 Who told you?" rashly.
 No one, simply put two and TWO together. The sum is seven! l wash