The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-01-13
THE DINNER HOUR.
BY GRACE q. BosTIvICk.

BY GRACE G. B0STWIGk. Copyright, 1906, Daily Story Pub. Col
 And so you write uplifting poetry, Miss Howard" he asked in slightly bored tones.
 Jeannette froxe him with look.
 Perhaps verse would sound better, he assented quietly with a quizzical shadow of a smile back of his pince neg.
 Jeanette ignored him majestically if that stunning adjective may be ap- piled to ne-hundred-and-te pounds Of youthfulness.
 T must have put my foot in it-- perhaps torn the delicate lace from a fragile fancy" he continued teasingly, interested by her provoked silence where the delighted conversational ef- forts of nurherous charming maidens had failed.
 Jeannette flashed sudden. sunny smile at him. He started as he looked, for the first time, full in herreyes. They were smiling eyes with sunny gleams in their warm, brown depths-not at all the eyes of a poetess as he had fancied them.
 If you want to win my undylng hatred, poster me with remarks about my popular verse--sllly stuff" Jean nette said savagely
 Always alllterativeT' he questioned smiling.
 Merely a matter of habit" she re- piled, flushing under his laughing look.
 "What shall we talk about. then?" he questioned gravely.
 Yourself" she responded with readi- ness He looked at her commiserat- ingly.
 Poor thing" he said. "she doesn't know"
 Jeanette helped herself to salad be- fore she asked, wrinkling her dainty brows in curiosity. What, for good ness sake? You look like triple tragedy in bronze" Then, as sus- picision took shape In her mind she laid her fork down and faced him fear fully. You're not" Words failed her.
 He nodded solemnly. T certainly am. to my everlasting sorrow" he re- piled with feeling.
 Jeannette sighed. Then. we're two of a kind" she said, ''and we were put together for purpose. I'll really have to ask your name. My thoughts were wool gatherings when you were
 Rhyme gathering, more probably" he interrupted, laughingly. Ell con fess that I've been trying in vain to find a suitable rhyme for
 70 don't" she exclaimed, "as If didn't have troubles of my own And the name? she asked suddenly.
 "wainwright-orrin Wainwright"
 Not the Wainwright?' she asked in awed tones.
 ',rhe same. please your ladyship," he bowed with exaggerated deferenee
 And here I've beehive been just too impertinent for-Ohr she stam- mered. He caught the amused gleam under the long eyelashes. however.
 Let's form truce and declare the subpect barred" he offered. She smil- ed an eager assent.
 where shall begin?" he asked, ad- mirlng her clear-cut profile with the long, slender curve of cheek and chin, the fine pallor of her skin that flushed at the slightest provocation. the auaintly-arched brows that went to slight point. lending look of piquan- cy to her small face. Her eyes. he noted, were far apart and Iarge--ten- der. too, he decided. as well as humor- ous-rather an unusual combination in a woman's eyes.
 I'm only in town for a couple of days Where did you say you were staylng?"
 T didn't say" remarked Jeannette trenchantly.
 May I ask whore you are staying?"
 You may" she rendered, a wicked " hiSChlcNOuS hA~A"h pA A'b bhtSitHs HOA glance.
 stopped his words. 'I'm not staying live here" she offered conciliatlngly
 ''Yes, and where? I mean to call, he said quietly.
 ''No." interrupted Jeanette, hur- riedly. T don't receive callers-I haven't time" she explained rather lamely in answer to his surprised look. His firm mouth twitched with sup pressed amusement as he replied:
 ''So be It, your ladyship." She glanced flIrtIvely at his strong face. and scOlded herself for the interest It evoked.
 Did you ever have an ideal?' he asked irrelevantly. Jeannette flushed for he had caught the look of admira-
 Heaps of 'em," she responded read
 T mean. did you ever cherish the likeness of a possibility and suddenly discover that 1t was real flesh and blood creation instead of the h5ment of an unstable imaginationE
 She looked at h'm, eurlously. NO
 Then you can't understand how one would feel under such circumstances or that one would havo the desire to- He paused and looked into her eyes with meaning. Jeannette laughed and stirred in embarrassment. You don't mean" she began with her customary straightforward directness, that l am the unspeakable--"
 That Is precisely what I do mean he replied gravely. 1T didn't recog- nize tho likeness at first It was sev- eraI minutes before you unbent suhl- ciently to bestow your smiles"
 Gracious. You alarm mel" Jean nette's iippancy had saved her from many difficult situations of which this was not the least in her eyes.
 What a child you are" He smiled in amused tolerence.
 How long have you entertained this 
 Ideal" he supplemented softly. Her eyes dropped under his warm scrutiny l
 "I wonder if you could recall time | as far back as"
 MT Wainwright Jeannctte bris- | tied in simulated indignation at the | possible implication in his words.
 'It was a spring day in early May he continued dreamily. ignoring her exclamation, "a bevy of school girls l with lonG braids down 0@0 Backs