The Forrest City times., 1906-04-06
K GENTLEMAN
 AND THE FRlLL
av E. GRAFTON MecANST
----.-.-,-ht. leo0, by Joseph B. Bowles.)

,o ,he bright spring weather the
 ,.s of he house at the corner of
 s,rset were open and into those
 .snus there drifted the sounds of
 a,,ts1de world-the low hum of
 -.irq insects. the raueous squab-
 inrs of the many sparrows in the
 ~aet and the musical love-notes of
 nsir of birds who were building
 uest in the quince bushes by the gar
 en fence
 o me tbat faces away from the cross
 .roet and commands a view of the
 .minntive orchard where the fruit
 aas m this day seemed lost in bil
 ,wv nink-cnd-w white cloud of blos
 Dms-The Girl sat before her sewing
 ocbine now working the treadle with 1 hrief and furious energy, now stop
 ,nc 10 lock al the other girl and 10
 ,r her grievances; for she had long
 go shut he eyes to the beauty of the
 sorld and she refused to listen to the Alajnts of the sparrows because she lad troubles of her own. 1 CT inst don't care!" she finally re-
 rarked. wi.h an emphatic nod of her &re,ty head. Tt is The Gentleman's sault anyaoN He-Ee is so unreason- kble!"
 1 The other girl raised her eyebrows. For an hour il had been evident uc her hat trouble was in the air, but The Gentleman was not her gentleman" 10 she felt that the quarrel was none M hers. still. now that the matter lad been approached directly. she kould no; withhold a show of inter- kst.
 And so les going to-day" she Asked suggagtiyely.
 1 The Girl shrugged her shapely shoul- bers, Yes-and he doesn't need to go bntil tomorrow afternoon. For my bart. I don. see why he should go even linen" She clipped her words short Ind set the machine whirring again. i Before her filling the leaf of the machine and overnowing upon the Roor we multitudinous folds of 6elicate-au4d woven stuff, and on the liable a hef side were other breadths bf the same. together with odds and 4nds of silk and ribbon, and a great Fellow pile of tiss-epaper patterns. While The Girl sped the machine the bther girl came over to the table, took bne of tie pieces of paper, spread 1t but on the stuff and pinned it, Then she stepped back and looked at the Effect, hollng her head sidewise and Considering. To the uninitiated mas tuline the raper might have stood for knything rom a Russian war map to Standard Oil rate sheet. but the eyes |bf the other girl saw therein the plans hnd specifications of gown. "Oh. Polly" she exclaimed. little twinge of delicious envy taking hold bf her soul. Its going to be beauty -and tha, wide ruffied frill at the bot Rom of the skirt is the darlingest part bf it!'
 The Girl stopped the machine and rested her chin on her hands. Its Qovely." she admitted. And to think fhat The Gentleman asked me to give pt all up-,he dress. and the party. and |ny week-e,1 engagement with Harry |White-just because he is going away land wanfel me this last night all to |limself
 The 0the. girl looked properly sur |rrised and sympathetically outraged. EIhen, with the consciousness of superi- Tor virtue. she raised her eyes heaven |vard
 Thank eaodness," she exclaimed, |eef-righteously. I'm not engaged!" The Girl dropped her eyes I'm not, |elther sh7 remarked; that is, not |now. Tha now" sounded depressed |and a tiny Lit treumulous. The othea girl looked up-here was |a sensation
 Whai29 she interrogated, sharply. The Gifl's face gathered color. les, she asserted. recklessly. 'I can De as obstinate as The Gentleman can. .
 ! told him that was going to the |oahce tonight and that he must wait |o'er and see me tomorrow night; that |.i Ills business is of more importance ,nan am. ny" She hesltated. He mas decided not to stay" she added, |decsyely.
 The other girl looked grave. He .an stay, Polly" she urged "I heard nm say that he could not. They've wired for lam."
 The Girl tipped her chin into the ar ar lt seesn't matter now" she said.
 u Is settled once and fer all" Then AeI io'fy indignation deserted her and leF voice faA He might have" she .esan' hut broke off suddenly, turned again
 The othef girl looked troubled; then, es Step sounded on the front walk M sne Went ,o the window and peeped Tout
 |, w ny. she exclaimed, with some re r ,rsl in her tones. heres The Gentle ~ aH Almse5t.' After which she gath , .0 up fgEdry of her belongings and
 'IniS2ed III disereetly from the room. ,.n II As Cir heard 3 quick. heavy foot ~~''' uat S7a urpfpuded Dof n notice