The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1906-05-18

oria agreed. Aunt AIyra considers
you such a safe companion" she said
demurely.
Its one of the compensations of be-
ing Ineligible" said 1. For l was in
eligible. there was no doubt about that
My income of few naltry thousands
pureir sufilCed to keep lie 01 tie soci.n
merry -So-round. And had added in
discretion to poverty by falling in love
with HoHOria. OF course no one could
have guessed it, Even Honoria's aunt
would have scoffed the idea of my be-
ing a probable sutton In fact the very
dimness of my prospects enabled me
to see more of Honoria than | other
wise could have done. | was consid-
cred perfectly safe. for Honoria's cir
cumstances demanded that she make
brilliant match, and | was the least
brilliant man of her acquaintance. 1t
was the old old story of the moth and
the star. If the moth was foolish, so
much the worse for the moth And as
for the star-IIonoria and ! had long
since decided that love was out of the
question. So, on the way to the Casino
our conversation was strictly confined
to platonic platltudes.
We had luncheon at one of the little
tables close by an open window.
through which the green reaches of the
park We're enticine TO the eye Sun
shine dappled the leaves Witt the light
ana shadow. Squirrels frisked across
the grass. The hum of the city sound
ell far away and indiStinct Now and
then breeze stole in. carrying with 1t
faint, half Woodsy perfume The mir
rOr across from us reflected Honoria's
frills and furbelows. her clear delicate
profile and every turn of her graceful
head. There We're the clink Of ice in
tall, thin glasses and a gay bubble Of
festivity and laughter from some of the
other tables. Honoria's eyes met mine
There are worse places than New
York | observed.
"Oh, what is so rare as day in
town. murmured Honoria.
Il bless the fate which prompted you
to leave the seashore and let me have
glimpse Of you" said l.
1T wasn't fate; it was dressmakers."
said lIonoria. She put back her veil
with IN adorable gesture Am very
much burnel| she demanded.
Only enough to be becoming" said |.
You're bit brown yourself, Dick"
she observed.
People who make hay while the sun
shines began.
"Ah.' said Houoria, that's just what
l was going TO ask Are you progress
ing we'll with the heress:"
"Modesty forbids me to say" | an.
swered. flows old CroesusE'
Doing nicely. thanks" laughed Hon
oria. Then her face grew grave.
Dick she said, do you realize that
this is the last luncheon wei have to-
gether tete-a-teteY
Il know said |. that our year OF
camaraderie is over. And it was fun
while it lasted. wasn't it, Honoria? All
our little walks and talks and drives.
And it's got to end because we're
afraid of poverty"
Eve do love luxury" sighed Honoria
Wed be miserable without it."
argued
You" went on Honoria. must mar
~ the heiress in order to obtain a
yacht and all the other things you
can't possibly get along without"
while old Croesus can give you o
house in town and several in the csuB.
try, not to mention a box at the opera
and gowns Of Paris creation. vet when
I'm steaming around Gibraltar and
you're giving splendid entertainments
IN your brownstone front l dare say
wen look back on these times we've
spent together vith a good deal of
amusement and some regret Don't
you think so. Honoria?"
But Honoria was engaged in spear
ing an olive and apparently did not
hear me.
I've often wondered" she said mus
ingly, how it would seem to be poor.
| suppose I'd make my own bats and
wear ready made tailor suits and live in 4
a little box of an apartment"
But even box of an apartment can