Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1906-06-11

Il think I will come in and wait,
she said with decision. And come in
she did, Mr. Hazeltine not knowing
exactly what to do under the circum-
stances.
Now this was much more In keeping
with the electricians preconceived
ideas of book agents behavior. New
ertheless when he turned and found the
young lady standing in the middle of
the floor he felt obliged to be at least
decently polite.
Wont you take .,hair?' he asked.
"Thank you," said the caller and
took one.
The situation was extremely awk-
ward, but Ralph felt that loyalty to
Captain Fri forbade his doing any
thing that might urge the self pos
sessed Miss Black to prolong her visit,
so for a time he said nothing. The
young lady looked out of the window,
and Mr.. HaZeltine looked at her. He
was more than ever of the opinion that
the "middlin' term should be cut out
of her description. He rather liked her
appearance, SO he decided. He liked
the way she wore her hair, so simple
an arrangement, but SO effective. Also
he liked her dress. 1t was the first tai
lor made walking suit he had seen
since his arrival in Orham. And worn
by a country book agent of all people!
Just then Miss Black turned and
caught him intently gazing at her. She
colored, apparently with displeasure,
and looked out of the window again.
Mr.. Hazeltine colored also and fidgeted
| with the book on the table The situa-
ton was confoundedly embarrassing.
He felt that he must say something
| now, so he made the original observa-
| ton that it lad been pleasant day.
To this the young lady agreed, but
| there was no enthusiasm in her tone.
| Then Ralph, nervously fishing for an
| other topic, thought of the book in his
| hand
Il was just reading this" he said. 81
| found it quite interesting"
The next moment he realized that he
| had said what of all things was the
most impolitic. 1t was nothing less
| than a bid for canvass" and he fully
| expected to be confronted with the nee
essary order blanks without delay.
But, strangely enough, the book lady
| made no such move. She looked at
him, it is true, with an expression of
surprise and what seemed to be amuse-
| ment on her face. He was certain that
her lips twitched as she said calmly:
did you? am glad to hear it."
This dispassionate remark was en-
tirely unexpected, and the electrician,
as Captain Fri would have said, "lost
his bearings completely.
l. "Yes-er-yes," he stammered. ~Very
interesting indeed. II suppose you
must take good many orders in the
course of a week"
"a good many orders?"
''Why, yes. Orders for the books, l
mean The books-the Great Naval
Lives'-er-these books here
81 beg your pardon, but who do you
think l ann"
And it was then that the perception
of some tremendous blunder began to
seize upon Mr. Hazeltine. He had
been red before. Now he felt the red
ness creeping over his scalp under his
hair.
''Why-why-Miss Black, I suppose
that is, u
Just here the door opened and Cap
tain Fri came in. He took off his car
, and then, seeing the visitor. remained
standing, apparently waiting for al
introduction. But the young lady die
I, not keep him waiting long.
Are you Captain Fri Hedge?' sh,
asked
! ''Yes'm," answered the captain.
ooh, I'm so glad. Your. letter cam,
this morning, and 1 hurried down OF
the first train. I'm Elizabeth Pres
, ton"