Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-04

see thls mornings paper? He lait
1t at her elbow, as he spoke and walk
ed of to fill her order
She had never been at NIarrinis before al
though his culinary marvels were known 70 fame
so she looked around her with some CURIOSITY,
~ was all exquistely neat and clean. but ther,
was little in the way of decoration to claim one.
interest, so gradually her gaze wandered 70 tbe
occupants of the different tables. Directly in
'front.' OF her was motherly-looking woman. ac.
con'pamed by two young girls who had cast many
surreptitlous glances in her direction since her
entrance, about five minutes before They had
IN Iact, conceived for her one of those sudden and
violent admiratons with which school.qirls are
frequently assailed and their enthusiasm was
divided between her pretty face and her taste.
iui welLhtting costume. Ahead of them were
some ladies, who had evidently been ont sbon.
ping and little way off, a party of three or
TOUR middle-aged, gentemanly-looking men eat.
ing their lunch together.
was this really more stupid than most restau.
rants, she wondered or did it seem so because
she was stranger and did not know anv of these
people! 1t used to be such pleasure Go her to
nave meal down town What fun she had
thought 1t to watch the people around her And
tnen, too, there was always the delightful posi-.
olllty OF seeing some celebrity dining.
She continued her survey of the large apart.
ment. A few months ago, no doubt. she would
nave oeen absorbed in contemplation of the coll
pie near the door. Probably the coniectures that
would have arisen in her mind concerning them
would have filled a volume. Now, alas. tbev
seemed commonplace in the extreme Was she
growing old, or more welcome though. blase? !?
1t was plain that those two girls felt lust the
way she had, in days gone by. This was a great
treat to them, and she actually believed that
she was the one who had succeeded in concen-
trating their attention Well, they were very
young, so she could not become unduly conceited
parlo h.,
gown had different cut, or her hat was of a
new shape; or-oh horror!-coud it be crooked?
She leaned back little and looked over her
shoulder to where a large mirror was suspended
Then, probably attracted by the intent gaze
OF man seated alone, in corner diagonally op-
posite her, and whom she had not noticed before.
she turned, and her eyes met his
The thought that she had met him somewhere
at once flashed through her mind Surely it
could be no chance resemblance to some friend
that made his face so familiar to her. Very
likely he had been at the reception given for her
the previous night How had she failed to see
him in her survey of the room? He was strik
ing-looking man; indeed, remarkably handsome
How long had he been looking at her? She
flushed. He regarding her with an inter
ested expression though he knew her-nothing
impertinent or rude about it; and-yes, of course
she must have been introduced to him
She inclined her head little hesitatingly. but
with charming, if feetng, smile
1t was uncomplimentary to a man not to
recognize him. 1t must make him feel so cheap;
and if she should make a mistake it would be
far better to err on the side of over-politeness
A bow never could hurt her. and anv one
brought up in good society would be sure. at
least, to return it and save her the humiliation of
a rebuff
From his cordial sautation, he evidently had
no doubts as to her identity. She was glad she
had not cut him, particularly as she was deter
mined to be popular here, as she had always been
in the city she had just left And now there
was all the more reason for
Her thoughts to an abrupt conclusion
The subject of them had risen from his seat and
was advancing towards her, Certainly this was
trife embarrassing, she had no idea of his
name; still, he need not discover that, and per
haps in a few moments it would come to her.
"Ah!" she sad he reached her side. "And
how are you today?
This might imply that she had seen him yes
terday and perhaps the day before, or it might