The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1906-09-27


Katherine. eating another chocolate
when he'd rather look at wall thar
1t me. l wonder what / ought to do
II we were utter strangers. cast away
IA desert isle. and he had one biscuit
and three drops of wat,-. | should
think him horrid IL he didn't offer ms
half. ! suppose | ought TO offer hin
some of these chocolates. even II were
not on speaking terms"
Katherine. sitting very erect. and
gazing straight ahead. pushed the box
along the seat westectt paid no at
| tention.
| 'will You have ehocolateY" asked
Katherine. somewhat unsteadily.
westcott was so sure that he was
dreaming that he did not make any
answer.
The lady spoke to YOU prompted
the elevator boy
westcott looked lnquiringly at Kath-
crime.
~wiIl you-will you have choco-
lateg's
mo. thank you" replied westcott.
returning to the contemplation OF the
green wall.
There was another long pause. The
neglected box remained half way be-
tween the suspended passengers
II think you're very ungentlemanly,-
said Katherine at length.
$50 you said last night" responded
westcott. eoidly.
You're more so to-day"
sHow7'
You-you know I'm roo polite to eat
these chocolates and let you go hungry.
and I'm fairly starving
westcott. with an air OF exaggerated
politeness. took a chocolate and ate II.
with his eyes fixed unsociably upon the
green wall He dared not trust him
self TO look at Katherine Katherine
nibbled a bonbon, waited In silence for
ten minutes. and again offered the box
to westcott, who graveIy helped him
self. This operation was repeated until
only one remained In the box. The
remaining one was heart shaped
Its a hearti" exclaimed the ele-
vator boy. who had read too many
dime shockers" not 10 recognize an
interesting situation when face to face
with one. and who was unable TO con-
tain himself longer You'll have to
toss for it. It's heart, Isn't its'
why, 50 1t Is" replied Katherine.
''Will you have II. Bob-parion me-
Mr. westcottg'
westcott shot a quick glance at
Katherine. who had gradually moved
two feet away from the end of the
leather-overed bench. and was conse-
quently that much closer TO the man
she had Tilted the previous evening.
do l understand that you are offer
ing me hearth asked westcott.
Its your turn" said Katherine,
flushing beautiful crimson
westeott took from his pocket some
thing that glittered. laid it In the box
beside the chocolate heart. and pushed
the box toward Katherine.
do we play fairf" he asked, with
his eyes on Katherlne's
The elevator boy. agog with excite
menf, retired discreetly. but with re-
luctance. to the pages Of his paper. but
not before he had recognized in the
glittering object a ring
And when be looked again the box
contained two hands. although only one
was visible: the man was no longer
gazing at the wall.
The hand Of the Indicator above the
boys head was ieaping from number
20 number In curious fashion. sounds
If ringing bells and impatient voices
irifted from the elevator shaft but
he man and the maid paid no heed
Then the boy moved the lever slowly,
wen reluctantly, and the elevator
iropped quietly to the ground floor.
"Oh," exclaimed Katherine, drawing
Ter hand gently from Westcott's and
diving a long sigh Were actually
Iown-"
Yes beamed the boy. "and you
night have been down fifteen minutes
go just ms well as not; but I seen how
hings was going. and I thought I'd
IeIp them along some"
you shall come to the wedding,
'upid." said Westeott, slipping a heavy
DIN into the cherubic boys hand And
e added. as they stepped out of the
levator on to the solid ground: IF I I
yer own an elevator you shall run it, !
Carroll Watson Rankin, In Pearson'z
go~o1fra