The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1906-08-21
AssAA NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Like d Gentleman
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By j. a. TIFFANY

4 leg your Pardon. sir. Ont ] am
a what you call a Gimculty. II is In
DE manner of being ridiculous u
,haA think so afterwards but at
present &c shall embarrass me. /
came here alone 10 enjoy the cool
ureeze of The lake; and I have lost
my little purse Not much was there
IN it, true. but cannot walk the
seven miles to the city back Yes
look Ike gentleman sir That is
Why ! trust YOU 10 tell you my trou.
ble.'
And she looked like a lady, in her
neat white linen suit, with tan shoes.
sailor hat and dainty lace parasoi.
She was pretty too--yery pretty, and
reasonably young; she could nos be
more than 23 Shc spoke with de.
cided foreign accent; but her voice
was soft and sweetly vibratory.
y give the gentleman my card, so
he will know me. who ! am and
will send him the car fare through the
post Office, II he viii give me his ad-
dress"
81 wasn't thinking OF that" he said
with a smile Il will gladly let you
take any change you need. But
was thinking there is an awful
crowd here-may ! not have the
pleasure OF taking you to the car and
seeing you safely TO your homef'
You are most kind gentleman
! shall thank you for the courtesy
sir"
He gave her his arm, and togethei
they threaded their way through
the throng OF pieasure-seekers. ant
were soon seated in car bound city
wards.
They chatted pleasantly as the,
went along, unconscious OF all arounS
them; they might have been travelling
in private Pullman. so absorbed
were they in one another. He gath
cred that the lady was n miniature
painter She had come alone from
southern Europe TO make her way Il
the world He did not leave her until
she was standing safely on her owl
doorstep.
"Rut | do not know your name an'
address. slr-so as to send you the ca
fare" she said. as he raised his ha
and bade her goodnight,
mo, he said; that Is not at al
necessary Is your studio here2
yes"
~ was wondering whether yo
wouldn't like TO paint my miniatur
for me. But. perhaps, your prices ar
too extravaeant"
Il paint a miniature for SIS, sir
sentlemans. Some ladies give m
more"
"And why not a gentleman"
Because / cannot take Il from then
you see"
"Ah. yes-I beg your pardon. 70
shall do my miniature, II you vii
When shall | give you my first SIT
ting?"
lie had one the next day; and h
must have been difhcult subject, "a
before the miniature was finished IN
dttlngs had been numerous and prr
tracted When she handed the pictur
60 him, he held II IN his hand for
minute, gave her the SlB. and said:
Now really. ] don't know what
am going 60 do With this. Would so
care TO keep it-.Nlrle2"
lt was the first time he had calle
her by her Christian name. The dar
olive cheeks became crimson for a Sc,
ond and then, in her impulsive, soutl
ern way. she tripped over 20 him, too
the miniature from his outstretche
hand and kissed IT,
But Il IS such good, heautifl
face" she said, with another blush
"and you are so kind TO me-
He had called again the next da
though his business with her WI
! finished; and before he took his lea,
he had returned to her in person q
D kiss that she had imprinted on b
I miniature After that hey had goT
to the lake resorts many times 4
gether in the evenings, aud som
times. on moonlight nights, he n'
hired launch and taken her for
cruise on the lake.
! The harmless Irritation had drift'
into something far more serious; an
he was getting tired Of it-eith
tired OF the woman or ashamed
himself
He had never told her his re
name nor his address. Always. fro
the first. he had intended 90 bre'
away from the dangerous fascin
; ton Of his foreign enchautross. B
the fascination had been too strol
for him,
He had really meant no disloyal
to his absent wife when he first D
gan to cultivate this chance acuuaiI
ance u the beach But his wife "
separated from him By half a con
: nent He had been loyal TO b
through three years Of absenC
. caused by a lung dlnculty that cei
PEELED her 20 live ia Colorado. Will
F. he was tied down 20 the east by b
I business connections and the necesi
y ty Of providing adequately for
invalid wife.
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