The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-22

to laugh about the telegram; could see. now that she had seen him, that 1t was a joke, and she enjoyed 1t SC much that he told her the other joke that he could not remember what Bes. | sic had sent him. He asked her. in laughing appeal, to tell him what Bes- sic had sent. and Mrs. Marlowe laugh ingly admitted that she did not know, I She even admitted that BeT3ssie did not know and laughed about 1t. She told him to make his visit as long as possible. now that ho had come, and then she called to Bessie. excused her | self and put on her wraps and went to | keep some important social engage ment.
 The smile that a man smiles when he 1 is alone is a genuine smile. and not a l forced smile. and Thomas smiled to ] himself as he sat alone in the parlor. He was aware that when cousin Bes- 1 sle came down he would be able to | lead her into confusion. to tease her 1 ignorance spontaneously, and avenge himself. So he smiled. She came at length. a little flushed. but all the prettier for that, and she sought to turn the conversation along new lines. She asked him if he played golf. She seemed to be intensely anx- ious to know if he played golf She put the question as if the one thing she wanted in the world was to know If he played golf Thomas was not to be fooled in any such manner.
 The reason I liked the Christmas present you sent me so much. he said. with confidence, was because I had all ways wanted 1t. but had never got it. had heard so much about 1t. Oh. ever since I was a little boy. and I had al- ways intended to get it, but never did"
 Bessie leaned forward and looked at him with surprise. He could hardly keep back a laugh. she seemed so evil dently trying to guess what the pre- sent had been.
 That's funny" she said; T thought all men had them"
 "oh. no!" he assured her. "All wo- men, perhaps. but not all men"
 'Is that a joker" she asked. I sup pose you mean that all women--''
 Well" he said. "they do read more than men do don't they?' "'n""E tfiftloiS ca! rdI mfdwdwf
 "But-but didn't send you any thing to read" she faltered.
 Perhaps you did not expect me to read it." he said, as one making a con- cession, but I did. I read 1t and en- Joyed it."
 "ohw sh gasped Perhaps there had been something. some paper or some thing, in the match box of which she knew nothing.
 DO you know." he said. smiling. that you speak as if you did not, know really what you had sent me7'
 "The idea"' she exclaimed. "Of course I know"
 She was too vehemeSt. he thought. She overdid it.
 Then of course you know that all men have not reada Lallah Rookh," he said. with great amusement. But had really wanted to read it for long time. and the copy you sent me was especially nice. because I am particu- Iarly fond of padded bindings"
 Her eyes twinkled brightly. Now she kew. He did not remember what she had given him. and he had been talking with her mother and he imagined he was having fun with her. His next question made her sure of it.
 By the way" he asked. ''who is cousin Mayme?"
 He expected to see her blush. but she did not.
 "Do you play golf9" she asked. sweetly.
 Not when I can read Lallah Rookh." he said. throwing away the chance she was giving him to retire from the Geld gracefully.
 DO you ever carry a match box?'' she asked sweetly.
 Now. that is a funny question to ask a man." she said. Al men do"
 Do YOU carry those that cousins give you at Christmas?" she asked.