Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1906-01-12

= NV answering the teiepnone
MN she looked SO sober. es-
1cfS pecialIy in contrast with
her previous high spirits, that the
family resolved itself into an interro-
cation point at once.
Harry can't come for me-" she said,
slowly.
rs that all? Thought there must
have been a death at the very least"
mo, that's not all. He very kindly
provides me with an escort, and that
escort none other than Mr.. Randolph
Payson."
"Well, what's the matter with Mr.
Payson? 1 thought he was all right"
That's just what's the matter-hes
so invariably and provokingiy all right.
He's perfect paragon of propriety,
and 1 shall be sure to do something
to shock him. I've half a mind not
to 60"
"Oh, Katharine" interposed her
mother, you must. Harry is depend
Ing on your solos,"
Eyes, that's another thing. Some
one has failed him at the last minute
and he wants me to sing another.
hate these concerts for the benefit of
something anyway; they're always in
some stuffy hall, and there's never a
decent piano"
"An unprecedented observer would al
most be tempted to think you are
cross, Kit" remarked her brother.
cts enough to make anybody cross.
don't see how Mr.. Payson can recon
Tile it with his conscience to take me
IN carriage without a chaperon, but
harry says he jumped at the chance.
The idea! Of course it was all right
to go with Harry"
"Well, DEAR" said her mother, sooth-
lngly, ''you must just do the best you
can. can't imagine why you feel
so about it. Most girls would be de-
lighted with Randolph Payson as an
escort"
''Most girls are scared blue of him
Just the same. It's enough TO rifle
anybody just to look at him, he's so
absolutely faultless.''
Katherine was ready at the appoint
ID time, and was alone, the other men,
Oers of the family, including the maids,
having gone out She was positively
nervous about meeting Mr. Payson,
md started violently when the bell
proclaimed his arrival. She picked
up her gloves to go, but to her horror
her room door would not open! No,
It was not locked, and the knob turned
but did not unlatch. Meanwhile the
bell rang again. What 1hould she do?
Of course she could not make him
hear, and she ratified the knob and
pounded and pulled to no purpose.
She lived in the lower fat of an apart
ment house, and her room had long
windows opening on a small balcony.
She rushed out there, only to find that
she could not see the front entrance,
but she hailed boy. passing.
Boy" she called, "come here if you
want to earn a dime" The boy came
with alacrity. .Is there a carriage
n front of the house?'' she asked.
"Yes," said the boy.
sThen please go around to the en-
rance and tell the gentleman who is
| 1t the door of this fiat that Miss Har-
:ison cannot come to the door just
low, and ask him to please wait few
minutes. Do you understand it?''
"Yes'm." said the boy, and repeated
he message. Then he started off.
h. I~ II
inow where the janitor's rooms are?
Then please &C and ask him to come
1t once to Flat /. and fix door that
won't open. Now, don't tell The gentle
nan that" she added, as she tossed
iim dime
A moment or two later, she heard
steps, but instead of the small boy
)r the janitor, it Was Mr.. Payson. Her
irst impulse was to hide, but the glare
If the street light made her conspicu-
)us, so he had already seen her. Lift
ling his hat, he said, "Good evening,
Miss Harrison" as calmly as if it was
lis daily custom to greet from the lawn
young. lady on a balcony.
"Oh," began Katharine, Il told the
boy not to tell you
1.-THE boy said Mr.. Payson. gravely.
gave me rather confused message
about door and waiting and said he
was going for the janitor. / insisted
on knowing where might find the
young lady who had sent him. and
following his directions, / am here"
YES" said Katharine. confused.
May ask what the trouble is, and
liz I can do anything?"
! Katharine wanted to tell him he
might ask anything if he would only
take off thfss expression Of calm dis
approval which made her feel as if
. she were naughty five-year-old. But
she explained matters. in an embar-
!rassed, hesitating way. which made
her appear more charming even than
usual
isn't your door Iocked?" he asked
Il knew you'd ask that. No. it isn't
It acted just this way once before
we've lived here only week-and the
| janitor said it was I'll right after he
fixed it. but it won't open now.''
| An oppressive silence was broken BY
the return Of the boy. The janitor
had gone out and his wife said he
would be back n an hour or two and
she would tell him.
IAN hour or two'' echoed Katharine
lin dismay. THE concert will be over
by that rJne =
If we had a ladder. Miss Harrison. 2
said Mr.. Payson. "Ahl I have a
thought. Excuse me- I'll be back in