The Washington herald., 1907-03-31
BY TROY ALLISON.

1--WE waited for him long enough-I
found a gray hair to-day" Elizabeth's
voice was a comicai reproduction Of grief.
Jim Hartley interrupted the fascinating
occupation of punching with his scarf pin
a lace pattern around a leaf on the
large rubber plant and looked at her re-
proachfully.
You know you always have me 10 fail
pack on" he suggested. placidly-'of
course, ! might not ecne up 70 your ex-
act ideas OF what a Prince Charming
ought 70 be-but couldn't you idealize me
little-eh. Elizabeth"
MY dear boy-you don't seem 10 re-
alize your-er-n0se Ia the least Now,
could you imagine the prince with such
a feature? As merely q nose, Jimmy, I'll
grant it's the noblest Roman Of them all
but Il would look as much out OF place
on my prince as-as d Falstaffian front
would on Romeo
He eyed with honest admiration the
deaths head and cr0ssbones he had
punched ia the center Of the leaf
Your dainty and esthetic prince would
be grieyed to hear your slight coarseness
OF expression, Elizabeth, my chiid-you
are not supposed TO refer 10 anatomical
subjects"
She shifted her disdain. and, turning
her back 20 him, put her little worn slip
pers against the steam radiator
You are 81 terribly pFim. toO-and So
absolutely expected.-I have known you
so long that / know you through and
through-there is never any room for
speculation. Maybe one could forget about
your n0se-if you would ever do anything
-unexp xpectedt'f
He did-immediately. and she arranged
her rumpled hair, her eyes blazing at
him angriiy.
James Hartley-I-I never would have
believed it OF you, And 10 think I've
known you six years"
A little startled at his own reckless
ness. he picked up a paper knife from
her writing desk and commenced opera
tions on the abused rubber plant with
assumed nonchaiance.
You wanted me 10 do something un-
expected" he suggested mildly.
ANY man might have done that" with
withering sarcasm.
Elizabeth Lent! am more than
shocked at such an admission For I've
wanted 10 try it for six years. and have
been too c9wardiy."
She grew more confusedIy angry.
Make a joke of it IL you like" she
biazed. IT probably serves me right for
thinking there was one man that could
be trusted.
He turned abruptly and took his hat
from the top Of the piano
You needn't say any more" his face
was pale with anger; you've had me at
your beck and call for all these years
sAd you never would take me seriously.
.As for jokes, my love for you has been a
EugE 5oke TO you always. I'm tired Of it
anu If I'm never TO be taken seriously
we'll put an end to it all. I apologize
most bumbly for nay recent Tudeness. -
and he went out. closing tile nat door
with an unmistakable evidence Of temper.
before she could realize that there had
actually been a quarrel
( She stood up mechanically and com
menced rearranging the furniture OF the
little parIOr. Slfe broke OF the demoI-
ished leaves of the rubber plant and
started TO the dining-room to put them in
the wastebasket
Her roommate sat at the diaing table
working on a sketch,
Jimmy gone this early?'' she asked. in
surprise.
Not coming any more answered Miss
Lent, with studied Indifference.
Frances Carson ran the background Of
the sketch into the Grecian face, she had
finished. and let it drop on the table a
hopeless blur.
What have you done to Jimmy7'' she
demanded accusingiy. Hes the best fel-
low I ever saw"
';Is he indeed % Miss Lent dropped the
leaves into the basket. with a gesture Of
superior seorn- Glad you think so"
The other woman commenced washing
her paint brushes. and threw the spoiled