The Washington herald., 1907-06-14

She leaned back against the tree trunk.
and watched a squirrel on a neighboring
branch.
Harrington noticed that she seemed to
have entirely forgotten his presence, un-
less thele was merely comfortable con-
sciousness Of the fact that he was there
il she needed him-the knowledge that
she had nothing to fear from chance
tramp or a snake
II was rather an unusual thing for 2
woman to be forgetful Of Harrington He
could not decide whether the situation
interested him or piqued his vanity.
When you have satisfactorily ex-
amined the trees. the squirrel, the water
falling over those stones, and have
formed your opinion concerning the en-
trancing horizon" he said, in a slightly
injured tone. wouldn't you like to talk
20 me some?''
She took of her hat ami laid it on the
grass beside her with a sigh OF salts
faction.
None Of those things are more inter
esting 10 me. Diogenes. than the study o.
you, l assure you
Sometimes l almost conclude that
positively dislike you." he said, amlably,
taking long puffs at his cigar. Il never
cared much for women-but in this case
there Is a stronger element I believe
Il almost approaches dislike
She wriggled her blond head into a more
comfortable pose against the tree trunk
and beamed upon him as If he had said
something truly gratifying.
It's an achievement. Diogeues. 10 have
inspired you with strong feeling of any
descripton-Tm proud of myself
You have such confounded way OF
pouncing upon a fellows thoughts and
holding them up 20 ridicule-you can ana
lyze a man as easily as a chemist can
analyze a patent medicine. Didn't you
know, Miss Burton, that women ought
90 make themselves -attractive-irs s
uncanny for them TO go in for psychology.
analysis, and-er-vivlsectlcn."
Attractive Oh. Diogenes. you are
voefully lacking IN manners. I was TAX
ing solid comfort and content in the be-
lief that the powers that be had made me
attractive. and was amusing myself
with your so-called vivisection merely as
a side issue. / see. my dear philosopher.
that you are not fitted for the gentle
WAYS Of polite society-if II didn't sound
slangy, I'd say. Back 70 your tub It
was a tub that DIogenes enjoyed so thor
oughly. wasn't it,"
lie was. by degrees. working himself
into an exceedingly bad temper.
Miss Burton, did you know that blond
women had always enjoyed the reputa-
don Of being fools-more or less?" he
asked. scathiugly.
''All Of which leads To- she interro-
5ated with elaborate innocence.
>"The fact that its time you decided
whether you are going 20 marry that
idiot Darrell OF me. We've both been
dangling around you the whole summer. %
Your climaves are strong" she smiled.
adniriHgly, that idiot Darrell or-you-
doTt YOU recognize a certain similarity
20 Pope in the way you construct your
sentences
It's impossible TO make a climax after
Darrell" he snOrted. Tt would be an
mpossitlity to find a bigger idiot to name
after him
Everything. my dear man. depends
up5n-the point Of view" She pinned on
her hat and turned toward the path lead
ing to the hotel
That afternoon Harrington lay half
asleep. his new magazine over his face.
in the shade Of the bushes that grow back
Of the summer house.
Virginia. you are acting shamefully, -
no heard Darrelrs voice.
So he called her Virginia, did he? And
she allowed It!
Virginia evidently enjoyed the idea Of
acting shamefully. for ne heard a little
ripple Of merriment
But you know. Jack, he really does
need some of the -conceit taken out OF
him-women have spoiled him so"
7 think you have tormented him
enough. Darrell insisted, "and you have
carried or with me outrageously. I feel
party to q fraud You can't keep it W
much lorger. for when Eleanor cones
next week he will soon find out that I've
been engaged to your sister all along
Why not put him out Of his misery? Tou
know you like him"
"Of course l do-and I'm going to marry
blm-but he needs a little training first '
Darrell rose and started toward the
house. I'm going 10 finish my letter tc
! Eleanor" ho said. III leave you here
TO finish your book Shall tell Eleanor
that weIl make it a double wedding in
November
Virginia evidently took time to medi-
! tate.
/ Il think he'll make an awfully hand.
! some bridegroom" she said softly.
( Darrell laughed delightedly.
First time I ever saw you with rea
/ attack. Virginia I don't see. 10 save
my soul, how he failed to find out that
| you care. But as for handsome bridge
srooms-In have you remember that II
/ be there myself" and he walked dowr
| the path whistlng.
/ Harrington sat up. let his magazine fsl
/ unnoticed TO the ground, and brushed his
| coat carefully.
! His gray eyes were twinkling as hC
Crept into the summer house.
! He caught the startled girl in his arms
"a man has a perfect right TO kiss tbs