, 1907-10-10
A LITTLE
RO N &c

ing house the same week. 1t was
easy enough to recall the date of Miss
Porben's arrival because OF the sensa-
ton her first appearance at dinner
created The landlady had enough OF
the roast left for c%roquettes next day,
all because every on was so busy
gazing at Miss Porben. She was a
perfect blonde, with bright, pretty
way and a charming manner. The
three eligible young men who board
ed there began eying one another
with dawning dislike before even that
evening was over. By h end OF the
week 1t was an openly acknowledged
race between them.
Miss Porben TOOK the attention con-
d~escendingly as was the right OF a
beauty. A girl as pretty as she really
could not be blamed for %coquetting a
bit: but the other boarders wondered
whether h was not sure of some
millionaire, hat she should trifie with
Robinson, the broker, who had a small
fortune besides; with Harris, the
young lawyer, who was making a de
cided financial success, and with
Van Norman, who had just got an in.
crease in salary to $4,000 a year. This
clientele shows what a very select
boarding house it was.
This being the situation, II is scarce
ly to be wondered at that Miss Gal
vey had zen at the house three days
before Robinson, Harris and Van Nor
man were aware of the fact. 1t is
doubtful If they knew What h look
ed like. That was the effect Miss
Porben's proximity had on most other
girls. They were mere dark blots
beneath her splendor. Miss Galvey
was naturally shy and did not look
at one save for the briefest instant,
otherwise they might have noticed
that she had eyes unusually large and
soft and darkly appealing. Her face
was the IVA that artists love and
her lips finely nodded and sensitive.
1t was the day Van Norman was
feeling blue because Miss Porben had
forgotten to hank him for the violets.
1t seemed u%ngrateful even for a belle
and, besides, she had laughed twice
at Robinson's asinine jokes. Van Nor
nan was staring gloomily at his plate,
when his side glance showed hin a
rarely beautiful hand. To his surprise
he found ii was Miss Galvey's and.
He turned to her with a casual remark
and got a brief glance into her eyes.
The next day he addressed another
remark to Miss Galvey to- see If her
yes really were dark as he remem-
bered. He was recalled by a laughing
challenge from Miss Porben, She
would allow no wandering of her cav
alters afield. For the first time Van
Norman regarded her critically. He
found something singularly shallow in
her bright and alluring ace 1t
dawned upon him that the look she
gave him vas identical with the n
she had Just given Robinson and
would eventually bestow on Harris.
He could even see Harris floral offer
ing in her hands without a jealous
pang and for the first time her trick
of nibbling the petals did not appeal
to him. They were all in the big par
lor at the fine and for one Miss
Galvey had not fed straight to her
room. She was watching Miss Por-
ben with a little panied frown.
TT hurts me to see a beautiful
flower i'll treated" she said, half apollo
getically, when she caught Van Nor
man looking at her.
ut doe me-, too" agreed Var Norman
emphatically. He told himself that
he had always disliked seeing Miss
PorDen devour her roses and carna-
lions. although he had never put the
idea into words. Any sensitive person
would feel that way. Then he won
dered If Miss Galvey aver had any
flowers sent her. He wondered about
II for three days before he began won
dering If she would think it fresh of
him If he should send her some. He
could see her slender, beautiful fling.
ers taking them from the box almost
ca~ressingly. That was the way she
had handled the crushed carnation
Miss Porben had dropped in the hall
the evening before. Any one who so
loved flowers for their own sakes
really ought to have them about. Var
Norman felt a righteous glow when
he left the order at the florists that
Don
Miss Galvey did not forget to thank
him. There was a soft glow on her
face as she passed him in the hall.
Thank you so much,' she said
They are lovely-and 1t was kind of
you"
"Not-not at all" stammered Van
Norman, his heart suddenly humping.
Maybe it was the hall light that LEM
her such an ethereal beauty. AT din
ner he regarded Robinson and Harris
wonderingly. Could they not see be
net th the surface? Did they fancy
that shallow. giddy, selfish. blonde
young creature the sort of a woman
a man could really love