Omaha daily bee., 1907-01-06

inoffenslve New York customs inspector,
who cast his eyes down with the foolish
look common TO little boys caught in the
act Of offering the pantry.
II was at this point that the professor,
with professional suavity. stepped forward
with the hope OF bringing the feminine
mind and the statutory requirements into
harmony. The man and the woman formed
a striking contrast in the dull gloom OF a
late November afternoon He was tall,
grave and reserved in speech and action.
She was slight. spirited fussy and a very
Niagara of words. He was attred in black,
with not even a ring or a stickpin to re-
lieve the extreme sombreness
She was resplendent in Partisan gown.
and her mere presence made everything
else seem like colorless background.
81 beg your pardon, Miss Elsie" he ven
tured. but the officer is merely doing hts
duty"
"SirP' she exclaimed, yolubity unex-
pectedly departing and air Of cold dig
nifty taking its place. Your advice wns
not sought"
But" he replied. half pleadingly, his
reserve giving way a bit, lit should be
acceptable to the sister of my dearest col
lege friend"
A CLINT Of anger flashed in the soft brown
eyes Her voice was lowered. but It
reached his ears clear and distinct.
you must not think because you were
foolish enough to propose"
"And you were wise enough to reject the
proposal" he finished for her.
YES" she repeated, land was wise
enough TO reject your proposal that you
have the right to assume an air Of pro-
prietorship over me-"
MY dear young LADY," he exclaimed
protestingly. "what an absurd idea; the
very opposite is the case. Why, you know"
Probably I'm not as inexperienced as
SEEM" she interjected. 1--WE heard OF men
pretending TO be martyrs simply because
every girl they met did not fall down and
adore them"
my, my, Miss Elsie" he cried, raising
his hands deprecatngly, "you really must
not use such extravagant figures Of speech.
But" with a shrug of the shoulders,
women seem unable to discuss the thing
commonly called love without trampling
on the laws OF logic"
Bother logic" she exclaimed, not ir-
relevantly, "this-this inspector insists
upon examining my trunk"
which" observed the professor, lit is
his sworn duty to do"
TITS un-American," she hazarded, re-
peating the phr Use she had heard so often
m the voyage over.
''To tax the manufacturers OF Europer'
10 queried. thinking of his favorite study
IN political economy
Anyhow. it's a silly law she cried.
petulantly.
your father was one of the congress
men who helped to enact it," he rejOined
srushingly. ~
"Did pa do that?" she asked, subdued.
''He did," he replied, exultant.
The Inspector had gone TO another part
of the wharf. The professor pressed his
advantage.
''If you will let me have the key of your
trunk" he said. "Ill attend to your bag
gage and have It over quickly"
She hesitated a moment; she could not
tell why. He noticed IT,
"a mere act of civility," he said, smiling.
(which the usageg of good society permit
even to a rejected sutton"
The smile took ten years from the grave
countenance He walked off with the two
keys in his hand. She noticed q certain
manliness in his manner. He was not so
venerable, despite the grayness about the
temples. She soliloquized regretfully
"It's too bad, but he's so serious"
As he was handing the keys TO the in
spector he glanced in her direction. His
case was attracted by a strange winsome-
ness about her mouth. The eyes, too
were strangely attractive Far down in
their soft brown depths there was a half
sadness a wistful, longing look, which
subdued, but did not suppress the laugh
ing face.
He sighed deeply.
''If she were not so frivolous: II she were
not so frivolous"
Presently the examination OF the baggage
was completed. order was beginning TO
bn Ia al
her the key OF her trunk. The fieeting
smile which had Swallowed his countenance
a few moments before had disappeared,
and he was once more the sedate educator,
frownlng upon the frivolities of life The
far away wistfulness in her eyes faded
and she again became the vivacious spoiled
child OF the world.
He pressed her hand at parting'-pressed
IL Just a trihe more than would seem neces'
sary for a sutton who had accepted his re-
lection so philosophcally She noticed
this-there wasn't much she didn't notice
and the contagious little laugh produced
two dainty little dimples which were far
beyond the ken of his philosophy.
81 am very grateful for your kindness L
me" she said In her hurried. sprightl,
way But" she added moekingly, II an
sure there is no improperly in my saying
that much to you
Cant you be serious for moment2" h
cried. with the faintest trace OF impa
thence in his tones.
To herself she murmured;-
'sWhy will he be solemn
Aloud she said:
.sThe serious business ended with the ex
Namination OF the baggage"
N,,I shall miss you" he said, tamely; ''yo'
see now that the journey is over I shall
have no one to scold."
He struggled hard to smile at this sally
and failed
MAY l orer you a word of advice'" sh
asked.
He nodded.
'srhe next girl you meet" she said In
low tone, and with the look OF wistfulnes
awakening In the depths OF the soft eyes
don't reprove her and propose TO her q
the same breath"
The next instant she had stepped into tn
waiting cab and was driven on. AS tn
vehicle gained the street she leaned for
ward 20 get last look at the professor
"a nne man." she murmured softly I
S..siF esbut entirely too solemn for