Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1907-02-16
A LITTLE
ROMANCE

easy enough to recall the date of Miss
Porb{n's arrival because of the sensa-
ton her first appearance at dinner
created. The lnndlady had enough of
the roast left for croquettes next day,
all because every one was so busy
gazing at Miss Porben. She was a
perfect blonde, with bright, pretty
ways 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 the end of the
week II was an openly acknowledged
race between them.
Miss Porben took the attention con-
descendingly as was the right of a
beauk A girl as pretty as she really
could bot be blamed for coquetting a
bit; but the other boarrers wondered
whether she was not sure OF some
millionaire that she should trifle with
Robinson, the broker, who had a small
fortune besides; with Harris, the
young lawyer, who was making de-
cided financial success, and with
Van Norman, who had just got an in
crease in salary to $4,000 year. This
clientele shows what very select
boarding house it was
This being the situation it is scarce
ly to be wondered at that Miss Gal
vey had been at the house three days
before Robinson, Harris and Van Nor
man were aware of the fact. It is
doubtful if they knew what she 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 oval that artists love and
her lips finely nodded and sensitive.
Tt was the day Van Norman was
feeling blue because Miss Porben had
forgotten to thank him for the violets.
1t seemed ungrateful even for a belle
and besides, she had laughed twice
at Robinson's asinine jokes. Van Nor
man was staring gloonily at his plate,
when his side glance showed him a
rarely beautiful hand. To his surprise
he found it was Miss Galvey's hand.
He turned to her with casual remark
and got a brief glance into her eyes.
The next day he addressed another
remark to Miss Galvey to see If her
eyes, kally were dark as he remem-
bered. He was recalled by 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 face 1t
dawned upon him that the look she
gave him was identical with the one
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 time and for once Miss
Galvey had not fled straight to her
room. She was watching Miss Por-
ben, with a little panied frown.
R hurts me to see beautiful
flower i'll treated" she said, half apollo
getically, when she caught Van Nor
man looking at her.
ut does me, too" agreed Van Norman
emphatically. He told himself that
he had always disliked seeing Miss
Porben devour her roses and carna-
tons, although he had never put the
idea into words. Any sensitive person
would feel that way. Then he won
dered if Miss Galvey ever had any
flowers sent her. He wondered about
it 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 fing
.ers taking them from the box almost
caressingly. 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. Van
Norman felt righteous glow when
he left the order at the florists that
moon.
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-ang it was kind of
y,m:" Al
"Not-not at ALL" stammered Van
Norman, his heart suddenly humping
Maybe it was the hall light that lent
her such an ethereal beauty. At din
ner he regarded Robinson and Harris
wonderingly. Gould they not see be-
meath the surface? Did they fancy
that shallow, ,giddy, selfish, blonde
yonn1 ioseature the sort of woman
a man could really love-