The newspaper., 1907-04-05

But what you meant was the otn-
err" she insisted-"that we are not
necessary to you, while you are neces-
sary to u.s." Then, reverting to the
matter of mere existence: Gould you
keep it up indefinitely, Mr.. Winton."
Isn't our being here this evening
proof positive to the contrary?"
"She smiled approval. You are do
ing better-much beNer. With little
practice-you are sadly out Of practice,
aren't you'll do believe you could
pay one a pretty compliment"
Winton rose mantully to his oppor-
tunity.
No one could pay you compliments,
Miss Virginia. 1t would oe utterly i'm
possible"
Why? because my chief delight in
life is to catch a man napping?"
"Oh, no. Because the prettiest
things that could be said of you would
be only an awkward mirroring of the
truth"
Dear mellow fne!" she applaud
ed. 81 am afraid you have been read
ing Lord Chesterfelds Letters to His
Son'-very recently. Confess. now;
haven't you?"
Winton laughed.
You do Lord Chesterfield a very
great injustice; l cribbed that from
The Indiscretions of a Marchioness,'
he retorted.
Here was another new experience
for Miss Virginia Uarteret: to have
the trodden worm turn: to be paid
back in her own coin. She liked him
rather better for it; and, liking him,
,,-L III vie
The coffee was served, and Mrs. Car
tsret was rising. Whereupon Miss
Virginia handed her cup to the techno-
Logan, and so had him for her COM
panion in tue tete-a-tete chair, leav-
ing Winton to shift for himself.
The shifting process carried him
over to the Rajah and the Reverend
Billy. to a small table IN a corner OF
the compartment, and the enjoyment
of a mild cigar and such desultory
racketing of the ball of conversation
as three men, each more or less in
tent upon his own concerns, may keep
up.
Later. when Calvert had been elm
mated by Miss Bessie, Winton looked
to see the true inwardness of the din
ner-bidding made manifest by his host.
| That Mr.. Someryille Darrah had an
AK to grind in the right-of-way matter
he did not doubt; this notwiths'and-
ing his word to Adams defensive of
the Rajah's probable motive.
But Mr.. Darrah chatted on, affably
non-committal, and after a time Win
ton began to upbraid himself for sus-
! pecting the Interior motive. b no
word or hint did the vice president
refer to the struggle pendent between
| the two comnanies or to the war'ite
incident of the morninF. And when
ne finally rose to excuse himself on a
letter-writing plea. his leave-taki0g g
was that of the genial host reluctant
TO part company with his guest.
i've enioved your conve'sation
sch; enjoyed 1t right much. Most
happy to have had the pleasure of
your company. Misteh Winton Nav I
we are neighbors'"
Winton rose. made the proper ac-
| knowled guents. and would have
crossed the compartment TO make his
adieux TO Mrs Carteret. But at that
moment Virginia, taking advantage of
Adams handshaking with the Raiah.
came between.
You re not going yet, are you. Mr..
Winton? Don't hurry. n you are
dying to smoke a pipe, as Mr.. Adams
says you are, we can go out on the
platform II isn't too cold. is it,"
Not the words themselves. but ner
manner of saving them, warmed him
so suddenly that an Arctic winters
night would not have been prohib-
itory.
1T is clcar gna /; y, a beautiful
night, he hGs,snl.. TO say. May
help you with yolr coat?"
She suffered him, but in the height
of the heart-warming glow gave him
cold douche in a word to Bessie.
Wont you come. too. Bessie, dear?"
she asked: and Winton set the whole
| battery of his will at work to fend
OF the threatened calamity.
Happily, it averted itself. Miss Bes-
sic was quite comfortable as she was
and begged to be excused. Mrs. Car
teret in her capacity of chaperon
/ looked askance at Virginia, was met
/ by a glance of the resolute brown eyes
I which she had come to obey without
/ fully understanding. and contented
herself WA. a monitory: Don't stay