The Mercur miner. [volume] (Mercur, Utah) 1895-1913, 1907-03-06
A LITTLE
ROMANCE

They had come To the select board
inS house the same week. II 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 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 It was an openly acknowledged
race between them.
Miss Porben took the attention con
descendingly as was the right OF a
beauty. A girl as pretty a. she really
could not be blamed for coquetting a
bit: but the other boardnrs wondered
whether she was not sure Of some
millionaire, that she should trliie with
Robinson. the broker. who had 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 10 salary to $4,000 year rms
clientele shows what a very select
boarding house it was.
This being the situation, II Is scarce
ly 10 he wondered at that Miss Cal
vey had been at the house three days
before Robinson Harris aud Van Nor
man were aware of the fact IL Is
doubtful II 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 Ghlvey
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.
II was the day Van Norman was
feeling blue because Miss Porben had
forgotten to thank him for the violets.
II seemed ungrateful even for belle
and besides, she had laughed twice
at Robinson's asinine Jokes. Van Nor.
man was staring gloomily at his plate,
when his side glance showed him a
rarely beautiful hand To his surprise
he found II was Miss Galyey's hand.
He turned 10 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 II her
eyes really 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 Var
Norman regarded her critically. lie
found something singularly shallow IL
her bright and alluring face II
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
panR and for the first time her tricl
OF nibbling the petals did not appea
10 him. They were all In the big par
lor at the time and for once Miss
Galvey had not fed straight to heI
room. She was watching Miss Por
ben with a little panied frown.
1T hurts me TO see beautiful
flower i'll treated" she said. half apollo
getically, when she caught Van Nor
man looking at her.
1T does me, too" agreed Van Norman
emphatlcally. He told himself tina
he had always dlsllked seeing Miss
Porben devour her roses and carna
lions. although he had never put thu
idea into words. Any sensitive person
would feel that way. Then he won
dered II Miss Galvey ever had an!
lowers sent her. He wondered abou
II for three days before he began won
dering II she would think Il fresh o
him II he should send her some. IL,
could see her slender, beautiful fine
ers taking them from the box almos
caressingly. That was the way sh
had handled the crushed carnatiol
Miss Porben had dropped In the hal
the evening before. Any one who s.
lbNtu nnWtlA lNI Nutll OWN bdht
really ought to have them about. Va
Norman felt n righteous glow whe
he left the order at the florists tina
noon.
Miss Galvey did not forget TO than
him. There was a soft glow on he
face as she passed him In the hall
Thank you so much" she said
They are lovely-and IL was kind q
you"
'Not-not at ALL" stammered Va
Norman, his heart suddenly thumpinl
Maybe II was the hall light that len
her such an ethereal beauty. At dir
ner he regarded Robinson and Harri
wonderlngly. Could they not see bC
meath the surface? Did they fame
that shallow. glddy, selfish, blond
young creature the sort Of woma
q man could really love-
Van Norman choked abruptly on hi
salad and stopped at that word.
BY the time the dessert arrived h
had calmed down and was gettin
used to the amazing. absolutely WoI