The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1907-09-06
BY c. RANDOLPH LICHFIELD.

taken him out of the army with mel,
you'll be fit for nothing but the
poorhouse."
You're very kind, I'm sure, sir"
he responded, with BETTING graft
tude, but I'm so used to being
bachelors servant l don't think
could possibly get on with Mrs.
Winter SIR
Calm your fears, Bright"
laughed you exaggerate the poten-
tialites of gray suede gloves"
turned to the cabinet between the
Fireplace and door communicating
with the drawing-room for a cigar
cite. A vision caught my eye, and
started
Bright" l exclaimed. But for the
life of me could not think what to
say.
yes, sir?" he said encouragingly.
you might inquire" NO, that
would not do l took a cigarette
from the cabinet-drawer and lit it to
disguise my hesitation and embar-
rassment. you might run round to
Mr. Brissells and see if he's returned
to town yet"
He has, sir; l saw him this morn
ing"
Well, 80 round and find out when
he'll be leaving town again" said
desperately I'm particularly anX-
ious-"
blew a cloud of smoke toward the
ceiling, to save the recording angels
time, conscious that | was a shocking
hand at discrimination. But Bright
seemed to grasp the fact that
wanted him anyway from the fiat for
time, and he went. felt certain
he perceived that there was some
thing extremely odd in my manner;
he reflected 1t by his own. But, of
course, he went, and jerked my Gig
arctic out of the window and lightly
touched my tie.
However unnecessary it may be,
however inevitably ones tie may be
perfectly arranged, and so on, a man,
think, generally touches it to as
sure himself of the fact during such
a pause as that during which waited
to hear Bright leave the fiat. But I
cannot conceive why, for | don't sup
pose one woman in a thousand ever
notices mans neck-wear.
Bright left so audibly that | had no
momentary suspicion he must have
wished me to know he had gone,
which seemed to imply he guessed at
what knew, and for a trice l felt as
cheap as a boy whose father had
caught him smoking his best cigars.
| always felt, somehow, that l was
accountable to Bright for my behav-
ior; he was such paternal sort of
fellow, and had most extraordinary
and subtle way of compelling conf
dences.
However, I put him out of my
thoughts the moment the door
banged, and approached the parlor
door.
Madam, l said, without entering,
but watching her through the crack
of the door, would it embarrass you
less for me to make my presence
known to you, or for you to make your
presence known to me?"
You can come in. " she said, in a
voice tbat was perfectly in accord
ance with the delightful perfume of
her glove-even sweeter, and just as
elusive.
Thank you" l said. And as I en-
tered she rose from the chair in the
window and bowed slightly in ac-
acknowledgement of my bow
She was rather tall and somewhat
slim, but neither too much nor too
little. She wore a hat, skirt, and
bodice of gray all to match, the
bodice being decorated with what
-may-call- ems, rather like bits of
chain armor, and immensely effective,
while her skirt had plaits of pastrons
or something; was not looking much
at her dress.
To describe her further would be
to insult my readers imagination and
overtax my own.
Il owe you a thousand apologies"
she said, and it seemed to me she had
detected in my appearance something
which rather pleased her.
ON the contrary" I exclaimed, Il
must apologize for having timed my
arrival home so inconveniently.
Il don't know what you can think
of met" she said pathetically.
Il am intensely relieved to hear
that You look tired; won't you sit
DOWN.