The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-03-17

up he was gazing in her direction. Stlr' as she said to herself, she didn't know him. So, in fit of temper she turned her back upon him. and recklessly seated herself before one of the open windows. Happening to glance to the side, eat one of the mirror panels between the window frames, she saw him leave his chair and go over to the cigar stand, where he purchased package of cigarettes'
 "Cigarettesr' he said. well! Well"' He sank back r. his chair. He glanced at her swiftly from under his eye flashes, as she paused.
 ve-have--ah-another cracker! he urged, hunting over the table with his eyes. Have some more cheese Have some more coffee!
 No. thank you she replied. She was shaking with laughter. 'Yes, cigarettes, '' she resumed; land he came back, and, st.n looking at him in t..e panel, which he had probably forgotten, she saw him pull his chair this way and that, and even go so far as to steathily hold up his finger. which he moistened on his tongue. to find out exactly the line of draft between himself and the open win do.- Then he lightec a cigarette, and the smoke folated over to her and in her face. making her cough. He must have used dozen of them, lighting one afte. another. Finally, being unable to endure it any longer, she arose and swept past him on her way upstairs. coughing and choking, with her hand lerehies to her mouth. And as she rassed him he had the audacity to smile.'
 He also began to laugh as he held up his hands and commenced to quote:
 "sMea cuba, mea culpa--
 ,,Y-l,. mn uripNO1lS falIlt,'' she finished for him; ifs that what you would say? I-well, yes-I was the girl. I am glad, however. that you came to mo and apologized for the-eh-ah-acci- dent" She closed her fan with click and prepared to rise.
 "Come." he said. as they arose from the table, q will take you to the palm garden, and we'll talk, if you Ike, en bas les palmiers, as we say
 sho nlaced her hand on his arm.
 "What does that mean?" she asked.
 "Oh, Why. it creole. It means-ah- under the palms.
 of course. But what else?
 T beg your pardon" he said quickly .'I should not have said 1t. l have not known you long enough. It slipped me. One forgets at times
 "I forgive you. l am curious to know so tell me-
  as inc equivalent of merely irritation. You must pardon me.
 ."Nerely firtation' :" she said. You creoles are very daring to treat speech like that so very lightly
 eve treat everything lightly except the women we love and the men we hate" he answered, epgrammatcally
 .yyeu then" she said, as they. walked slowly to and fro in the conservatory, xyofr tilis is 'pn baS les palrniers' in two ways. I suppose? She planced at the palms above their heads.
 "You should have been a creole! It is you who are daring"' ne said.
 Am I? But, answer my question"
 .In two ways? Yes-so far!' he re- piled.
 She turned away and seated herself in a rocking chair, oecKofiihs nm 10 one oi its companions
 "come. be comfortable.'' he said.
 Iro sat down and began to twist to- ,,et CT a thin little cigarette.
 "Out here in the air it won't make you congb May I?" he asked as he prepared to light It. , ,., white fingers perfectly? Tell me about yourself. she said. leaning forward.
 "Ahont myself? There is nothing to tell. I'm Randolph Delacroix.
 "Is that the whole story? Is there nothing else?'
 "Ob. ell. very little he said dubiously ..I smoke a little. read little. farm a little back here on the Wolf river. yacht a little. and-and--I think that's all.
 Good gracious she said
 ..oh, well. l love my mother, you know. That takes considerable of my tine For Instance, sao has never been in the City of Mexico. and I'm going to