The Cairo bulletin., 1907-09-05
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utes.
Nothing replied the young man.
He stroked his upper lip miserably
and, after moments indecision, ven.
tured yet another groan.
The young man gazed at her in sur
prise.
DO you mean to say you haven't
noticed anything" he asked.
Mrs. Veralour surveyed him search
! ingly.
mo-" she said.
mot that I've shaved my mus
| tache?'
"Of course" she said. yes. And
you caught cold without itg'
The young man eyed her suspicious
ly, but saw nothing but commiseration
! expressed in her countenance.
did you ever so much as notice my
mustacheg' he inquired, wounded.
"Oh, yes" he was assured, several
| times. 1t was a"--she paused unde.
| cidedIy for a moment--"a nice one,
wasn't it,"
Il shouldn't say quite that he re-
turned. mot myself, you know. But 1t
wasn't too awful, anyhow"
you weren't ashamed of it, sug.
gested Mrs. veralour, politely.
NO" he admitted. Il wasn't alto
gether ashamed OF IT," He frowned
thoughtfully.
you know Grace--Miss Hawkins"
he said at length, "she wanted me to-"
yes, but" began Mrs Veralour in
bewilderment.
well, you see. You know that fell
low Carter, don't you Bob Carter,
tall heavy-looking? Yes: well, we
were boutwell,, you know. Grace
couldn't make up her mind which OF
us IL was, though. told her myself
privately, but as Carter did the same,
1t didn't help her out much"
II suppose not" said Mrs. Veralour.
mo. So then she suggested We
should prove oup-our feelings. you
know, by making some sacrifice for
her. / suggested Carter's proof should
be- to chuck-chuck up the sponge, so
to say. But Carter thought not. SO
did Grace. She thought we should
both make some sacrifice"
YES" said Mrs. Veralour, highly
amused.
"Then she suggested that we should
neither of us see her for q month.
told her that let her into it somewhat,
buf che didn't Saap, IN mind Girls are
like that, you Notwithstanding,
and that sort of thing"
"Oh, yes" agreed Mrs. Veralour.
without a blush.
well went away for month
visited some cousins. and had an aw-
full decent time When | got back,
though, found that idiot Carter
hadn't been away at all. been seeing
her every day. OF course, | got mad,
but she told me Carter had explained
everything. Pretty feeble sort Of ex-
PLANTATION, II struck me-"
The young man broke off and glared
sayagely at the fire.
what was it?" inquired the hostess.
do tell me-"
why" continued the young man
with an effort, "he said 1t was impos
sible for him to live for month with
out seeing her. Well. II was just as
bad for nae. might have said the
same myself"
But you didn't" pointed ont Mrs.
veralour. There was some meaning in
her tone.
mo, of course not" he grumbled.
81 behaved honorably, and did what
she told me. 1t was the proper thing
to do"
Him" said Mrs. VeraIour
"Then she decided that she didn't
like mustaches; said they were un-
hygienic, and that sort Of thing"
"She couldn't have much objection
to yours, surely" said Mrs. Veralour.
Il shouldn't have thought SO" said
the young man innocently; but she
insisted on our shaving them. First
of all, you know, | thought seriously
OF chucking the whole blessed thing
up. There are limits, You know"
"Of course" murmured Mrs. Vera.
lour.
But / didn't lay awake all one
night. and in the morning | was
worked up to such pitch that ]
jumped out of bed, got out my razor"
"Ohl" Mrs. veralour gave a stified
shrek and then laughed. Il am silly"
she declared. "Of course. you couldn't
have or you wouldn't be here, would
your"
But I did" insisted the bewildered
young man.
EYES," agreed his hostess, "but
didn't mean that quite. You looked
so fearfully tragic thought-but go
on"
when went round to tell her
found Carter kissing her. She said
they were engaged. And he hadn't
shaved his mustache OF anything"
do you know" she suggested after
a momentary silence, Il don't think
she could have loved you"
you don't?" said the young man
eagerly.
Mrs. veralour nodded compassion
ately.
IF were sure OF that" stated he
with budding cheerfulness. Il shouldn't
mind so much. / had a lucky escape,
hadn't II"
Il suppose it was an escape" she