The Washington herald., 1907-11-24

he knew. he was free Of the guild He
understood. Indeed. he understood, some
times, when the woman did not herself
understand That was. perhaps. the req
son why Rose. being some years his
senior. had made such a pet OF him in
the old days Phil had been Ike a
girl friend to her-yet he brought with
MIN some OF mans out-Of-doOr life.
together with the subtle difference which
Is the salt Of all intercourse between
men and wOmen-the salt OF sex that
never loses its SAVIOR.
I have hurt Dick" she sigbe6 with
her eyes on her cup. She stirred her tea
gently with a spoon though she took
neither cream nor sugar. watching the
clear garnet-colOred liquid dropping from
the spoon back into the cup.
What have you been doing now?' said
Rose, without much sympathy
I won't marry Mr. Kahn"
Mr.. Kahnr'
The cry came simultaneously from both
Rose and Phil. "Oh. no, not Mr.. Kahn
And. as II in A magic crystal. the vision
Of the broad shoulders and rnasterful car
rage Of the dismissed underground en-
gineer rose before them Rose said again.
'Impossible-not Mr. Kahn But Phil
only sighed Beside either OF these-the
rich bachelor manager and the clever. en-
gineer. he seemed such a boy. feebly try
ing this and that uncertain whether any
thing would succeed with him or not
And he asked you 20 marry him. really
and truly?" said Rose, with no trace Of
bitterness in her tone. Why. you would
have had. horses and carriages and motor
cars-and I don't know what else!'
7 know what else. said Vida. with a
disdainful toss OF her chin-"James
Kahn
wei. Of course. you VIII have 10 marry
somebody. Vida. II only in the interests
of the public peace said Rose. caress-
have admirers in aad about Kirktown
curse you with the curse OF the Eackdaw
Of Rheims They cross themselves at your
name. and 7 am very angel for putting
I'D with you even for moment"
Vida smiled al her friends extravaganza
but shook her head gently You are too
partial she said. I am Just a poor girl.
without even a right 10 the name I
bear
Much that matters" retorted Rose,
sharply, when you have King COphetuss
coming az midnight 70 your beggermaid's
but and proposing 70 you the holy estate
OF matrimony-besides goodness knows
how many others, one down-the others
come on"
You are dreadful. ROse-I shall wish 7
had told you nothing
I freely abandon 10 YOU the flock said
I little Miss Nunsby. but I should Ike 10
/ keep one eve lamb But I have fears
I even for that. You are a perfect mael-
stron. Yida-you ingulf all. whale and
minnows alike
/ And waving a hand so as 70 shut on
I Vida BryanS reply. which bore upon
/ the folly Of mixed metaphors. she van
! ished indoors, looking for once in her life,
| Phil thought. almost pretty
] She glanced AT Phil as she passed out
( Of sight. nodded. smiled. as much as 70
/ say. See what I do for you, ungrateful
boy
And so left him wondering what she
/ couId mean BY her "one eWe-lamb-"
J With Roses departure a hush seemed
1 70 fall upon the wide old garden OF the
4 Nunsbys' a silence and constraint de-
I scanded on the two who remained be-
hind II was a full-bloOded summer day.
almost too hot in the sUn-but perfect
for young blood in that bower Of green
cry. splashed with the purple blossoms
Of the wistaria
Overhead. the dainty foliage Of the tall
| ashes on the boundary line Of the doctor s
field hung apparently a far-drawn cur
tain. halfway Up IN the blue For set
ting OF scent and sound. there were the
latest homeIy privet blossoms. suggestive
OF far-off Sabbath days when privet and
Southern wood. tied together with black
ribband. made q decorous Cameronian
bouquet 70 take 20 church on hot fore
Moons From the field behind came the
breath Of COWS. mingled with the scent
OF the clover. through which they were
working a way, with regular crop-crop-
pings OF their mouths and the lashing
twitch OF their tails at the files. a hot
weather sound quite clearly audible n
the Nunsbys' little summer house.
Nothing reminded one OF kirktown,
save only away 10 the south the sum-
nit OF one tall chimney. which. set on a
b hilltop, toward Mr.. Kahn's Caravan
seria. poured forth a pale, rose-coIored
smoke. This would take on form and
body, as the full summers afternoon
darkened 10 twilight and the engines
were fired for the change Of shifts
And. listening 10 all this, Phil and Vida
were silent Yet It was not because they
had nothing 20 say, the ore or the other.
Curiousiy enough. IL was Fida's eyes
which rested on those Of Phil, and those
, Of the young man that fed her regard
, About the girls lips appeared and van
5 ished alternately a faint smile. which
seemed to radiate from the guest OF a
} dimpie Apparently. here in the garden
[ OF the Nunsbys. Vida had forgotten
= her cares and was thinking pleaSan;
thoughts
, Phil" she said. presently. speaking in
- low voice 70 the youth. who cOlored
and started at the mere sound Of hei
] voice you are in lovei You must be
e in love, Do you know that you have
: been neglecting me-me-these last weeks.
Come, out with II. I am dying 10 b
{ told. I shant say anything TO Rose
[ unless you give me permission, There
T 7 neglect your Phil dared not look al
{ her Instead he examined the fnely
I combed locks OF cirrus clouds up in the
q zenith as If his excuse was somehow q
= be found there.
- Yes. indeed said Vida. and shame
llessIy. 7 thought you were a friend Of
, mine-vou used 20 be. at least. We liked
L the same sort Of toffee for years. YOU
4 taught me how 70 spin a top. after fight
ling ALI Fowler because he wanted o
q teach me also-you have forgotten all
all that?"
The least echo Of a sigh escaped Vida
You come to the cottage. II is true
! but never TIL Dick is at home. and ther
: YOU talk till midnight about the thing.
= in the mine I believe il is Mr.. Morris
who has spOilt me-my Phil. l owe hin
p q grUdge for THAR
= For an instant the blood flooded 70 Phi
= Calmonrs face. He half rose 70 hi
: feet, and then sank back again into tn
green shelter A stronger instinct o.
loyalty had grasped him. He would no
: be disloyaI TO his chief. He went 20 hi
= cottage as Vic's representative. and. a
. Vida truly said, he had indeed confined