The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1907-01-09
6eComplete
LOvemaker
BY NANCY HAZLlTT
Copyright, 1905. by E. G. PARCELS

81 know my place, also my danger
You see, have been hearing Of you
this long time" Grierson said, look
ing up at my lady, with lazy smile.
My lady had way with her-it
| could be sharp and short when she
chose. 1t could likewise be very meek
Now she set her finger tips together, ask.
Ing plaintivly: "Mr. Grierson, is there
nothing else you would as soon say
| You are the ninth man to tell me that
since came to the picnic. ought to
feel my sins very deeply, but somehow
I can't"
"WhO says you have sins? meant
only your perfections," Grierson began
but she stopped him with a gesture of
appeal.
THAT'S the very worst of ALL" she
murmured. You'll be telling me next
that you came on purpose to see and
be conquered. do wish pretty speeches
didn't run in ruts so much. If could
I'd write book about them, telling
men what not to say"
81 see! The Complete Lovemaker,' 20
Grierson answered, his eyes twinkling.
''If you wrote from the riches Of your
experience dare say the treatise would
be most authoritative"
There wouldn't be any treatise If I
did that You all say so much the
same sort of foolishness," my lady
came back at him, with just the least
toss of her head.
My lady Of course had name, pref
nv 0n1 CTS
and the older people ever called her
Elinor. Somehow at school she had
been rechristened my lady, and my
lady she was likely to be to the end Of
the chapter.
A very pretty girl, with money to
her name and much more money in
prospect, withal sprightly and good
hearted, she was easily the belle of
the countryside. She had had beaus,
frocks. One Of them, who as tall
lad had carried her on his shoulder
and Graded her asleep in his arms,
was still constant, Notwithstanding he
was thrice eligible, and the kindest,
most unsusplcious soul alive.
Grierson had heard Of him likewise.
Indeed, Philip Darcy, the constant one,
was, after a sort, his kinsman.
"PhiPs the man you have got to
beat" Grandfather Grierson had said
In explaining the situation.
Grandfather liked my lady, but not
nearly so well as he did her posses
sions. Therefore he had sent impera-
lively for Arthur, his grandson, and
hidden him as imperatively court tho
girl and marry her.
Grandfather's was moneyed avarice,
therefore the more eager He had
piled up a fortune and held ON to 1t
like grim death. Because his only
son liked to spend money even better
than to make it the old man excused
his clutching-at least to himself.
Since that young gadabout Arthur
had no knack of making money, being
worse in that respect than his father,
1t was but right he should marry 1t.
Grandfather Grierson said this over
and over, in so many keys and lenses,
Arthur had been tempted to run away
before anything was begun. He would
have run away, indeed, but for catch
Ing glimpse Of my lady. The glimpse
refreshed his endurance and modified
senslbly his estimate Of grand-paternal
wisdom.
Suppose we write the book togeth-
err" Grierson suggested valiantly. 81
can make myself understood on the
typewriter-can't say any more than
that-but you-you have reams Of wis
dom, I'm sure, all ready to your hand.
Do take me as secretary. / promise
you shall find me willing and obliging,
with no objection to long hours"
81 have great objection to them.
couldn't stick at anything half day
unless 1t was to save my life," my
lady confided, adding gayly: IT don't
believe you could either. Confess!
Don't you love to go and do the things
you didn't intend?"
"Sometimes-only sometimes" Grier-
son said, smiling down at her. "This
ls one of them. meant to ask con-
as a possible husband, yet
see how you have reduced my soaring
My lady met this with look of wide
eyed innocence and said appealingly:
Cant you understand I'm not the sort
Of girl you have to talk love to? There
are so many other things better worth
talking about"
"For instance, Philip DarcyT' Grier-
son said, with keen glance.
My lady laughed joyously. mo, not
Philip" she said. II know him-all
about him-more and better than any
body can tell me- He would be a saint
on earth If he were not so much of q
man"
"H-m! The most part of saints
were men," Grierson supplemented.
Then, most irrelevantly: "You have re-.
lieved my mind wonderfully. No girl
IF today can possibly love saint. It
Is the weirdly wicked fellows who bowl
over our sweethearts-even now and
then our wives
Dear me! And you are not wefrtlly |
an ordinary sinner" my
ady interrupted, her eyes twinkline |
nerriJv
Grierson laughed. "Cry quaFterr' no
'aid. "You won't get me to admit I'm
10 match for you-that would be q
bad precedent-but I will say know
when I've. had enough. Now, to get
pack to the beginning, what about TAX
ng me on as amanuensis? I'm sure I
ave myself character, having nobody
Else to give It."
"A-man-u-ensis! That's a city word
I'm afraid Of it." my lady said, dim
ling sweetly.
Grierson shook his head at her, say
ng severely: "At this rate The Com
'lete Lovemaker' will never get itself
written. Think how the world needs
t! We ought to begin work on it to-
Grierson forgot the carrying quality
t his voice, even when, as now, he
poke very low. He further overlook
d a slim creature in half mourning
Gated just beyond my lady.