The Columbus journal., 1907-02-13

LII
/ ROMANCE
They had come to the select board
ing house the same week. 1t was
easy enough to recall the date Of Miss
P0rben's arrival because Of the sensa-
tion her FIRST appearance ut dinner
created. The landlady had enough Of
the roast left for croquettes next day.
al because every one Was % busy
gazing ut Miss Porben. She was .
perfect blonde. with bright, pretty
ways and q charming manner. The
three eligible young men who board
ed there began eying one another
with dawning dislike before even that
evening was over. BY the end. Of the
week 1t was IN openly acknowledged
race between them.
Miss PQrben took the attention con-
descendingly a was the right OF .
beauty. A girl as pretty rs she really
could not be blamed for coQuetting q
bit; but the other boarders wondered
whether she vas % sure of some
millionaire. that she should tribe with
Robinson, the broker. who had a small
fortune besides::> with Harris, the
young lawyer, who vas making a de-
cided financial success, and with
Van Norman, who had just got In in
GREASE in salary to 5000 a year. This
clientele shows what q very select
boarding house 1t raj
This being the situation. 1t is scarce
ly to be. wondered ut that Miss Cal
vey had been at the house three days
before Robinson. Harris and Van Nor
man we're aware of the fact. 1t Is
doubtful II they knew what she look
ed like. That was the effect Miss
Porben's proximity had on most other
girls. They were mere dark blots
beneath her splendOr. Miss Galvey
was naturally shy and did not look
at one save for the briefest instant.
otherwise they might have noticed
tL0I BUG u0U 0yOS u11uoO0l1y soAoO ~
soft and darkly appealing. Her face
was the oval that artists love and
her lips finely nodded and sensitive.
1t was the day Van Norman wal
feeling blue because Miss Porben had
forgotten to thank him for the violets.
1t seemed ungrateful even for q belle
and. besides, she had laughed twice
at Robinson's asinine jokes. Van Nor
man was staring gloo,nily at his plate.
when his side glance showed him a
rarely beautiful hand. To his surprise
he found it was Miss Galvey's hand.
He turned to her with a casual remark
and got a brief glance into her eyes.
The next day he addressed another
remark to Miss Galvey to e 1t her
eyes really were dark as he rcmem-
bered. He was recalled by a laughing
challenge from Miss Porben. She
would allow no wandering of her cav-
alters afieid. For the first time Van
Norman regarded her critically. He
found something singularly shallow in
her bright and alluring face 1t
dawned upon him that the look she
gave him was identical With the one
she had just given Robinson and
would eventually best0w on Harris.
He could even see Harris floral offer.
ing in her hands without q jealous
pang and for the first time her trick
of nibbling the petals did not appeal
him. They we're all in the big par
lor At the time and for once Miss
Galvey had not fed straight to her
room. She was watching Miss Por-
ben with a little panied frown.
1t hurts me to see a beautiful
flower i'll treated" she said. half apollo
getically, when she caught Van Nor
man looking at her.
1T does me too" agreed Van Norman
emphatically. He told himself that
he had always disliked seeing Miss
Porben devour her 9 and carna-
tons, although he had never put the
idea into words. Any sensitive person
would feel that way. Then he won
dered II Miss Galvey ever had any
flowers sent her. He wondered about
1t for three days before he began Won
dering IL she would think 1t fresh of
him II he should send her, some. He
could e her slender, beautiful fing-
ers taking them from the box almost
caressingly. That was the way she
had handled the crushed carnation
Miss Porben had dropped in the hall
the evening before. Any one who SO
loved flowers for their own sakes
really ought to have them about. Van
Norman felt a righteous glow when
he left the order at the florists that
noon.
Miss Galvey did not forget to thank
him. There was a soft glow on her
face as she passed him in the hall.
Thank you SO much" she said.
They ar lovely-and 1t was kind Of
you"
'Not-not at ALL" stammered Van
Norman. his heart suddenly humping
Maybe it vas the hall light that lent
her such IN ethereal beauty. At din
ner he regarded Robinson and Harris
wonderingly. Could they not see be
meath the surface? Did they fancy
that shallow, giddy. selfish, blonde
young creature the sort of q woman
man could really love-
Van Norman ch0ked abruptly on HE
salad and stopped At that word.
BY the time the dessert arrived he
had Gained down and was getting
uDed to the amazing. Absolutely Won.