Evening star., 1907-11-02

Certainly. the notion of Isobal Barring
claiming the domestic virtues was anus
ing. But Elsie answered at once:
Il know few things that you cannot do
admirably. dear"
So sobel flied n cup, asked If Capt.
Courtenay took milk and sugar, and sad
demurely. with a sip OF a spoonful:
Let me see if l can guess your tastes
Elsie's blue eyes assumed deeper
shade. Men might like that kind of thing
but she felt that hr face and neck would
be poppy red III another moment. Thus
far she had not addressed a word TO
Courtenay, though by his manner he had
included her in the conversation. She
now resolved to break in on the attack.
which Isobel was beginning with the
adroitness of a Skilled campaigner. And
she, too. could use her eyes to advantage
when she chose.
What a curious library YOU have, Capt
Courtenay," she said, looking, not at him,
but at a row of books fitting closely into
a small case over the writing table. In
stantly the sailor was interested.
why curious, Miss MaXweil?' he
asked.
First In Their ass )rtment; secondly In
the similarity of their binding. l have
never be ore seen the Bible, Walt Whit
man and Dumas in covers exactly alike"
That is easily explained. They are
bound to order. My real trouble was to
secure editions Of equal size-an essen
tial. you see-otherw.sa they would not
pack into their shelf"
But what a gathering! Shakespeare.
the Pilgrims Progress, Montaigne's 'Es-
says Herbert Spencer, 'Gosthe's Life.
by Lewes; Marcus Aurelius, Martial,
Wordsworth. The Egoist' Thoreau. Haz-
litt and Mitfords Tales of Old Japan"
Where have l heard or read of that par
ticular galaxy of stars before?'
Go on. You are on the right track -
cried Courtenay, setting down the teacup
and fastening to Elsie's SIDE. She was
leaning on the table, reading the titles of
the books. The motive of her exclamation
was merged now in the fin ardor of the
book-lover. She had an unCon 5cious trick
of placing the foreflnger of her right hand
on her lips when deeply engaged in
thought Elegant as Isobel Barring might
be in her studied poses, Elsie need fear no
comparison as she examined the contents
o. the bookcase with eager attention.
why the 'Vicomte de Bragelonne' only,
and not the Three Musketeers?' she
mused aloud. And If the Life of Goe-
the why not his poems. his essays
'Werther?' All, 1 know-the crownlng
offenSe of "Werther. A Stevenson Ii
brary! Each volume he recommends in
Books which have influenced men,,
suppose? What a charming idea. 1
shall never forgive myself for not having
thought of 1t long ago"
Courtenay laughed and blushed like any
school girl. Elsie's appreciation had a
downright. honest ring in it that went "ar
beyond the pIatitudes. She accorded him
the ready comradeship of a kin soul
Many people have been surprised by
my collection; you are the first to dis
cover its inspiration he said
That is not strange. There are so few
wno read. Reading means discerning, in
terpreting. i am a worshiper of K. l.. S.
but | have been shocked to find that for a
hundred who can talk glibly of his novels
there is hardly one who has communed
with him in his essays"
I'VE have actually hit upon a topic that
should prove ineXhaustible. Believe me,
Miss Maxwell, that is my pet subject
More than once, needing a listener,
have even lectured my long suffering ter
rier. Joey. on the point"
Isobel laughed softly. The two stand
ing in front of the bookcase started apart,
with a sudden consciousness that they