The Democratic advocate., 1908-09-11
What's En- a
Name
nv Martha Cobb Sanford.
Copyrighted, 1905, by Associated
oop' Literary Press.

caught SlSnt VI 'e p" .
Tbonking her lucky stars that he had
a4 caught sight of her first, she dart
ID ID through the wide open doors of the
,nrsrv building and rested for few
n,;putes against one of the large mar
h,o columns in the lobby.
,ftor she had given Mathews plenty
- time to pass she ventured to the
door and reconnoitered cautiously
uoarens, He had turned around ana
Ivos coming straight toward the libra
w., Barbara bounded the stairs like
on antelope and disappeared.
With no apparent signs of haste or
,rrnose Bertram Mathews followed
hor load, Vt the top Of the broad flight
If stairs however, he came to stand
otin and lcisu"ely scanned the long.
empty corridor
As there was nothing to indicate
r.bich way the golden haired vision
had fed, he started on a lazy stroll!
tbrouch the maze of special reading
rooms sure of finding her somewhere.
# was clever of him, he mused, to
bora crossed Barbara's trail without
hor knowing it. He smiled at the
tbougbt of her blushing surprise when
bo should unexpectedly stumble upon
har What would she have to say to
him?
He WAS aware that he was deliber-
qtply forcing Barbara's answer after
Yielding to her entreaty for an inter
,oqnum of courtship which would ter
inmate only by strictly accidental,
meeting. But it had been two whole
weeks since he last proposed to Bar
bara. and human restraint has its
limitations
Barbara didn't blush, however, nor
was she the least surprised when Ber-
tram at last discovered her in the Sc
eluded nook reserved for legal refer
erce So absorbed was she in reading
D0Dalar fiction magazine that his
presence failed to establish that tee-
pathic communication proverbially sup
p0sed to exist between lovers.
Bertram, his eyes dancing mischie-
yously. tiptoed daringly near her and
then passed out to the catalogue files.
Lifting down the drawer labeled "Ba,"
he ran his fingers rapidly over the
cards until he found two titles that
evidently suited him.
With punctilious deliberation he cop
led these on a little printed slip and
after filling in the blank spaces pre-
pared for the readers name and seat
number handed it in at the delivery
desk and waited developments
Before long a small, freckle faced
page in brass buttoned uniform tripped
by him toward the legal reference
room, one small book under his arm.
Bertram followed at safe distance.
"0ne Of ems out, MISS" announced
the page, indicating with a grimy fin
ger a cancelled title on the slip of pa
per which he handed Barbara.
why Men Remain Bachelors,
read Barbara aloud solemnly, and be-
AVutu III 1)JCAClOl . " WI sllii-
mOny.'" But l didn't order either Of
them," she Informed the page indiffer-
entity. There's some mistake"
Amt that your name and number.
MISS" he had the impertinence to ask
her
Barbara examined the slip more close
ly. B. Mathews" it read, "seat Is.
legal reference ROOM" She glanced
about suspiciously. There was only
one other occupant. and that was not
B. Mathews"
We'll, is it or amt it?' demanded
lne page, his tone suggestive of dan
serously overWrought forbearance.
is What:" asked Barbara, vaguely.
Well, by thunder!" calculated the
dlmlnutiye government official ''Dont-
cner Know yer own name?"
"Of course l do" Barbara answered
lln with childlike naivete, 'but
aant tell you, you little imp, so run
away"
lhen yer can't have the book
VIaSS buttons retaliated as he marched
VI With the Bachelors Guide to Mat
rlmony"
BARBARA watched him out of sight
aaa then straightway forgot all about
-a IN the thrilling occupation of
%iOolns in various styles of chirog
,9pny, Barbara Mathews, Mrs. Ber-
W u"ln Mathews, Mr.. and Mrs. Bertram
IatneWs," etc, ON the page margins
VI her magazine.
WHAT'S in a name?" commented ii
shoulder
- barbara, blushing pink to the tips
VI Aef ears, closed the magazine with
Dang' tucked it under her arm anG
,seu pt' 10 beat an indignant retreat.
H.. ''''am' however, observing that
no.r s,e were only empty chairs for wit
l,oSE' piayfully barred her exit
soa Duha The table he chased her in i.
vs,le vsa,ulaaiously undignified scramble. If
tbo nave eyes as well as ears, surel
rn. ioFoiddlng legal tones on the sur
n.a ung "bieachers" had never be-
'H'corous. ~ ~ '
ecoae at length, beyond hope C.
vinse te' Ill decoy ending in dornle'
proiao., On one side and flanked by
tw' ling Dookshelves on the other
vIlS,I barbara faced her pursuer with
"uvly' aSy humping heart
4 h" aren playing fair" she accu:,
y0ur oreathlessly you've broken
kn,t NJ. promise, Bertram Mathews. This
ap-,n occidental meeting at all. It's
hep~ ~ ambush. You followed n,e
Saw VOL lou can't deny it, because
a n 'ou out In front of tho lil,.ar ~