The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1908-05-05
NOT OFFENDED.

over 90 His lavender silk hose ex.
actly matched his tie, while his suit
hat and gloves. were precisely the
same medium tint of gray.
The young woman whom he was es-
cortng. tilted her little nose sky
ward and twisted her head so that
the bird OF paradise In her hat jab-
beied him In the eye
Say" he inquired anxiously, as
they stepped aboard the suburban
train. you aren't mad are you, Ma
rie?"
The young woman shrugged her
slim shoulders under their burden
OF furs and looked as naughty as Is
years knows how She lifted her
eyebrows deliberately. "Oh dear,
mol" she breathed. How could you
ever imagine such thing"
The young man wilted beneath her
gaze. II somehow conveyed the inn
preston that II he had imagined such
thing he had made the mistake of
his whole life. "Of course not" he
hedged hastily. Il just asked.
| thought-that is-you kind of act
ed that way
Really Harold" she told him as
they settled down in one of the cross
seats. you are so foolish!'
1T can't be-" she continued that
you thought l got mad because you
never paid the slightest attention to
me after Gladys came into the room?
Why, | never noticed Ill 1t didn't
make the least difference to me!
riticing of you to notice her at all,
when she Is so stupid and homely.
You don't mean to say you thought
was upset over that, do your"
The young man glanced hastily in
To her eyes, which were very big and
condescendlng and politely amazed
Then he swallowed hard. He had
been thinking precisely that very
thing and found 1t difficult IL read
just his mental processes.
You wouldn't speak to me all the
way to the train" he said a trite de-
family. And as for not paying any
attention to you--why. you wouldn't
let mel You just about turned your
back on me If came near YOU"
There were plenty of others to
talk to me-" said the young woman
icily, and did not wan. to take you
away from Gladys when you were
having such a good time. | knew
you only left because You felt 1t was
duty you owed me and that yod
were glad of the chance TO go back
to her. But 1t didn't make a parti-
Gle of difference TO me! I'm sur
prised that you should have thought
SOL"
The young man looked still more
bewildered "Gee!'' he confided to
the atmosphere, and then seowled at
his lavender hose. Then he stole
covert glance at the young woman
who was sitting very straight and
with dropping eyelids 1t Is remark
able the paralyzing effect dropped
eyelids can have on "A somewhat gull
ty conscience.
The young man plunged in again.
Honest, Marie" he said, 81 didn't
think. didn't mean anything at all
wish you wouldn't feel so about
The young woman turned on him
hastily and there was CLINT in her
eyes that presaged a storm
why, Harold Duront!" she cried
in low concentrated tones of wrath
. Feel So, indeed / suppose you
think | am going home to cry my
eyes out just because you snubbed |
mel"
II hadn't any idea OF snuhbing |
you" persisted the young man. Il
wouldn't hurt your feelings for the |
world
Nothing you could 0 would hurt |
my feelings" 'nterposed the young |
woman with dignity. You must |
think you count tremendous lot |
with me. OF course you can't help |
overestimating yourself after all the
hattery a girl like Gladys han1s out
to you, and | suppose that is what
you like. | don't blame you for be.
ing attracted TO her in the least. It's
only NATURAL
II wasn't attracted said the
young man heroically. shes not
my style"
You just say So" murmHred the
young woman disbelieyingly. Il
think you two would be very con-
genial Why don't you call on her
tonight"
Because you said could come to
see you" said the young man. Il
don't want to call on her. II think
she touches up her hair"
'DO you really?' asked the young
woman in pleased tone. Its aw-
Jul TO be suspicious, Harold. You
iidn't seem to mind this afternoon"
shes nowhere In sight when you
ire around, Marie" protested the
young man feryently. Honest!
Say-you aren't mad any more, are
fou?b