The Democratic advocate., 1908-12-04

faSseu. or III listen TO your style in in
tervieWing," he said teasingly.
Miss Kilroy smiled when her visitor,
entered in the very evident throes o1
formality. "Oh, it's you, is it. Zulieka
and your pretty daughter
The old woman smiled and nodded
until her ear pendants jingled. eve
come see maiden like dawn she an
nounced genially.
Miss kilroy remembered the origin
of the compliment and had the grace
to blush. Did you come to tell me
some more about your beautiful coun
try:'' she asked graciously.
The woman shook her head. "Come
to tell-a you Of my son." she beamed.
HAS he succeeded in getting a posi-
tion?' interestedly.
! NO, not on the work we come. is il
Hareede?" She appealed to her daugh
ter delightedly.
The girls black eyes glowed with i'm.
pOrtance. We've women-it is al
ways so,' she explained ingratiatin;sly
1T is for us to tell the fair one Il at
she is Beloved
AN you marry my son--yes?" broke
in the mother eagerly.
Miss Kilroy sank back in her chair
weakly "Of all things she gasped.
'You Ikea my SOM" urged Zulieka
leaning over and patting caressingly
the limp hand of the object of her sons
affection.
Miss kilroy looked daZed. IL can't
marry your son." she announced feebly
''But my SONNY son! He Ikea you.
he marry you. The way you smile
make him happy. 1 ask you to marry
my son!' her gestures expressing q fer
vent solicitude that exceeded her vo-
cabulary.
But | don't want to marry YOUR son.
I-hate your son!'' declared Miss Kill
roy desperately.
The eyes of the two matrimonial
agents flashed and their voices rose an
grily. Miss Kilroy put her blond head
upon the desk and sobbed. Grantley
considered this an auspicious moment
for interference. He rose and spoke
blandly to the mother, who stood pant
ing with Indignation at the slight to
her offspring.
at is perhaps best for me to explain
the situation, madam" and he bowed
low in q manner which he hoped would
impress them with an idea that he had
learned his manners in foreign court
circles. at is not that Miss Kilroy
scorns your son; 1t is that He
hedged for time to invent something
soothingly plausible. at is only that
you have come too late. Miss Kilroy
is already betrothed," he added grave
ly, "and therefore expresses regret that
she cannot consider your son.
The blond head of the sociological
investigator was raised abruptly from
the desk Zulieka. however, repeated
uncomprehendingly "Betrothed?'
Grantly said slowly, "Betrothed-af
fianced-to be wed-espOusa." he added
desperately
The mother and sister of the reject
ed looked at each other with a flash OF
understanding. 'Ah-hr' they breathed.
'"To me-to me-" Grantley tapped
his breast convincingly.
The woman's face was again wreath
cd in smiles Il tell-a my son. tell-a
him that the beautiful maid not strong
TO cook-to wash. He marry Syrian
now. May tie rising sun forever kiss
your hair, mees, and may your chill
drcn be as many as the pomegranite
seed" she said to Grantley with grow
ing cordial:ty.
When the door closed behind them
Grantley stood with his feet apart and
his hands in his pockets, according to
the method of meditating man.
''By Jovc" he said finally.
\ Slight sniff was Miss Kilroy's only
contribution toward relieving the awk-
wardness of the situation.
"Were engaged he announced
cheerfully.
You're bruter' she answered choll-
ingly.
81 must say your interviews are coli-
Quoted upon rather original lines he
teased.
Miss Kilroy's shoulders were shrug
ged resentfully. ''I'll never interview
another foreigner so long as l live"
she declared.
Certainly you must give that up
when we are married. he suggested,
twinkle in his eye.
She showed for an instant a pair Of
indignant, fearful eyes eve are not
engaged" she declared stormily, and
her head went back to cover of the
desk.
+ Grantley leaned over her gently. 81
wish-we were," he suggested softly.
A sudden tense quietness settled or
the bowed figure.
II have wished fer long time-that
we were," lie repeated insistently.
He stopped down until he could whis-
per, Aren't we, dear?" and the blond
head nodded acquiescence.
The Mans Way.
"Is your husband suffering from the
toothache?"
ssWeIl I" answered the woman with Il