The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-20
AN ERROR OF ESTIMATES-By Jeanette Cooper

l.
he looked at the handkerchief again, and
SO by proper gradations back to the
young woman on the other side of the
brook
II think if you will allow me, will re-
turn it to you in person." he said There
are stepping stones further down."
Patrice watched with mingled feelings
as he turned and disappeared among the
trees. He had an athletic swing to his
shoulders that seemed to match the easy
lack of ceremony in his manner. His
rather shabby coat had correct indi-
viduality. Something about him made
guarantee from Miss Enderleigh or any
one else seem absurd. However, 1t could
not be denied that from the Lady Evelyn
Maud standpoint he had taken a liberty.
She banished all Improbable speculations
| on the attractiVeness of his smile and
kept that thought in mind. When he re-
! appeared upon her side of the brook she
, gazed at him as from great distance.
"Op' she called, won't you stand
where you are, please? l want figure in
my sketch" She eyed him serenely, ig.
noring the smile that leaped to his eyes.
Il am quite at your service he said.
Patrice took her measurements with a
professional air surveying him as if he
were an inanimate part of the landscape
She had to narrow her eyes q good deal
to keep him from seeing the enjoyment
in them, especially when, holding the book
at arms lengths, she made several marks
in the air without touching the page.
will it interfere with the pose II l
talk?" inquired the young man.
She erased an imaginary line and tipped
her head back to survey the blank page
''It might" she said with a little lift of
her lashes not copied from Evelyn Maud.
Then, to make up. she looked with cold
impersonality at his feet and drew some
more imaginary lines in Hates book
II wish to tell you where found your
handkerchief" he said.
The image of Lady Evelyn Maud and
the native curiosity of Patrice Lithgow
had brief struggle. The latter won.
Where did your she said.
I'm the pine woods" he answered. 81
| was there yesterday and saw girl In
green gown with green and gold vol
| ume of verses in her hand thought she
was q dryad and looked to see tree
| trunk open to receive her, but she glided
| senderly down the long aisle of the pines
and disappeared leaving only her hand
| kerchief on the brown needles"
How did you know 1t was verses?
| ignoring the rest of the speech.
! by her face. could not imagine her
| taking a novel into the woods to make
| third with her and Nature"
! Patrice did few lines with her head
| on one side. Then she held the book
| at arms length and surveyed the spot
| less page. Another struggle was going
| on. Again Evelyn Maud lost.
| did they teach you at Harvard
began Patrice.
"About dryads?" He ended her sem
tence as she paused. mo, never knew
anything about them until that day.
There is some knowledge that comes all
unsought and suddenly, you know"
Patrice dashed in her foreground with
| rapid strokes half an inch from the
page. Then she closed the book and
/ rose.
IT am greatly obliged" she said, with
| the cold sweetness that belongs to thu
countess of fiction. Her hand fell to
| the tiny gold purse that dangled from
chatelaine. If only she had the courage
| to offer him tip! Nothing would so
| completely restore her to the Lady
Evelyn Maud standard, especially If 1t
F., were small tip. She glanced at him
His eyes were literally dancing with de-
dropped to her side. md X?&% "a
| lighted expectancy Miss Lithgow's hand
| dropped to her side. The very faint
pink suffused her face again. Il am
greatly obliged" she repeated.
81 can't tell you what pleasure 1t
| has BEEN" he answered gravely and
| she was half way to the house before
| 1t came to her wrathful consciousness
that every sound from the broad in
cant" to the long in "been" had
| out Englished her own studied pro-.
nunciation
IT know why he does it, said Patrice
| She halted Kate outside the dining room
door to finish the tale of Mr.. Adamsons
/, impertinences. HE Is undoubtedly So
calist-so many college men are-and he
! is determined that l shall see his con-
| tempt for rank" She gave an approving
! glance at herself In the hall mirror as
| Kate dragged her nearer the door. Her
| fair hair was done high and tiny gold
| band lay across it with something of a
! coronet effect. Her blue gown was cut
+, out enough to show a little of the soft
| Wilderness of her shoulders and her grace
| full back at isn't what it ought to be for
| the British nobility" she had complained
| as she put 1t on, but one can't sacrifice
| all sense of decency even for a mission"
| she held her head little higher as Kate
urged her through the door. After this"
| she breathed determnedly, II shall simply
| not see him. 1T is the only way
| Half way. down the room her gracious
blue eyes, resting here and there upon an
acquaintance. fell suddenly upon dark