Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1908-12-22

kind of foreign trappings, that want to
see Miss Kilroy," he announced.
'Show them in, Tommy-that is, IL
you don't mind, Mr.. Grantley." she
looked at aim inquiringly.
mot at NIL | will step into the ad
joining room if they will be embar-
rassed or I'll listen to your style in in
terviewingr he said teasingly.
Miss Kilroy smiled when her visitors
entered in the very evident throes of
formality. "Oh, it's you, is it, Zulieka,
and your pretty daughter"
The old woman smiled and nodded
until her ear pendants jingled. 1--WE
come see maiden like dawn" she an
nounced genially.
Miss Kilroy remembered the origin
of the compliment anG 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-
tionT interestedly.
mo, not on the work we come, is It,
Hareede?" She appealed to her daugh-
ter delightedly.
The girls black eyes glowed with i'm
ways So" she explained ingratiatingIy.
sit is for us to tell the fair one that
she is Beloved
"An' you marry my son-yes?" broke
In the mother eagerly.
Miss Kilroy sank back ia her chair
weakly. "Of all things she gasped.
you Ikea my son" urged zulieka,
leaning over and patting caressingly
the limp hand of the object of her sons
affection.
Miss Kilroy looked dazed. "I--I 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. l ask you to marry
my SON." her gestures expressing a fer
vent solicitude that exceeded her vo-
cabulary.
"But 1 don't want to marry your son.
I-hate your sonr' 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 suspicious moment
for interference. He rose and spoke
blandly to the mother, who stood pant
ing with indignation at the slight to
her offspring.
cit is perhaps best for me to explain
the situation. madam" and he bowed
low in a manner which he hoped would
impress them with an idea that he had
learned his manners in foreign court
circles. ut is not that Miss Kilroy
scorns your son; it is that" He
hedged for time to invent something
soothingly plausible. ut is only that
you have come too late. Miss Kilroy
is already betrothed," he added grave
ly. land 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?"
GRAVITY 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 fash Of
understanding. "Ah-h" they breathed.
ITO me-to me-" Grantley tapped
his breast convincingly.
The woman's face was again wreath
ed in smiles 81 tell-a my son. | tell-a
him that the beautiful maid not strong
to cook-to wash. He marry Syrian
now. May the rising sun forever kiss
your hair, mees, and may your chill
dren be as many as the pomegranite
seed" she said to Grantley with grow
ing cordiality.
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 Jovep he said finally.
A slight sniff was Miss Kilroy's only
contribution toward relieving the awk-
wardness of the situation.
"Were engaged" he announced
cheerfully.
you're brutey' she answered chol-
ingly.
81 must say your interviews are con-
Quoted upon rather original lines" he
leased.
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,
a twinkle In his eye.
She showed for an instant 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. II
wish--we WERE" he suggested softly.
A sudden tense quletness settled on
the bowed figure.