Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1908-01-03
THE ROMANCE AT RYERsON's.
By Nora Dunblane.

NO. Do your" replied the young
man beside her, very gravely.
A litter of laughter arose from the
next table. 1t was from Miss lehman,
the thin, white-haired, pleasant faced
old lady who was always beaming with
amiable amusement upon the pretty
girl and the grave young man. They
accepted her giggle good-naturedly
and the young man asked her, with a
heightened degree of his gravity, If
she knew when Mr.. Wellesley was
coming back. She blushed and flutter-
ed at this, and nervously touched the
coquettish lavender bow at the side
or her collar. But she looked unfeign-
eciy pleased; and replied that she be-
lieved he had. already returned. The
two young persons exchanged glances
at this, and, in her turn. the pretty
girl giggled, but silenced her outburst
with the aid of a pickle.
The next instant the person in ques-
ton, with much elaboration, entered
the room and took his place beside
Miss lehman. The two young persons
were seen no more. Miss lehman sub
merged herself in interested questions
concerning the trip Mr.. Wellesley had
been on; and Mr.. Wellesley replied
with fiattered volubility.
Everybody at Ryerson's liked Miss
lehman. She had eaten her meals
there for years-long beyond the recol-
lection of any Of the present boarders.
She had a room somewhere in the vi
ctnity (the rooms at Ryerson's being
evidently beyond her purse), and she
was regarded in the neighborhood
much In the light of fixture, as one
regards the permanency of front gate
or a corner lamp.
She was good tempered person. No
one had ever seen her anything but
mild and quiet and smiling. And the
young people who came and went at
Ryerson's with kaleidoscope shifting,
and who sometimes INDUCED in that
futile pastime known as flirting, in
variably found in her a friendly and
delighted spectator.
The present clientele had had an un-
expected amusement offered them In
seem gar charitable change in Miss
lehman. This had happened when Mr..
Wellesley first appeared.
Mr.. Wellesley was from the South,
and in his native town had been
known as Major" He was a man
courtly in manner, waxen neat in ap-
pearance and with heavy iron-gray
hair, which he wore In shining and
careful curls upon his forehead. Owing
to a certain suggestion of precision
about him, he was, upon his first ap-
pearance an immediate temptation to
the grave young man. So, upon a re-
mark from him that he had hoped to
attend concert that evening, but
feared the weather was going to be
Indictment, the grave young man
calculated at once, "Oh. I'll let you
have my automobile. / don't think the
cook is going to use it."
Mr.. Wellesley thanked him calmly.
A moment later, when the grave young
man announced to the room that he
spending the following Sun
day at Atlantic City, he, in the same
calm voice inquired, do you know IL |
they need any more walters down
there?"
1t was thus that he passed muster |
1t Ryerson's, and was freely accept |
3D." And then came the change in |
Miss lehman. 1t showed first, as is |
the fashion of woman when struck by |
Cupid's dart. in her manner Of dress.
Her simple shirt waists, usually show
Ing lining of modest white, betook |
upon themselves a glow either of deep |
lavender or rose-pink, resultant from |
he new coverings worn beneath; while |
bows of corresponding hues appeared |
upon the sides Of her collars. The |
small, plain black hat, that had hith- |
srto been fully adequate to her pur-
poses, was premptorily hauled to pieces |
and formed anew, with the decorative |
addition of bunch Of large white |
laisies. 1t was observed, too, that |
rom the neat white handkerchief al
ways tucked at her belt, there arose |
he scent of a pungent perfume. Her |
,ther change was in her bearing. She |
was still quiet, but her placidity was
quite gone. She fiuttered when spoken |
% and grew nervous when she talked;
Ind blushed from the beginning to the |
End of her meal.
Whether or not Mr.. Wellesley realiz-
ID the extent of his Importance to her |
vas not discernible But that he lirt- |
ID with her, with elaboration. was I'M |
Little gallantries, such as
he placing of butter upon her dish |
or her, or denying himself his own
'oup spoon. If soup spoon CHANGED |
% be lacking her, punctuated his smil- |
ng glances and his open compliments. |
And II 1t so happened that they left |
he dining-room at the same time land |
Mss lehman developed an amazing
aculty for catching the psychological
he paused, with much dis |
play of form, to assist her with her |
.loak and to open the door.
During the winter and spring that |
Mr.. Wellesley's arrival, and |
Up until the very June evening that |
,ur story opens, no one could look at |
Mss lehman and doubt that she was
ieliciously happy. Her faded blue eyes
'hone jubilantly; her sunken cheeks
ylowed under their tired lines, and
Ter little giggle dubbed irrepressibly |
between her thin, smiling lips. Of