The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-07-01

to unhook 1t.
She resisted and retreated from him.
"Mr. Crawford" she declared, I'm
not going to take it off,"
But you must he urged. 1T isn't
polite to dine with 1t on. Ladies never
do such a thing"
81 don't care" she said decisively.
Tn not a lady, only a chorus girl, and
I'm going to keep it on, and if you
don't behave I'll go away this minute
and never come here any more
He saw it would not do to insist.
1.-THE slave of the ring obeys," he
drawled, crossing his hands on his
breast with a comica1 look of ~resigna-
ton. "I'm a good boy. as meek as
digestin' deacons be at ordination din
ners.'"
This made her laugh. and they sat
down to the table.
isn't it jolly to be together like this?
1 wish you could come often,'' he said.
He poured out the Margaux.
81 dote on these good red Wines" he
observed. "They are like rubies. They
glow with concentrated heat and sum
shine They are a poem of warmth
and owe and beauty-the warmth and
beauty of southern chimes, where they
know how to love. See how enhancing
its color is"
He held the glass up to the light.
"I can't say I'm stuck on red wine:
it's too sour avowed Nora, with her
mouth full of the dainty pastry of a
bouche a la refine. 81 never tasted any
till you took me to lunch, n I drank
it the because l thought 1t was the
thing to do at a swell place. 1 must
say I prefer beer. We always have
beer at home"
Nora" he sighed, "you have a whole
lot to learn, and I am going to teach
you. Try some of this champagne. It's
nearly the color of beer anyhow"
IT certainly like it better" she said
after tasting it.
do you know 1 took a fancy to you
the very first m I saw your" he
went on.
"Yes?" she answered ~questioningly.
"It's true. You are a dear little girl,
the sweetest I have ever known, and
as pretty as a picture"
ooh, Mr.. Crawford, go on!" she re-
monstrated, but looking pleased.
"I mean it, by jimmy. You are too
good for that crowd at the Long Acre"
"You have beer very good to me-"
she aid
mot as good as I should like to be
and will be if you will let me-"
He gazed at her m~eaningly and very
tenderly.
Nora blushed.
do you know, you remind me of q
rose ?" he continued. st would like to
cover you with roses"
How can you say such things?"
did you ever hear of Hel~iogabalus?"
81 never did"
mo, I suppose not. He was a Ro-
man emperor. He used to give grand
%banquets and then smother the guests
to death as they sat at the feast by
causing a rain of rose leaves to fall on
them until they were covered. Your
white arms, decked with bracelets of
large diamonds held by a thin thread
and projecting from a heap of rose
leaves, would ook magnificent"
Excuse me-" commented Nora, hold
ing out her glass for more champagne.
ESPECIALLY if they were faded roses.
like those over there. Who gave them
to you-Tat?"
He gazed at her open mouthed, stupe-
fed.
"Tat!" he repeated. where did you
hear of Tat?"
That's easy. She's up there on the
chimney-place, all surrounded by a
brand new wreath of silver"
A CLEAN of understanding and of VIC
tory came into his eyes. Nora was
jealous.
Don't you think she's very pretty?"
he asked.
HIN. Not so much" she replied,
pursuing her lips.
you don't seem to like her?"
ct don't like her or dislike her. I
don't know anything about her." she
declared, with an exaggerated assump-
ton of indifference.
She's my sister. 1 got that frame
for her portrait yesterday, and really
l thought / had put it in the other
room. She is married unhappily. Her
husbands a brute and treats her bad
ly, and when she came here alone from
st. Louis to visit our family a few
years ago I gave her a good time, as
she says. Perhaps o prefer gar
denias to roses?' he inquired, chang
ing the subject. IT think there is some
thing exquisite, something inebriating.
something passion inspiring in their
perfume, don't you?"
He took the flower from his coat and
landed it to her.
"I think it's beastly," she said, with
a grimace, giving it back to him. 1T
smells like a lead rat in a stable. Did
Tat give that to you o
He laughed and, moving over to her,
placed his arm around her shoulders.
Little girl" he said, Il believe you're
jealous"
1.-THE ideal" she answered, looking
down. "Why should L be- ~Jealous?"
you needn't be. And you do care
for me a little bit, don't you?"
He tool her hand and placed it
against his cheek.
"Y-yes," she faltered.
With a cry of joy he lifted her and,
folding her in his arms, covered her
face and mouth with greedy kisses.
MY Nora, my beautiful treasure. l
love you-love you-love you! You are
mine!" he murmured passionateiy.
Her head was swimming with the
wine and the violence of his embrace,
but she struggled to free herself.
Don't, Mr.. Crawford, don't!" she
painted, pushing his face from her.
Let me go or l will scream for help"
A succession of quick, persistent
"drings' of the doorbell caused him to
11DNHA hR IA