Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-19

n SAOTN iillO NldudIl DulIGl-
fly's Thursday afternoon fully fif-
u teen minutes before her hour, but
then we gr>v up together and have al
ways been chums and she, in her char
ity, bears with her crusty old bachelor
friend.
1 found her, as usual, in the wisteria
room, and also as usual making one of
the most charming pictures imaginable
in one of those indescribable costumes
that she affirms is IAN exquisite Gre
ation."
Come in, mon cher" was her hos
pitable greeting, as she began imme-
diate preparations for brewing me the
first cup OF tea, and sinking luxurious
ly into the depths of an easy chair to
her left l watched with pleasure my
charming hostess.
Madam Butterfly, you are growing
more fascinating every day." was my
first contribution, after / had watched
for a moment the dark lashes that al,
most rested against her cheeks as she
counted just the right number of Jumps
of sugar into my cup.
Don't be frivolous" she reproved.
Where were you yesterday when l
phoned to your office? You ought to
have known that would want to speak
to you anu remained IN"
Watching the rings of smoke mount
upward from my freshly lighted cigar,
know had to be among those present
down at the station to bid Madam
Hancock and Mrs Hancock Banning
and her daughter bon voyage during
their absence in Europe this summer
who else was there?"
"Oh, everyone, nearly; and they were
overwhelmed with flowers"
IT went by Sunday afternoon to say
my farewell and we had an awfully
nice time. There must have been
thirty or thirty-fve people there"
Bob -lint leaves Monday you
know, he IS sailing on the Lusitania,
too. He is running across for a couple
of months"
Countess Wachtmeister and her son.
Count Axel, who left on the limited
last Sunday, have also made reserva-
tions on the Lusitania. They will be
gone a year and a half-most of the
time in their home in Sweden"
Talented chap, that-going to be
missed in The sacred inner circle of the
musical coterie."
Don't say 'coterie,' you know, can't
endure that snobbish word. Count
Axel is a genius-nothing less"
"Yes'm."
Madam frowned, for much as she
dislikes to be contradicted, she is even
less satisfied when one agrees with her,
and as 1 waited expectantly for the
retort that was sure would come there
was the sound of rustling silks and soft
footballs, and handsome matron and
her daughter entered.
Being presented, / made mental note
that the handsome matron is Mrs.
Frederick Aver of Boston, who, with
her husband and daughter, are among
the guests at Hotel Maryland. Miss
Aver is a remarkably striking girl,
and although the Maryland is claiming
to have entertained more pretty girls
than any other hostelry in Southern
California this winter, she Is said by
many to be the most beautiful of them
aif. Mrs. Aver Is a cousin of Mrs.
Jose III B. Banning.
Several sets of guests flocked in at
once, and the room reverberated with
a perfect volley of cordial greetings.
When the smoke cleared away-by the
by, this figure of speech is only by way
of practice for fleet week-a bevy of
pretty girls had arrived and were pos
ing on the inlaid chairs and ebony
tete-a-tetes. Several popular bachelors
had also put in an appearance, but the
man of the hour seemed to be Lieut..
George Patton. u. S. NJ, who is home
on a months leave and is the guest of
his mother Mrs. e. T. Brown.
/ attempted to engage the atten-
ton of an imposing young woman at
my right, but she turned loftily away
and directed her attention to a dainty
little brunette just beyond. In twink
ling I found myself In the position of
an eavesdropper. Now, I'll leave it to
anyone: What would you do If pretty
girl refused to talk to you because she
must ask Betty" about the last meet
ing of the club about which you may
not know?
What I did was to sit perfectly still.
with my eyes intent on a tiny curl that
had pulled loose from my scornful
neighbor's Marcelled wave and my ears
keen to catch the secret the young wo-
man had told me / must not hear.
Betty" she whispered, "are you
coming to the Iiext meeting?"
Eyes, indeed" murmured Betty. "It's
to be held at -"
Here Betty maliciously whispered in
the ear adorned by the unmarcelled
curl
Yes, we are having tournament
each girl playing for helself."
Curiosity nearly proved my undoing.
but Bettys athletic brother enlisted
in my behalf and reproved the young