Evening star., 1909-03-07


in love with Elyria might have been
abashed. Not l. Z
j 4 !; ; ; ! : !: !"
When one has met with utter
indifference for months, has been
tolerated Charmingy as a COM
panion, ignored completely as a NsH
suitor, by wisp of girl with blue kE
eyes that look never SO innocent Esa
when. in short all of ones best ef-
forts have produced no perceptible
rise in the emotional thermometer,
one cannot but be grateful for
any thermiC variation at all. Be-
Sides when one knows But that would be an
anticlimax.
AS have said, there just suggestion OF
GOODNESS in Elyra Good evening, and | ex
ulted accordingly Perhaps had made an inn
preston at last
How have you been, Ellie inquired po-
litely.
"Oh, quite well, thank you, returned Elyra
She hates to be called Ellie. To apply the APP
pellation is like sneering at her settlement work
She has often told me this; hence the quite
Il dare say you have missed me dreadfully,
was my next observation.
Where have you been!' asked Elyra Ian
guidly.
oh, I've been busy" said l. very busy, in
deed" ('Take thatl" | affixed, soto Uoce.)
Elyra eyed me narrowly. SO have heard, .
she remarked.
God bless that brother OF hersl Usually they
are nuisance; but Tom is certainly "a
Il beg pardon said with start; YOU
were saying"
Twas saying, reiterated Elyra sweetly, "or
rather | was asking If one nlight-congratu
late your .r
yes-I suppose So"
Elyra came over and took my hand. II hope
| you will be very happy, she said.
Il dare say, returned vacantly. The thing
| was getting rather beyond me.
THERE was a long silence during which lit
and consumed cigarette without her per
mission.
And so you came to say goodby:" observed
| Elyra finally.
Dear me! l hope not returned with a
| sigh
Elyra also sighed; but patted 1t into yawn
Oh, yes, my child" she informed me, much as
she would address kindergarten class. She
won't let you come here any more, am too
young and-good looking
| - don't see why she should care, reflected,
half to myself.
"Oh, don't your" says Elyra with condescen-
sion. Well you don't understand the first
thing about women young mani
| / was beginning, nevertheless, to flatter my
self that did-for the first time.
Another silence ensued. Elyra broke it again
| Those cigarettes abominablel' she said
pettishly. Here, try one of mine
| Il didn't know you smoked, | exclaimed IN
| astOnIshment.
| Il don't" she denied Indignantly. II got
| these for you The last time you'd forgotten
your case and were cross as bear all the even
ing"
II wasn't cross about the cigarettes" ex-
planned. 1t was because you wouldn't let me
make love to you.
Ito think of her buying those cigarettes for
mel Imported, tool Tom must have bought
them for her. That boy is the best By
subtle means was made aware that my alb
straction was impolite. One of these was a
chrysanthemum which, with unerring aim, re-
moved my glasses (Elyra is captain of bas-
| ket ball team the second was Elyras voice
Sometime they will bury you in one of
these frances" she said.
e was Just thinking how sweet of YOU it was
to get these for me-, hastened to assert, light
| ing another cigarette.
You were thinking of her" corrected Elyra,
| and how soon you can decently 60"
attempted blush. 1t is awfully difficult to
blush when one is unused to it The strain of
| the attempt, however, passed for confusion.
Elyra turned from me and walked to the win
dow. / lighted the third of her cigarettes and
felt uncomfortable What if Oh, pshaw /!
Even So this was the best way.
You haven't asked me to describe her,"
reminded.
No. said Elyra, turning.