Smyrna times., 1909-02-03

The elevator boy stuck his head |
through the doorway There are two
queer looking females, fixed up in some
Kind of foreign trappings, that want to
see Miss Kilroy," he announced.
SHOW them in, Tommy-that is, if
you don't mind, Mr.. Grantley" She
looked at him inquiringly.
Not at all. l will step into the ad-
joining room if they will be embar-
rassed, or Ill listen to your style in in
terviewing," he said teasingly.
Miss Hilroy 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. I'VE
come see maiden like dawn" she an
nOunced genially.
Miss Kilroy remembered the origin
of the compliment and 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-
tion?' intereStedly.
"NO, not ON the work we come, is it.
Hareede?" She appealed to her daugh-
ter delightedly.
The girls black eyes glOwed with i'm
| pOrtance. "We-we women-it is al
ways So" she explained ingratiatingly.
lit 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 in her chair
weakly. "Of all things she gasped
You Ikea my SOM" urged Zulieka
leaning over and patting caressingly
the limp hand of the object of her sons
| affection.
! Miss Kilroy looked dazed. II 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 don't want to marry your son.
I-hate your sOnr' declared Miss xii
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 auspiciOus moment
for Interference. He rose and spoke
blandly to the mother, who stood pant
ing with indignation at the slight tC
her offspring.
1T is perhaps best for me to explain
the situation, madam" and he boweC
low in manner which he hoped woulC
impress them with an idea that he haC
learned his manners in foreign court
circles. 1T is not that Miss Kilroy
scorns your son; it is that HI
hedged for time to invent something
soOthingly plausible. "It is only thai
you have come too late. Miss Kilroy
is already betrOthed," he added grave
". "and therefore expresses regret tina
she cannot consider your SON."
The blond head of the sociological
investigator was raised abruptly from
the desk. ZuIieza, however, repeated
uncomprehendingly "Betrothed?"
Grantly said slowly "Betrothed-af
fianced-to be wed-esp6usa." he added
desperately.
The mother and sister of the reject
ed looked at each other with flash o
understanding. "Ah-hr' they breathed
"TO me-to me-" Grantley tapped
his breast cOnvincingly.
The woman's face was again wreath
ed in smiles. 81 tell-a my son. l tell
him that the beautiful maid not stronj
to coOk-to wash. He marry Syrial
, now. May the rising sun forever kis
, your hair. mees, and may your chill
dren be as many as the pomegranit
seed" she said to Grantley with grow
ing cordiality.
: When the door closed behind theT
2 Grantley stood with his feet apart an
his hands in his pockets, according t
! the method of meditating man.
( "By Jove" he said finally.
D A slight sniff was Miss'Kilroy's onl
: contribution toward relieving the awl
T wardness Of the situation.
: We're engaged" he announce
cheeriuilY
=: You're a bruter' she answered chol
ingly.
Il must say yOur interviews are coI
Quoted upon rather original lines" h
: leased
: Miss KilroyS shoulders were shru.
ged resentfully. "I'l never intervie-
another foreigner so long as live
she declared
Certainly you must give that up-
when we are married" he surgestc,
:, a twinkle in his eye
= = She showed for an instant pair {
u indignant, fearful eyes I'VE are II,
engaged" she declared stormily. an
: her head went back to cover of Il
y desk
Grantley leaned over her gently.
= wish-we were" he suggested softly
sudden tense quietness settled q
the bowed figure.
a ct hava wished for a LONG fffnn-th.