Evening star., 1909-02-28

have had the good fortune to be chosen tor a
very pleasant task. Hence this present grand
eur, which, l assure you, is not usual cond1-
ton of chronological secretaries
ROVER pretended to ward off some unexpec-
- ted attack Z" l have done nothing to deserve
hard word like that, Miss 7Wynton," he cried.
" l shall not recover till we reach Calais. May
l sit beside you while you tell me what it
means?"
She made room for him. Strictly speaking,
it is nonsense she said.
Excellent That is the better line for wo-
men who are young and pretty. We jaded men
of the world hate to be serious when we leave
business behind. Now, You would scarce credit
what lively youngster l am when l come
abroad for holiday. / always kiss my fingers
to France at the first sight of her fair face. She
bubbles like her own champagne, whereas Lon
don invariably reminds me of beer"
do take it that you prefer gas to froth?'
You offer me difficult alternatives, yet l ac-
cept them. Though gas IS as dreadful descrp-
tion of champagne as chronological is OF GER
tain type of secretary, would venture to point
out that it expands, effervesces, scars ever to
greater heights; but beer, froth and all, tends
to become fiat, STALE and Improbable"
II assure you my knowledge of both is lmi-
ted. l had never even tasted champagne until
the other day"
when you 1unched with M1ll1cent at the
Embankment Hotel!"
"Well-yes. She was at school with me- and
we met last week by accident. She is making
quite success at the Wellington Theater, is
she not?"
$50 hear. l am director of that concern !;
but l seldom 60 there"
How odd that sounds to one who saves up
her pennies to attend favorlte play!'
"fhen you must have my address, and when
l am in town you need never want stall at
promise; mean it. Nothing would give me
greater pleasure than to think you were enjoy
ing something through my instrumentality."
"How exceedingly kind of you! shall take
you at your word. What girl wouldn't"
Il know quite number who regard me as
an ogre. l am not lady's man in the general
sense of the term, Miss Wynton. might tell
you more about myself if it was not for signs
that the next five minutes will bring us to
Calais. You are far too independent, l sup
pose, that should offer to carry your bag;
but will you allow me to reserve joint table
for refreshments? There will be rush for the
first service, which is the best as rule, and
have friends at court on this line. Please don't
say you are not hungry,
"fhat would be impolite and horribly un-
true" laughed Helen.
He took the implied permission, and hurried
away.
THEY did not meet again until he came to her
carriage in the train.
"Is this where you are!" he cried, looking
up at her through the open window. II am in
the next block, as they say in America. When
YOU are ready, l shall take you to the dining
car. Come out on the platform. The corridors
are simply impassable And here are baskets
of peaches and ripe pears and all manner of
pleasant fruits. Yes, try the corridor to the
right, and charge resolutely. you inf1ict the
maximum injury on others, you seldom dam
age yourself"
In word, Mark Bower spoke as light heart
edly as he professed to feel, and Helen had no
cause whatever to be other than thankful for
the chance that brought him to Switzerland ON
the same day and in the same train as herself.
His delicate consideration for her well being
was manifested in many ways. That such
man, whom she knew to be figure of impor-
tance in the financial world, should take an in
terest in the simple chronicles of her past life,
was a fattering thing in itself. He listened
sympathetica1ly to the story of her struggles
since the death of her mother. The consequent
stoppage of the annuity paid to the widow of
an Indian civilian rendered it necessary that
Helen should supplement by her own efforts
the fifty pounds year allotted to her until
death or marriage.
There are plenty of country districts where
l could exist quite easily on such sum" said
she; "but l declined to be buried alive in that
fashion, and made up my mind to earn my own
living. Somehow, London appeals to young
people situated as ! was 1t is there that the
great prizes are to be gained: so came to
London"
From broke in Bower, who was peeling
one of the peaches bought at Calais
From, VILLAGE near SherrinOham in Nor