The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1909-11-17

take" said the girl.
The man looked his wonderment
out of mild blue eyes. He slipped his
coffee, blew cigar smoke lazily up
ward and appeared to think.
circumstances, he observed,
"were never more propitious."
The girl shrugged her shoulders in
comic despair.
''Will you never understand me,
Jack, dear?" she asked.
Jack smiled. why should II" he
returned. "If l understood you
doubtless you wouldn't charm me as
you do. Ignorance with me is bliss. y
The girl fell silent and the man
continued to sip his coffee and smoke
as if he hadn't care in the world.
Those who knew John Wood
Knight and those who knew of him
would have wondered with him at the
girls remark. He was born in the
purple, as birth goes in New York.
OF good family, with a fortune that
made work unnecessary, possessing a
strong and handsome body, which
housed a mind of average education
and intelligence, he did not seem to
be the sort of man to make any wo-
man doubt the advantage of marry
ing him. He was distinctly eligible
and had been much sought after until
It was evident that Priscilla Sanborn
had annexed him for good.
Priscilla had not always had
doubts. She had accepted with pride
congratulations on her engagement
to John. Their friends said it was an
ideal match. The man was tall,
fair-haired and pink skinned, the wo-
man brunette above the average in
height and of exceptionally good fig
ure. Outwardly they were well
matched.
They had dined this night in a
back room of the Cafe Pimlico, one
of those quiet places within sight of
Broadway but free from the glare
and noise of that resplendent thor
oughfare. They had been here
many times before. John had said it
was the only place in New York you
could get things properly cooked,
and he was stickler for good cook
ing.
you can't eat frills," he said
when some one asked him why he
didn't go to the places approved by
fashion. John was very good to him.
self in the matter of eating.
Priscilla had asked John to bring
her to the Pimlico this night. She
had said, somewhat oracularly, thai
they must have a good talk; a good
down to the boots talk was the way
uhe put it.
Priscilla was very sensible young
woman. Those who knew her at al
Intimately declared that her goot
sense was very pronounced, that i
was impossible for her to be frivolous
She never allowed her feet to stra.
where her head had not pointed th
way.
She had been silent through din
ner Max, the rotund waiter, hat
served them n astonishment, for the
were old customers and usually wer
very talkative. After he had brough
the coffee he withdrew, shaking hi
head doubtfully.
I'm afraid Mr.. Knight and hi
young lady have had q falling out,
he remarked to the chef.
The chef, intent upon a dish tn
success of which in other hand
would have been doubtful, gruntet
"Too bad" and went on with his worl
John had not worried over Pri.
elias preoccupation, and even he
declaration that their marriage woul
be mistake did not get below tn
even surface of his mind.
Priscilla watched him with a quee
little smile. She loved him, she tol
herself; the trouble was she love
him sensibly. When you let the hea
rule over the heart romance take
wings. Is it not so, you who ha,
loved?
However, Priscilla had made I
her mind to something and it W;
bound to come out. She stoppt
Dhuiih6 W LIE dILdCh.
Il want you to listen to me, Jack
she said, 81 want you to understaI
why our marriage as matters are no
would be mistake. I have res
much and have observed more, al
have come to the conclusion tn
tho man who doesn't work, wi
doesn't bear his burden of the world
burden, will not make good hu
band, and"-she hesitated for a m
ment and blushed prettily-"and W
not make a good father. Jack, def
you're loafer."
"Sure," said Jack. why not?"
why don't you work." persist
Priscilla.
Don't have to-" said Jack.
Jack" said Priscilla somewh
sharply, elf you marry me you've G
TO work"
Good Lord!" said John Wo
Knight, startled, $50 that's what y
want. All right. I'll work. Do
mind work bit If it pleases "
What shall it be?"