, 1909-03-18

he at last came to join her he was
morose and taciturn. She met him
with a smile and exerted all her won.
anly tact to conciliate him.
you must help me eat the egg"
she said. i've boiled It hard"
Rather eat beef" he mumbled.
But just to please me-when I've
cooked it your way?"
He uttered an inarticulate sound
which she chose to interpret as as
sent. The egg was already shelled.
She cut 1t exactly in half and served
one of the pieces to him with a bit OF
warm fat and a pinch of salt. As he
took the dish he raised his sullen
eyes to her face. She met his gaze
with a look of smiling insistence.
Come now" she said; please don't
refuse. In sorry / was SO rude"
We'll, II you feel that way about
it!-not that / care for fancy dishes"
he responded, grufiy.
ut would be missing a the en-
joyment to eat such a delicacy with
out some one to share it," h said.
Blake looked away without answer.
But she could see hat his face was
beginning to clear. Greatly encour.
aged. she chatted away as though they
were seated at her fathers linn
table and he was an elderly friend
from the business world whom II was
her duty to entertain.
For a while Blake betrayed little in
terest, combining himself to monosyl-
tables except when he commented on
the care with which she had cooked
the various dishes. When she least
expected, he looked up at her. his lips
parted in a broad smile. She stopped
short. for she had been describing her
first social triumphs and his untimely
levity embarrassed her.
Don't get mad, Miss Jenny" he
said, his eyes twinkling.' You don't
know how funny 1t seems to sit here
and listen to you talking about those
things. It's like serving up ice cream
and onions in the same dish"
I'm sure. Mr.. Blake"
Beats a burlesque all hollow-Mrs.
Sint-Regis-Waldoff's c%hop-sooey tea
and young Mrs. Vandam-Jones' auto
cotillon-with us sitting here like
troglodytes, chewing snake-poisoned
antelope, and you in that Kundry
dress"
do you'll was not aware that you
knew about music"
Don't know a note. But give me
a nance to lear good music and I'm
there if have to stand In the peanut
gallery"
oh, I'm so glsd, I'm very, very
fond OF music! Have you been to
B~ayreuth?"
Where's that?"
In Germany. 1t Is where his
operas are given as staged by Wagner
himself. 1t is indescribably grand
and inspiring-above all, the Pnr.
sifal!"
I'll most certainly take that In,
even II l have to cut short my en-
gagement in this gee-lorious cline
not but what. when 1t comes to leopard
ladies'" He paused and surveyed her
with frank admiration.
The blood leaped into her face.
Obi" she gasped. 81 never dreamed
that even such a man as you would
compare me with-with a creature
like that"
Such a man as mel" repeated
Blake, staring. What do you mean?
know I'm not much of a ladies' man;
but to be yanked up like this when a
fellow is trying to pay a compliment
well, it's not Just what you'd call
pleasant"
Il beg our pardon. Mr.. Blake. |
misunderstood. i"
That's all right, Miss Jenny! l
don't ask any lady to beg my pardon.
The only thing is l don't see why you
should flare out at me that way"
For a full minute she sat, with
down-bent head, her face clouded with
Il and indecision. At last she
bravely raised her eyes to meet his.
do o wonder that l am not quite
MYSELF" she asked. You should re-
member that l have always had the
utmost comforts of life and have been
cared for Don't you see how ts:-
rible 1t is for me? And then the death
of-of-"
Il can't be sorry for that"
But even you felt how terrible 1t
was-and then Oh, surely, you must
see how-how embarrassing"
1t was Blake's turn to look down
and hesitate. She studied his face,
her bosom heaving with quick-dravu
breath; but she could make nothing
OF his square jaw and firm-set lips,
His eyes were concealed by the brim
u his leaf hat. When he spoke. seam