Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-05-18

BLENDED.
Quaintance was we'll satisfied with
his surroundings He saw that he had
come out on the seashore OF Upper
Bohemia, that fashionable resort where
it is always sunshine and summer,
where night Is even as day. And. when |
soup was brought, he bethought him |
self of his Burgundy. Two glasses
were set, one py the empty chair, and |
into that at his elbow trickled ruby |
nauor, the very life blood Of grapes.
ne lifted it meditatively.
your good health, Newman" said he |
to himself, his face expressionless. |
Here's luck to you, my young friend. |
I hope you and I'll get on together and |
goodbye, old Quaintance. You've done
for yourself. You always were Quix- |
otto fool, and I've nc more use Tor you |
I hope I'll never hear of you again"
Then ne sat back with a care |
free, whimsical smile, new man by |
virtue of his self-baptism, idly observ-
ant. in vein lor any adventure.
A table opposite was vacated and new
couple came forward to occupy II.
Ouaintance was subconsciously aware OF
some sensation in the atmosherpe, and
the spoon he was lifting TO his lips
STAYED SUSPENDED in mid-air while he also
stared at the two who were just sitting
down.
one of them was a man, but his back
was toward Queintance, who, none the
less. knew instinctively that he was not
a likeabIe fellow. He was short, thick
set, close cropped after the French fash
ion. well-clothed yet i'll dressed; over
ornamented, from the 1rogged and fur
lined coat he had cast aside to the stub
by. plebeian white fingers so carefully
poised from the elbow to show of far
too many rings.
The other, a girl, was seated oppo-
site Quaintance and facing him from
across the room. HeT glance had met his
although for no more than the merest
, fraction of a single second, as she had
sunk into her chair, and within that
infinitesimal space of time he had recog-
nized her again. She had flushed shrink
ingly as the long lashes had dropped
to curtain her dark, troubled eyes, the
same sweet eyes he had looked into on
the steps of the Night and Day bank. He
wondered what such girl as that could
have in common with such man as ne
of the fur and frogs.
She was dressed in a suit so perfect
ly tailored that even a man could tell II
had come from Paris. Her hat was equal
ly simple and costly. She had divested
herself of a gray squirrel coat, pair or
gray motor gauntlets. The hands she
had folded upon the table before her were
bare of rings.
The studied plainness OF her apparel
was distinctive, and, in conjunction with
her most daintily nodded, shapely pro-
portions, her fair face crowned with a
close-prisoned wealth of respondent hair,
had won her the quick attention of all
the diners in that part of the room.
That she was i'll at ease and in I'M
accustomed surroundings was evident.
But her set lips bespoke the resolve to
CHI ~A vvh
the man with her roughly bade their
waiter All her glass, after she had de-
clined wine. She listened uncomplainingly
to the low. grumbling monolog the 9TH
er kept up. Quaintance longed for the
| faintest shadow OF any pretext to take
him outside and break his neck for him.
Quaintance was no gallant adventurer
with women, but he was disquieted by
the strange interest this one had aroused
| in him.
| She had not, looked his way again, but
he could wait. She wore no rings.
His own meal at an end, he ordered
coffee. Half musing, he fixed his eyes
upon her pretty face and was suddenly
disconnected when she quietly raised her
own eyes and thus became aware of his
inexcusable scrutiny. He Redeemed and
shifted his glance to the furthest extren-
, ity of the room. moment later he
glanced back, only to find her compan-
len upon the point OF departure, while he
had his check 70 settle and his waiter
was annoyingly absent.
! They arose and turned from their table.
which was at once taken. Their waiter
came running up with their check, and
with him the man, somewhat flushed with
wine, became involved in some petty dis
pute which shortly, however, assumed
proportions so serious that the manager
was hurriedly sent for The girl and he
f4s h. 1tH Il In,
ers regarded them curiously.
! wait here for me-" he said to her
suddenly in harsh French. Don't dare to
move till l came back" and set off, rather
unsteadily. in the wake of the waiter.
She stood where she was, desperately
| embarrasse till Quaintance sprang to
/ his feet, and. turning toward her the
empty chair at his table and begged that
she would avail herself of 1t. Without a
word she sat down. one shoulder toward
| him as he reseated himself.
| Her perfect profile expressed no undue
embarr assment. Her sweet lips were still
set and steady, the long lashes shut in
| the trouble her eyes might otherwise have
/ betrayed
/ A moment later the Frenchman return
/ ed. Come" he ordered abruptly, ana
she rose I'm strange obedience, bent her
head slightly to Quaintaince, and so de-
parted in wake of her cavalier, who had
been favoring him with a furtive suspi-
cious scowl Qu@ntaince hailed his
waiter.