Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1910-10-28


ehE W., ,om-. ed at any instan
to be dispossess
ed of his borrowed resting place.
At last he decided to be bold anC
wait no longer.
what am | to do If Mr.. James X
Smythe comes along and orders III
out?" he asked pleasantly in a low ye;
conversational tone.
The girl glanced up for the first
time. suddenly and rs if startled She
had the air of having been deeply alb
sorbed in her book and Of not being
sure that her neighbor had spoken to
her: also she looked extremely young
and innocent
81 said what am I to do II Mr.
James X. Smythe comes along and or
ders me out ?" Val repeated.
That's what | thought you said,'
replied the girl. meeting his admiring.
quizzical eyes with somewhat be-
wildered yet defensive gaze. But
why should you say 1t to me?'
isn't that rather hard hearted OF
youY" asked Loveland.
81 don't understand you at ALL" said
the girl. "You look like a gentleman.
so | suppose you can't mean to be
rude or impertinent. But If not you
seem to be talking nonsense"
This was straightforward. to say the
least, yet her voice was so sweet and
girlish, with such a dainty little drawl
in 1t, that the rebuke did not sound as
severe as II spoken with sharper ac
cents.
"Of course | don't mean TO be rude
or impertinent." Loveland defended
himself. at loss for the next move
In the game. But | thought-that is.
| mean-you know. that Is my chair
I'm delighted you should have it,
"Your chair" echoed the girl. "Oh
you are mistaken. No wonder. If you
thought that but even then you
couldn't have dreamed I'd take it on
purpose"
Moo, r. began Loveland. looking
guilty.
Her eyes were on him. You did
think sou she exclaimed. 81 see you
did. That was why yOu-and yet !
don't see how you could have fancied
l should know who you were unless
are you very famous person.
Lord Loveland laughed rather fool
ishly. II think you've punished me
enough" he said.
Then you admit that you deserve
TO be punishedY
Perhaps"
(which means that you did believe
l took your chair on purpose"
IL didn't stop to think" said Love
land. telling the truth as usual. but
less truculently than usual.
You are English. aren't you" the
girl asked. looking at him with her
brown. bewildering eyes.
"Oh. yes" replied Loveland in a tone
which added, 'of course"
81 was sure you were. l suppose
you don't understand American girls
very well or perhaps any girls yet
But, then. few men do really. except
poets or novellsts. And you're not a
poet or novelist?'
Rather not"
"You speak as though I'd asked II
you were a pickpOcket. Do you de-
spise writers?'
"I'd be sorry to be one. Wouldn't
your" The girl laughed.
81 am one." she said. 81 write
stories"
You're chatting"
mo, I'm not. Why should you think
soY
"Oh, we'll. because you don't look az
If you wrote"
"Thank you. suppose you mean
that for q compliment. But women
who write aren't scarecrows nova
days. If they ever were"
"Well. anyhow, you're too young"
"T've been writing stories and get
ting them published. too. ever since !
was sixteen. That's some years ago
now. Please don't say you wouldn't
have thought It! That would be toe
obvious even for an average Amer
leans idea Of an average Englishman.
"As you thought" said Loveland. 81
don't know much about Americans yet
Pm going over to the States to learn
"The States. How English that
sounds! We think we're all Of Amer.
ica-all that's worth talking about In
ordinary conversation. You thought
I'd taken your chair. l believe you
really did think that"
81 did," admitted Val.
81 wonder why. My aunts name Is
on it."
"Oh! said Loveland.
"See," went on the girl, leaning Tor
ward and displaying the Label in the
deck stewards handwriting
81 do see," said Val. "But that nap
pens to be my name"
"LovelandT
EYES,"
The girl blushed brightly. And she
was more attractive than ever when
she blushed. "Oh, how very odd!
Then perhaps this is your chair! How
perfectly horridw She began to un'