Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1910-02-25

Yvvvry. II may ne gathered tnat ner
warrier husband, honest ploddils
John James, had quite failed of fill
ing a generous emotional voil.
The olfactory hints of the dinner
all prepared and ready for serving
tempted the counts quivering nos
trils until nothing but his innate gal
lantry prevented him from suggesting
that the hour fog dinner was waning
He became restive. Nevertheless ii
would all come in good time and ne
had planned his campaign he woulc
eat, and then under plea of the I've
o'clock engagement, he would make
his adieus. But the hostess still sal
placid, sewing.
Finally the count shifted his feet.
"It will be time for the, serving 0
dinner before the serving OF e.
yiands has been ruined by delays
which | mean TO say-ahem-is that
my appreciation of your cuisine en-
cages but impatiently in the combat,
my dear madame, with the patience
of your hospitality
Mrs. James thrust her needle in
the emery bag, and gaZed at him, a
blush mantling her expansive cheeks
from out of which, as though seeking
escape, rose the snub end Of a short
nose.
"How well. how very well that coat
of poor Johns fits you. To-Mr. To-
bias
"Jarvis-Jarvis, my dear madame"
corrected the old gentleman. You for
get | fear that it is not Tobias, but
Jarvis, NJ. Jarvis"
M. Jarvey," said Mrs. James. Dear
met | was thinking that that coat
fitted you as well as it fitted poor
John. 1t were as the mantel Of Elijah
had descended upon your shoulders.
Do you know, Mr.. Jarvey, | think it
fits you even better than it did John.
Poor John, ne looked so distinguished
in it! And you! Tob-"
The count moved uneasily. The
deft grace with which she had evaded
consideration Of the tardy dinner. and
skinned TO more personal matters
frightened him. He half rose in his
chair
rs it that the garment oyercomes
Won with afflicted emotions? [ am
most sorry. shall take il OF. maybe"
bo said moving % though 10 carry out
his suggestion.
"No. no. Set down: remain seated.
Count Toby Tobias. mean. have
felt so happy 30 see you setting there
Just Ike Jo.. You would seem 10
fill his place so admirably" Mrs
James had cea plying her needle
and was lookin. t the count over her
eyeglasses.
When a fish is jerked out Of the
water in a net and landed or tne
ground II founders about wildly and
blindly in an instructive search for
its natural element. The counts
plight may be Mkened TO the pisca.
torial dilemma above described He
WAS yersed in the subtler g. ys Of life.
He could turn the edge of innuen-
do with graceful noachalanc and he
could launch one with equ insouci-
ance. The batting OF an eye me sAyug
of a shoulder sometimes meant whole
sentences. whole stories. But the
blunt, direct ways of the American
diplomacy as ,xemplihed By Mrs.
James LETT the count no tactical loop
hole. Then. too. he had ever before
him the blended aroma of that wait.
ing feast.
He exclaimed at length. Il fill M
Ia seem TO nil NJ. James's place.
II is quite impossible madame. Much
nc love"
"Ah. Tobias" interrupted Mrs.
James with rising infection, "ycu
was sayin'-"
what. indeed " replied Jarvis, 9th
er than that love to fee, madame,
| that | suggest to you reyerede mem
ories-make them real l-non; chat is
as one might say unreal, and-and-"
Have you ever felt thao you nave
wasted the best years Of your life
without the comIanionship of some
true and loving helpmeet? You should
| have made some woman happy long
! ago Tob-Mr. Jaryey ] mean"
81 had a friend who was married"
| soid tho count erayply as though the
|