The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-02-11

incurred many years after the inter.
fecine unpleasantness had ceased
Then, too. as the good woman enjoyed
as seamstress not n H.le vogue
among those of the neiEhborhood who
went in for such luxuries as dress.
makers, she considered herself emf
nintly eligible for the hand of the
most exalted noble in France. she
had read of such thing. Romance,
which is to say novels OF tender i'm
port, was weakness and she wrote
poetry 1t may be gathered that her
warrier husband, honest, plodding
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 put his innate gal
lantry prevented him from suggesting
that the hour TO dinner was waning.
He became restve. Nevertheless it
would all come in good time. and he
had planned his campaign he would
eat, and then under plea OF the five
o'clock engagement. he would make
his adieus But the hostess still sat
placid. sewing.
Finally the count shifted his feet.
at will be time for the serving OF
dinner before the serving of the
viands has beeH ruined by delays,
which l 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 we'll that coat
of poor Johns Ats 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
me. l 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, he looked so distinguished
in it! And you! Tob-"
The count moved uneasiy The
deft grace with which she had evaded
consideration of the tardy dinner. and
skipped to more personal matters,
frightened him. He half rose in his
chair
rs it that the garment overcomes
you with afflicted emotions? am
most sorry. ! shall take it of. maybe"
he said moving as though to carry out
his suggestion.
mo, no. Set down; remain seated,
Count Toby-Tobias. | mean. / have
felt so happy TO see you setting there
Just like John. You would seem to
fill his place so admirably" Mrs.
James had ceased plying her needle
and was looking at the count over her
eyeglasses.
When a fish is jerked out of the
water in a net and landed on the
ground 1t founders about wildly and
blindly in an instructive search for
its natural element. The counts
plight may be likened to the pisca.
torial dilemma above described. He
was versed in the subtler ways of life.
He could turn the edge of an innuen-
do with graceful nonchalance and he
could launch one with equal insouci-
ance. The batting of an eye the shrug
Of shoulder sometimes meant whole
sentences, whole stories. But the
diplomacy as Sxemplfied by Mrs.
James left 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, 81 fill NJ.
Ja-l seem to fill NJ. Jamess place.
1t is quite impossible madame. Much
as l love"
"Ah, Tobias, interrupted Mrs.
James with rising infection. you
was sayin'-"
What, indeed" replied Jarvis, 10Th.
er than that | love to feel, madame
that / suggest to you reverede mem
ories-make them real-non; that is
as one might say unreal, and-and-"
Have you ever felt tina. you have
wasted the best years of your life
without the comp anionship of some
true and loving helpmeet? You should
have made some woman happy long
ago Tob-Mr. Jarvey | mean"
Il had a friend who was married."
said the count gravely, as though the
fact were of moment sufficiently un-
usual to warrant puckering up the
lips and raising of the eyebrows.
Married." exclaimed Mrs James,
excited and pleased, and eager to as.
sist the count in what semed to be
a somewhat di1ldent lead to "a vital
question.
Yes" continued Jarvis, "he had a
s. ife. She was the Duchess de la