The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-06-08
CHAPTER I.
Continued.

found FergueSSOn exhausted uuI LII
umrhant, the completed verses in one
hand and a ham sandwich in the
other. Between bites he read it to
us:
"Mv lady hath a charming face,
Nv lady's form is full Of grace,
My lady's eyes are bright;
At every note of her sweet voice
The feathered songsters all rejoice
And carol with delight.
"She's kind to everything but me
The little birds on every tree,
The bees that hum above her;
To me she's fair and cold, like snow;
I wonder if she treats me so
Because she knows l love her"
, ct don't blame her." Casey spoke
warmly. Bees humming around
her head and a whole aviary of birds
piping up whenever she opens heT
mouth. You'd better drop it, Randy.
Things like that are cruelty to ami
mails"
whats the matter with it, in
quired Randy. I'm sure it is very
complimentary, and 1t rhymes per-
fectly. Perhaps you don't catch the
idea. Now listen"
At the fourth line I interrupted.
"To tell the truth, Randy" I said,
1--WE saw Mildred tonight, and she
doesn't look like a girl who could
appreciate poetry"
"Who said she could? I saw at a
glance she was not the n for Casey.
All she wants is candy and flowers
and some one to firt with. I don't
care for the type"
"Then who?"-I indicated the son
net. "If not Mildred, who?"
"Her cousin Julie, Of course. l
met her the other night Now, there's
q girl for you, Dignifed, calm, intel
lectual, with repose of manner and
lots of savoir faire. No little sim
pering idiot of a doll to dress up and
play with"
We'll, Casey" I said, "whatof Lady
Clara We're de We're? Does she de-
scribe well?" -
CT will have a look and consider
her,"she replied.
whereat Randy glared fiercely and
we all went to bed.
CHAPTER II.
IT was decided in. solemn c~onclaVe
that the best way to Introduce Casey
and make a good impression was Tor
Starr to give a dinner and invite Mil
dred and Cousin Julie, with the Well
Fed Cow as chaperon. Incidentally
we had learned tina. the Crow was
known to society a.. FRS. ]. Schuyler
Smythe, but as the other title seemed
appropriate we chung to 1t when
alone. The dinner was to be at Sher-
rvs. for, as Casey said, If the thing
was done at all it must be done
righr.
We all contributed, but as n OF
US was plainly su%perfuous I suggest
ed that Ferguesson and I draw lots
to settle who should stay at home.
Randy said he had no objection what
ever to drawing lots, but he proposed
going to the dinner under any cir
cumstances. And go he did.
This explains why I found myself
walking the streets at midnight with
a girl I had never seen before. 1t
happened this way: I had tried to
write and could not, so decided to
take a walk, hoping to gather some
material fer the next chapter OF my
serial that would perhaps lend a lit
tie much needed spice to the story.
AT least, I could fill in the time until
the others returned and described the
success Of the entertainment.
passed Sherry's and thought rue
fully Of the good cheer within and
my consequently. i~mpecunious condi-
ton. Getting Casey married had
proved to be expensive business, but
he made notes of everything ito be
repaid with interest), so we looked
upon it in the light Of an investment
AS he sensibly advised US to do.
stopped in at a few haunts of b.
demia, but there seemed to be
nothing doing anywhere that could
be of the least use to the literary
aspirant. Therefore, much disguised
and somewhat depressed, / started
for home.
Before I realized what had hap
pened I found myself in the midst of
an excited crowd, with two or three
fire engines in the centre and others
tearing around all visible corners. An
alarm of fire had been sounded in one
of the theatres, l was told, and a
panic had ensued; only some scenery
had burned, but there had been much
smoke and some people injured,
therefore ambulances were in evil
dence and policemen waved their
billies impressively but without ap-
parent result.
l was just getting interested and
preparing to enjoy myself when
was conscious Of a little tug at my
arm; I also noticed a faint perfume
that I was sure did no. emanate from
the Bowery ladies who helped form
the crowd. I investigated, and no
ticed that two little white gloved
hands were clasped around my arm
as though they never meant to re-
lease it, and a voice, tremulous
frightened, but wholly delightful, ad'
dressed me confidentially.
.snL laorf Icn'f II HraaSfn1o'