Evening star., 1911-08-09
CHAPTER XVIII.
A Proposal Of Marriage.


A Proposal Of Marriage.
After the restaurant was cleared and
all outsiders gone Alexander remained,
wandering dolefully about the room and
discussing with Leo Cohen the sum he
hoped to get from the company IN which
he was insured against fire.
The conversation ought to have been OF
absorbing interest to Cohen, as eventually
Alexander's business would be HIS pro
vided there were no hitch In the marriage
negotiations: nevertheless, he was absent
minded. for the new waiter had not Yet
left the premises. and-the watchful
Cohen had noticed a peculiar light in
Isidora's eye when her father had
brusouely ordered her upstairs. "out OF
the way"
She had offered no objection to going
prettily But before tripping away she
paused for an instant In the corridor. her
face turned toward the kitchen In which
P. Gordon was helping Black DICK put
things to rights.
this futtering hesitation. standing as he
did near the doorway now stripped OF the
red curtain But when Isidora had van
Ished above Alexander dismissed Blinkey
and the Pole. shutting the door which
usually stood open. because OF the draught
from the broken window.
why don't you send that man Gordon
away, too?" Cohen asked.
Because I'm payin' him big money ana
he's got to earn It," explained Alexander:
"He can stay and help Dick udy up. II 1t
takes till II o'clock. It amt hurttH US
Why should you carer
Even Cohen. who seldom erred on the
side Of timidity in speech. scarcely ven
tured to put into words the reason why
he did care" Alexander was q good
friend Of his, and desired warmly to well
come him as a member Of the family. but
he worshiped his daughter lizzie: ana as
he had violent. uncertain temper. ne
might resent a suggestion that she couio
be interested in Gordon
Cohen had rooted objection to
draughts or fresh air In any form. except
in the warfhest weather; still he would
have preferred q draught to the shut
door, behind which the girl might steal
downstairs to gossip with the Englishman
in the kitchen. OF course, Dick was there.
but he was q slave to Isidora's fascina-
tions, and the coal-black youth who was
his adjutant had now gone home to patch
up burnt hands and head. Cohen hardly
he pricking his ears for football on the
stairs behind the closed door; and he an
swered at random while his intended
father-in-law demonstrated the prospects
OF opening the restaurant a. usual In the
morning.
"see here, are you sick or what's the
natter" snapped Alexander. at last.
"Oh, I'm ali right" said Cohen, 'only
the smokes got into my eyes. They
smart so can see no more'n bat. II IT
hadn't been for the smoke, which always
makes me blind and dizzy. ia have been
more use In the panic"
Alexander laughed. "wen. you weren't
no hero. Never mind. though. most Of US
was put out OF business. And nobody had
time to see what anybody else was at.
But You do seem dicky. Mebbe you'd bet
ter be gettin' home. don't want to Keep
you up"
oh I'm not all in yet" Cohen hastened
to protest. But can't you leave me to
lizzie? She was loolin' white and scared
Maybe she don't like bein' left alone Or
could go up myself and sit by her
awhile. 'Tain't late"
Alexander chuckled. Say. you're
mighty thoughtful, ain't you? But you
and de best ting for her Is to go to bed
TT amt much past o." said Cohen. II
don't guess she'll go to bed yet.
"Well. she's got the hired gel to chat
with-unless it's her evenin' out Now.
don't you look SO glum, Leo lizzie amt
mashed on you yet, and II you was to go
stir her UP when she's all on the jump,
you'd do for yourself with her. I tell
you dat straight. And dat amt what you
want, huh?''
Cohen admitted that It was not, and
gloomily allowed his services to be en-
listed by Alexander In the way of exam
lining the furniture for damage, piling
broken chairs in a corner and sorting out
those in q fit condition to be used tomor-
row.
Meantime Isidora had been busy 1usti-
flying her lovers worst fears.
AS she reached the top Of the stair
case she heard the loud slanmins OF the
door, which had been warped and blis-
tered by the heat. Her heart gave lit
tie jump OF excitement. Already she was
keyed to a highly emotional state. and in
her longing for a talk with Loveland
alone she was ready to run almost any
risk. The thought that he was stu in the
house, so near yet SO far. had been al
most insupportable, and she had fully In
tended to have a good cry the moment
she arrived in the sitting room upstairs
But the unexpected shutting OF the res
taurant door caused her q trenor OF de-
heart loud as q hammer IN her breast,
and fitted softly into the kitchen. not
daring to speak till she had quietly closed
the door also. lest the sound OF her voice
"Oh, Mr. Gordon" she breathed. I'm
so sorry about your poor hand. and your
face is scorched, too. do wish you'd
let me do something for you
IOveland tn0nkeo u0ts Uut b31o tu3S
Dick had bandaged up his hand and wrist
very nicely. with q soothing application
Of lard on an old rag.
Isidora gave little snin Of scorn for
the negro's ministrationA
"A pretty handage!" she sneered. "A
nasty torn bit OF coarse towel; and lard
amt the right thing. either. I've taken
lessons in frst aid. All the girls In my
school did, and ] amt forgot what
learnt. Please come with me and I'll do
you up all right. Now. don't say no or
you'll hurt my feelings. feel ready to
cry, anyway. and I sure Will II you ain't
kind"
Loveland disavowed all intention Of be-
ing unhdnd, but assured the girl that he
was In very little pain and need not put
her to trouble. He would soon be ready
to go away, and really thought 1t would
be better. But when he had got 50 Tar
in his rather struggling argument two
tears splashed over Izzie's cheeks. More
threatened to follow. and Loveiand yield
ed incontinently. It would hardly nave
been human not to feel some STRINGS OF
gratitude and besides, Loveland hated to
see woman cry.
"Oh, TIL come" he said, desperately,
and followed Isidora into the passage.
Her finger on her lip told him that his
visit to the family sitting room was to be
a secret, but even II prudence would have
was committed to the adventure and
could not escape.
The parlor. which also served as dining
room. was appalling in It's bravery OF old
gold plush, and portraits OF defunct He
brew ladies and gentlemen on . claret-
right piano with the latest thing in coon
songs upon It: there were wax flowers
under glass cases: there were terra~cotta
statuettes OF Incredible ugfineOg: there were