The Press., 1911-01-25

gregation Of delightful and cultured gentlemen would condescend to take up the second problem-whether she should marry the man she loved and who loved her-this struck Holconb's individualsstic soul as both funny and grewsome, and he expressed himself to that effect.
 "Mr. Holcomb is right" said Vavin "It is about time that the young lady was allowed to enter into these con ferenceS." .sf-.. ......
 It was easy enough to answer Full lerton's suggestion that he still had some doubt as to whether the girl knew her own mind. "When will she know 1t if you don't let her exercise ItT Judge Elliott finally agreed that it might be best to have both Dora and Cornelia and their cousin, Mrs Winthrop, present at what he desig' mated "a grand family conference"
 of you will pardon me-" said Hol' comb, "I think that will go."
 'Not afraid, are you?" asked Elliott
 'Not afraid of the conference nor of its decision" replied Holcomb, whose nerves were beginning to feel the con- tinuous strain and whose sympathies for Dora were mounting every minute "but I am obliged to take an early train into New York, and 1t is about time that began to pack my things There was polite parting on all sides, but genuine friendliness only in the hand clasp of Vavin. ..- ......s
 He passed Dora in the hall and rath' CT wished he had not said goodby so abruptly, for she told him that her aunt and Mrs. Winthrop had gone out, SO that she was to face the jury alone, Hurriedly he told her of the necessity of his going to New York that evening, and she promised to wire him her de. cision that night. 2.
 "Rehearsals begin Tuesday" he call. ed to her softly as he went up the stairs to his room, and she turned into the library to make her answer and de cision.
 And even with that simple state ment his conscience made him feel that he had broken his promise.
 When Professor Fullerton met Va win in Paris for the first time the lat ter had been unusually assiduous in his attentions to the distinguished American lecturer. Outside of his spe- cialty the American was not bril- liant man, and many of the Parisial's s friends wondered what he found ip the almost continuous company of q man who, while undoubtedly a ripe scholar, had spent lifetime in study, ing and elucidating limited period in one language and literature.
 Not infrequently was the dramatist and satirist, who was famed for his personal charm as much as for his many sided scholarship, asked to ex- plain his friend. At 1rSt he had re nIied lightly: .
 "Some day am going to write g book on the English"
 "But Mr. Fullerton is an American l the bright lady who had asked the question exclaimed.
 True" said Vavin, with a smile but he is a Harvard American"
 Whatever Vavin's intentions in cul tivating the American specialist were at first, his friends had to admit that in a short time they were genuine friends. There were few places where the three, Vavin, Fullerton and Miss Fullerton. were not seen together, and when he went to Havre to see then | off for America he returned to Paris for only a few hours, spending the next month at his place at Montigny ur-Loing, working" he told his friends. But one or two of his lnti mates declared that the old man ha6 really gone away to hide his loneli ness.
 It was not, however, particularly friendly vaYin who sat opposite Full Iarton now. He had never seen ar overexacting conscience in operation before, and the thing was more than listasteful to him. He arose gallantly is the girl entered the room. "My lit de Dora," he said, T congratulate you on the conquest of an intelligent af- lection and,. believe, most sincere One."
 "You are encouraging her to like this young man." protested Elliott.
 "No merely to be human," laughed Vavin. $