El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-04-04
M
(By COMFY Long.)

IA
M the name on the dainty VS.
Ava iting card-seemed strangely
familiar. II was fully two minutes pc
fore 1 could recollect who Miriam lsaacs
was Before the conclusion Of that Pc
rfod. being blessed with remar N1Ols
ouick perception. it had occurred that
nossiblv the woman was a Jewish eA-
traction. but when or where l had met
her puzzled me 49,. chen
as a red haired yoUngster / nad at
tended a select seminary Tor sllaLI ~, /.
dren. came back to me- ana dIlIOle 80
flowers that nOur1shed IN meme :
garden I found one fat, StOuSy lLS-S
flower with long. greasy black cuIlS'
who rejoiced in the name OF NIL an
1saacs. n,
turned the visiting card over. On
the other side was written the lUu0--s
Inc little inscription, for the sake OF
cur Old school friendship.
I smiled. As far as I could recolLeCl :
nv school friendship with MIRIAM I'd ~ "a
consisted in standup fights after scnoV !,
even as a ch5ld-aggravated by the IacS
that she called me Ginger sAoutsU
cut after her on every possible ocSa-
sion a classical little rhyme, Get a olt
Of pork, and stick II on a I0Ih, an 49, 49,
+ 10 the Jew child, do Beyond lAesS
touchfng little episodes l could reIneil-
Der little or nothing in connection Win
her.
Since I have come into Uncle An
tony's fortune and title, when 1 nave
happened to receive visit from
school friend after a lapse OF some
Is years, I have found the reason OF MS
honor invariable-WanI OF money. ~
The WOmans waiting, my lOro- ny
valet broke in upon my sollloquy-
fsSbOw her in. then, Walters / re-
piled. now determined to see the end OF
the game. .o
I began TO recall little details IN con-
lection with her face and manners, ana
before Walters had ushered her IN
had already repented or my act
1 passed my band ruefully over LHe
crop of red brfstles. my apology Ior
hair. and knew that at least IN IEal
aspect Is years had made niue ulL-
as ever? Somhow 1 could not imagine
those greasy curls dressed IN tasn-
had no longer 10 think the matter
over. for the door opened, ana a voice
that I almost failed TO recognize Crled-
was about to retort in the old way,
when a glance at my visitor arrested
the words on my lips.
Before me. dressed IN some son cIlnB
ing black costume, stood Miriam, DuI
not the Miriam OF Olden days Inc olacA
greasy curls were black and greasy no
longer, masses of Titan RED nair Ia
low on her neck and curled beWltch-
ingly over a forehead white as alaoas-
ter Tall and slight, she moved with q
regal grace, and as i rose ana sAOOA
hands 1 felt almost awed by her pres
ence, until I looked at her eyes, dark
rbown and trimming with mischieI,
under the level black brOWs-
by Jove, Miriam" I cried involun-
tarily, you have alteredT
You haven't, Ginger, she retorted'
laughing and showing set OF even
E-Eite teeth. nothing would change
that dear old ginger mob
Although it seems possible TO get
rid Of greasy black curls,' I returned
my joy OF childish repartee coming
back at the sight OF my old anfaso-
mist.
Haven't you forgiven me after all
these years2 Isn't II about time you
ing herself in an arm chair and nash
ing a defiant look at me from her
laughing. brown eyes
Il think 1 want as much forgiveness.
II not more, than you do 1 replied.
feeling that after all 1 must say some
thing polite to my handsome visitor. Il
was a pig Of boy
You We're" she cut in emphatically,
and all my good resolutions of cour-
tesy were blown TO the winds.
You weren't much better
Again she laughed that low, fascin-
ating little laugh.
TO me, I shall go away again without
telling you what / came for
"Oh don't do that" I replied with
all sincerity. III really be aWfully
good. It's tea time; won't you have a
cup Of tear
IF you'll De civil and nice to me"
Miriam" and my tone was full OF
-eproach. was I ever anything else2'
rang the bell and ordered tea
May I take my hat Off said my
f-F# mau cat N Han
Yes, do; I'd like to see what you're
like with out it."
Mind the shock IS not too great"
she retorted as she removed the NAM
moth headgear- was glad she had
warned me II might have proved fatal
Such masses OF Titan red hair IL had
never been my lucky lot to see and
this, with the cOlOrless face and dark
eyes. formed a wOndrOus picture that,
for the moment fairly staggered me.
"Whew" 1 whistled at length.
Whoever would have thought It! Ma
riam you've grown up a stunnerr'
You've not grown up bit" she
said, although I think she was pleased
" it'll my awkward. bOyish compliment.
You still talk in the same slangy
sChOOlbOy language, although you've
improved in looks rather. In fact
think that by the time you're 80 you
viii be quite presentable."
7 shall have TO hurry up, then; DO
you know am very nearly 2SE
IWenIy-elSnL- why II uoeSn seem
three years ago that 7 fought Dolly
and gave her a black eve at
your 18th birthday party because she
kissed YOU under the mistletoe.'
IT wonder If you would care as much
now" I said tentatively.
i wonder why I cared them Have
another cup Of tea % she said, and we
hanged the subject
Now, 7 am going to tell you why I
called on you"
oh, don't bother about that now.
come again and tell me all about tna5-
I want to talk over old tines 7 ala
not feel at all inclined TO talk over
money matters. and 7 felt somehow
that she was drifting I'm that direction
oh but 7 must. it's like this
Take a cigaret." 7 said. and resign /
ing myself to my fate, ensconced my