Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-07-23

,ished at The ease with which. he sRs-
tanned his part in the conversation,
and began to think pretty well OF
himself It did not occur to him that
when two clever and attractive women
set forth to make a man talk (al-
WAYS excepting he is dumb, they new
err fail TO succeed. To do this they
contrire 10 bring the conversation
within the small circle Of his work,
his travels, his preferences, his ambi-
.tions. To be sure, all this is not fully
extracted in fifteen minutes, but a
woman obtains in that time a good
idea of the ground plan.
Two distinct purposes controlled the
women in this instance. One desired
TO interest him, while the other sought
to learn whether he was stupid OF only
shy.
At last. when he left them to change
his clothes and hurry down to Cooks,
to complete the bargain for the Illior.
des, he had advanced so amazingly
well that they had accepted his invi-
tation to the polo-match that after
noon. He felt that invisible Mercuri-
al wings had sprouted from his heels,
for in running up the stairs, he was
aware Of no gravitative resistance.
That this anomaly Gan acquaintance
with two women about whom he knew
nothing) might be looked upon
askance by those who conformed to
the laws and bylaws Of social usases,
worried him not in the least. On the
contrary. he was thinking that he
would be the envy OF every: other man
out at the club that aftsrnoon.
"Well?" said Mrs. Chsdsoye, quiz
2ical smile slansing heS,lips.
"You wish my opinaan?" countered
the daughter. "Eesis shy, but he is
neither stupid norEiEy; and when he
smiles he is Notwithstanding"
MY child" Replied the woman,
drawing off her gloves and examining
her shapely hands, Il have looked III
TO the very heart OF that young man.
A thousand years ago, red-cross on
his surtout, ,Ra' would have been beat
ing his fistsk!'against the walls OF
Jerusalem; %fye hundred years later,
he would kaye been singing chant
royales under lattlce-windows; pa
ladin ,and,a poet"
SLOW do you Know that? Die he
make love to you?"
mo; but l made love to him with.
out his knowing it; and that was
more to my purpose than having him
make love to me" systematically.
"Three days, and he was so guileless
that he never asked my name. But
in Monte Carlo, as you know, one asks
only your bankers name"
"And your purpose?"
ut is still mine, dear. Do you real.
ize that we haven't seen each other
IN four months, and that you haven't
offered to kiss me
''Did he go away without writing to
you about that money!"
Mrs Chedsoye calmly plucked out
the inturned fingers Of her gloves. Il
believe did receive note inclosing
his bankers address. but, unfortu-
nately, in the confusion OF returning
to Paris, l lost it. My memory has
always been a trial TO me-" sadly.
Since when?" coldly. There is not
a woman living with keener memory
than yours"
You flatter me- In affairs that in
terest me, perhaps"
"You never meant TO pay him. It
is horrible"
my dear Fortune, how you jump at
conclusions! Did I not offer him a
draft the very first thing?"
I: 9:ssEllnowing that at such a moment he
;coafd not possibly accept it," de-
fisitely. Sometimes I hate you!"
TN these days filial devotion is a
lost art
"No, no; it is flower parents have
ceased to cultivate"
And there was in the tone a
strained note which described an in
tense longing to be loved. For II
George Percival Algernon Jones was
q lonely young man, it was the result
of his own blindness; whereas Fortune
Chedsoye turned hither and thither in
search Of that which she never could
find. The wide Lybian desert held
upon its face loneliness, desolation,
less mournful than that which relgned
within her heart.
'Hush! We are. growing sentiment
al" warned the mother. Besides, I
believe we are attracting attention"
Her glance swept a half-circle COM
placently.
pardon mel I should be sorry to
draw attention to you, knowing how
you abhor it."
MY child, learn from me; temper is
the arch-enemy OF smooth complex
ions. Jones-it makes you laugh"
1T is homely, honest name"
81 grant that. But Perc!val Alger-
non Jones!" Mrs. Chedsoye laughed
softly. It was one of those pleasant
sounds that caused persons within