Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1913-02-14


party, where the habits of a Sybarite
were forced on him. to camp in the
woods and pilot-bread fare, with an
equal smoothness of temper and enjoy
ment Since luxury made no impress
sion on him. and hardship never
blunted his own ideals of politeness
or pleasure, no one ever knew which
life he preferred
Choosing to walk fifteen or twenty
squares to the Archangel apartment
house, his destination, Van Camp
looked about him, on this night of his
arrival, with slightly quickened per
ceptions. He cast mildly apprecia-
tive eye toward the picture disclosed
here and there by the glancing lights.
streets. the constantly changing Wis
tas. For an unimpressionable man, he
was rather wrought upon, Neyerthe-
less, he entered the charming apart
ment whittier he was bound with the
detached and composed manner which
society regards as becoming. A maid
with a foreign accent greeted him
Yes, Mademoiselle Reynier was at
home; Mr. Van Camp would find her
in the drawing-room
The stiff and unrelaxed manner with
which Mr.. Van Camp bowed to Miss
Reynier moment later was not at
all indicative of the fairly respectable
fever within his Scotch breast. Miss
Reynier herself was pretty enough to
cause qulckened pulses. She was of
noble height. evidently woman Of
the world. She gave Mr. Van Camp
her hand in a greeting mingled of
European daintiness and American
frankness. Her vitality and abound
ing interest in life we're manifest
'Ah. but you are very late. This, is
how you become smart all at once~an
your New York atmosphere! But pray
be seated; and he e are cigarettes, IL
you will. No? Very we'll; but tell
me- has that amorphous gill-slit-or,
no, the branchial lamella-has it be-
haved itself and proved to be the ave-
nue. which shall lead you to fame?"
Mr.. Tan Camp stood silent through
this ffppent badinage, and calmly
waited until Miss Reynier had settled
herself Then he thoughtfulIy turned
the chair offered him so as to COM
mand a slightly better view OF the
corner where she sat, leaning against
the old-rose cushions. Finally. taking
his own time. he touched or her
greeting with his precise drawE
I'm not smart, as you call it. even
in New York. though try to be-" His
eyes twinkled and his teeth cleaned
in his wide smile IF were smart
ia pass by your error in scientific
nomenclature, but really ought not
to 60 it II one can not be exact"
That's just what ] say. II one can
not be exact. why talk at all?" Miss
Reynier caught it up with high glee.
She had foreign accent. and an ocS
casfonal twist OF words which proved
her to be neither American nor Eng
lishwoman That's my principle"
she insisted Leave other people in
nudfsturbed possession of their hob
bies. especially in conversation, and
don't say anything If you can't say
what you mean. Fut then. you won't
talk about your hobby; and if have
no one to inform ms, how can | be
exact? But I'm the meskest person
alive; I'm so ready to fsarn."
Mr.. Van Camp surveyed first the
bantering. alluring eyes. then turned
, his gaze upon the sofa fuxuries about
/ them.
Are you ready TO turn this biiou
! dream into a laboratory smelling of
! alcohol and fish! Are you willing TO
spend hours WAXING in mudbanks after
specimens. or scratching in the sand
under the hroi.ing sun? Science does
not consult comfort"
Miss Reyrler's expression OF auizsi-
cal teasing changed to one OF rather
thoughtful inquiry. as IL she were es-
timatinE the man behind the scientist
Van Camp was one of the lean. angu-
lar type, like Jim Hambleton, He was
also every manly and wholesome. but
! even in his conventional evening
| clothes there was something about
! him that was unconventional pro
testing. untamed element of charac
ter that resisted all rules except those
prescribed by itself. He puzzled heI
now, as he had often puzzled her be
fore: but If she made fun OF his hob
bies. she had no mind 10 make fun OIL
the man himself. cheerful. intelll
gent smile finally ended her contem
plating moment
"oh. no; no digging in the sand
for me. I'll take what science I gel
in another way-put up In predigested
packages or bottled-any way but the
! llshy way. But please don't give me
} up You shed good deal OF IigAt
! On my mental darkness last winter in
, Egypt. and maybe can improve still
: more" She suddenly turned with
; friendly. confidential manner towal