The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1915-07-09

|
f1attering to those she admired. She
wore white, with purple hat.
whats the matter, child? Been
crying, haven't you? What in the
world does a young girl like you have
to trouble you?"
| ooh, waiting on customers, for one
| thing" F1odie tossed her head like a
filly..
Mrs. Royalton didn't, apparently
get the sarcasm. We'll, you don't
seem to wait on them very much!
Isn't Mr.. Bonistelle ready for me yet?'
Flodie started to reply, then changed
her mind. 81 don't know" she said
"I'll see."
| Hall was blinking from the dark
room, loaded plate-holders in hand.
"Oh, Mr. Bonistelle," Flodie whis'
pered despairingly, you aren't going
to propose to her, are you? Oh, don't
don't, please, Mr.. Bonistelle!"
well, what's the matter now?
thought you wanted me to-"
ooh, but I don't now!"
"FIodie! You're crazy! Don't you
/
worry! It'll be happy day for you
little girl, when I'm married! I'll see
that you get better job than this
Say, where's that other plate-holder?'
"Over on that shelf. Oh, Mr.. Boni
stelle, you'll be awfully unhappy!
know you will"
He stopped impatiently.
| T1~I q
Flodie? With a private yacht-a
| country house-a villa in Italy, per
haps-automobiles- valet-by jove
l guess not!"
Her face was absurdly distorted
with pain and anxiety. Her fists were
clenched. She summoned her courage
for the last despairing stroke. ooh, she
paints, Mr. Bonistelle! She paints
her face like clown! You wouldn't
| Hall laughed aloud. For heavens
sake! Is that what's troubling you?
Now, l suppose she's the only woman
who does it in all New York! Well
| put your mind at rest, Flodie; I'll
promise to reform her after we're mar.
| ried Tell her to come in
Mrs. Royalton wandered into the
studio She began, as usual, with a
| simper and a smile. 81 don't know
| that ought to shake hands with you
Mr.. Bonistelle! You're a bad, bad
boy. Why haven't you been to see
me, all this long while?" She filled
the place with her dulcet personality.
Hall inspected her sagely, as one in
spects a valuable object he Is expect.
| ing to purchase, seeing her, as it
| were, for the first time. His first re
| mark lacked conviction. ooh, I've
been busy-Rena!" That "Rena'
| barely saved it.
BUSY! Oh, you're always too busy
for poor little me! I'm sure you'll
take a horrid picture of me-and l did
| so want to get a good one today!
Mrs. Royalton ratified on, taking Of
her veil and inspecting her hair in
the cheval glass. She twitted him on
| his impoliteness, she made her big
| eyes bigger. She did the spoiled child
| kittenishly.
Hall still seemed distrait. He broke
| away nerVously and went to work. II
| was his custom to engage his object
in conversation, permitting her to
| change position, talk, drink tea, flirt
or gesture as she would, while she was
unaware, and before she began to
| wonder why he did not begin, to have
managed the exposure of some dozen
plates, from one or two of which he
| was pretty sure to achieve a triumph
| of art and naturalness.
But, at the mercy of his obsession
this method was impossible today.
Hall was too busy making up his mind
and could not do two things at once.
You're not paying bit of attention
to me-" she pouted. Mrs. Royalton
babyish, was a picture for cynic.
But Hall was too engrossed in his
own thoughts. He caught her with
an unified finger, cried "There!" and
slipped in a plate. 'The fact is, am
a bit worried today" he confessed
Just look a bit over that way. That's
right! Fine!" He deftly pressed the
| bulb.
She went up to him and patted his
arm ooh, you poor dear man! Oh,
wish l could help him out!"
"Oh, no, I'm afraid you can't help
me-" he said irritably. Il wish to
heaven you could. Now look up" he
commanded Then he dived under the
focusing cloth, and emerged to say
Its partly you that I'm worrying
about, though, Rena."
| About me? Mo-" Mrs. Royalton
was delighted.
"Yes, l am, really" He went up to
her and adjusted her jabot.
Her eyes went off at him like a
double-barreled shotgun in an explo
sion of coquetry. Il suppose you tell
| that to every woman you know"
| He was in for. it, now, Nonsense.
It's true, Rena."
| She opened her eyes still wider
'eWhat in the world do you mean?'
She was hungry for more.
"Wait till l get another picture
Hall wheeled his camera into new
position, wondering what to say next
She was animated enough, now, hel
big eyes fairly blazed The tigresf
had scented the antelope.
! For some time he held her off while
she teased for further revelation, ID
I day, and if he was then in the same
| mind permission would be given him
| to marry. When the year had passed
| the snldiar reneated his request.