The Glasgow courier., 1916-09-01
"1ou haven't answered my question,
Nh Sch midi "

an E- mn as n a
"You haven't answered my question,
Mr.. Schmidt"
'Well,' he began slowly. Il don't
suspect you of being Miss Blithers."
But you did suspect it."
Il was pleasantly engaged in specu-
Iation, that's all. 1t is generally be-
Viewed that Miss Blthers sailed under
an assumed name-literally, not fig
uratively."
rs there any reason why you should
imagine that my name is not Guile?"
Eyes. Your luggage is resplendently
marked with the second letter in the
alphabet-a CORY, crimson B.
Il see," she said reflectively. "You
examined my luggage, as they say in
the customs office. And you couldn't
put B and G together, is that it,"
"Obviously."
"If you had taken the trouble to
look you would have found an equally
resplendent G on the opposite end of
each and every trunk, Mr.. Schmidt"
she said quietly.
II did not examine your luggage,
Miss Guile" said he stiffly. She hadn't
left much for him to stand upon.
Rather unique way to put ones in
itials on trunk, isn't it?"
ut possesses the virtue of original
ity." she admitted. I've no doubt that
if the amiable Miss Blithers were to
hear of it she'd rush into print and
belabor me with the largest type that
money could buy"
"Oh, come now, Miss Guile" he
protested, "it really isn't fair to Miss
| Blithers. She was justified in follow
ing an illustrious example. You for
get that the Prince of Graustark was
the first to rush into print with a fiat
denial. What else could the poor girl
do?"
"Oh, | am not defending the Prince
of Graustark. He behaved abomi-
nably, rushing into print, as you say.
Extremely bad taste, l should call it.
Still, | would be willing to make
small wager that the we'll advertised
match comes off in spite of all the
denials. Given determined father, an
ambitious mother, a purse filled daugh-
ter and an empty pursed nobleman.
and don't see how the inevitable can
be avoided"
Robins face was flaming 1t was
with difficulty that he restrained the
impulse to put her right in the mat
ter without further ado.
by the way, what would you have
done had you been placed in her po-
sition?"
II think | should have acted quite
as independently as she"
"If your father We're to pick out a
husband for YOU, whether or no, you
would refuse to obey the paternal
commando
Most assurcdly. AS matter of
fact, Mr. Schmidt, my father has ex-
pressed wish that | should marry a
man who doesn't appeal to me at all"
And you rciuse?"
"Absolutely Now let us talk of
something else. A bas Blithers, Down
with the putocrats. Stamp out the
vulsarians, Is there anything else
you can suggcSt?" she cried gayly.
Long live the Princess Maud" said
he and doffed his hat The satirical
note in his voice was not lost on her
She started perceptibly and caught her
breath. Then she sank back into the
corner with a nervous, strained little
laugh.
"You think she will marry him."
Il think as you do about it, Miss
Guile" said Robin. and she was 81
lenced.
They had a table in cool, shady
corner of the broad porch overlooking
the Place d'Armes and the Seine and
its VOciferOus ferries. To the right
runs the cleaning roadway that leads
to the hills and glades through which
pomp and pride once strobe with such
fatal arrogance. Blue coated servitors
attended them on their arrival and
watched over them during their stay.
1t was as if Miss Guile were the fairy
princess who had but to wish and her
slightest desire was gratifed. Her
guest. real prince, marveled not a
little at the complete sway she eXer-
clsed over this somewhat autocratic
army of menials. They bowed and
scraped and fetched and carried. The
magic of Araby could have been no
more potent than the spell this beau
tiful girl cast over the house of Nam
mon. She laid her finger upon purse
of gold and wished. and. 10, the won
ders of the magic carpet were re-