The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-05-23

1850 ~ SOeA AoA hO OJ I'd
OF the little dark thing-her
name was Dolly-sparkled, and
she gazed up at Bob with the re-
spect one of her tender and i'm
questionable years has for a mas
culine whlrlwind.
| you quite sweep one off ones
feet, Mr.. Bennett" she managed
to calculate.
At that moment Miss Gwendo-
line passed. She caught the re-
1mark and looked at the maker of
it. She noted the sparkle in the
eyes. The little dark think was
a wonder with the men.
The little dark thing would
come in" ultimately for hun
dreds of belching chimneys and
glowing furnaces and noisy fac
tories-quite snug II cacophon-
Gus legacy!-and Miss Gwendo-
line had only that day heard ru-
mors that Bob's governor had
fallen down and hurt himself on
the street"
Meanwhile, other eyes than
Miss Gerald's were bent upon
luckless Bob. Mrs. Dan and Mrs.
Clarence looked as IL they would
like to have a word with him. He
succeeded In keeping away from
them, but he got in bad" that
Afternoon with divers and sundry
other guests of Mrs. Ralston, for
the faux pas he made-that he
had to make-were something
dreadful.
! At last, however, he retired to
his room, to change his garments
for dinner. Then he descended
to receive a new shock; he found
out that Mrs. Ralston had as
signed Mrs. Dan to him, to take
in to dinner.
Mrs. Dan dallied with Bob, dis
playing all the articles of an old
campaigner. OF course, she had
no idea how easy 1t might be for
her to learn all she wanted to.
1t was fine tableful of people,
of which they were a part.
Wealth, beauty, brains and Drawn
were all there. Delicate orchids
everywhere charmed with their
hues without exudlng that too
obstrusive perfume of commoner
flowers.
| So Mrs Dan started on orchids
with Bob. Mrs. Dan, falling to
interest Bob on orchids, now took
another tack. She talked plays,
operas. and amusements which
gradually led her up to roof gar
dens. H
| "And speaking about roof gar
dens," went on Mrs. Dan. looking
any way save at Bob. 81 believe
you were telling me, only this
AFTERNOON, how you and dear Dan
were finally driven to them as a
last resort. Poor Dan! Meu
work too hard in our strenuous;
bustling country, don't you think
sol" She paused to take breath.
Don't you think men work too
hard in America, Mr., Bennett7"
Sometimes" said Bob.
She gave him quick look.
"As l told you, I adore roof gar
dens. But you were telling me
you men were not alone. What
harm!" she gurgled. Some pso-
ple," talking fast, ARE so prud-
ish. I'm sure we're not put in
the world to be that. Don't you
agres?"
"Of course" said Bob absently.
He didn't like the way that fell
low down on the other side of the
table was gazing into Miss Gwen
doline's eyes. II beg your par
don. II don't think 1 caught
that"
eve were saying there were
some-ladies with you" said
Mrs. Dan quickly. "You remem-
Der? You told me?" Her voice
trailed off, as il it were a matter
of little interest.
Did II" Bob caught himself
up with jerk.
"Of course, boys will be boys"
, prattled Mrs. Dan at his side, Just
in the least stridently. II suppose
you sat down and they Just hap
pened along and sat down, too,
You couldn't very we'll refuse to
let them, could you? Why, in
Paris, doing the sights at the
Jardin or the Moulin Rouge, or
the Casino de Paris, every one
takes 1t or them-these chance
acquaintances-as matter of
course. Pour passer lie temps!
And why not?" With shrug and
in her sprightliest manner. so
the ladies in this instance, as you
were saying, came right up, too,
and"
Yes, they came up" said
Bob, reluctantly.
SHOW girls?" asked the lady