The Press., 1917-07-19

cen or tnereaDOuC. eSpec1a1Ay In the springtime."
 "Oh, you needn't be alarmed" she pouted.
 "And l was just beginning to hope that I might be. We'll, well, if you do have trouble of any kind that develops a legal aspect that does not require too profound a knowledge of the law, but at the same time demands lengthy con- sultations, hope you will not forget me. My office hours are from 10 to 5, except when am yachting, golf1ng or playing tennis"
 Do you do much yachtingY
 II usually spend Friday and Satur- day of each week on board and take a couple of long cruises each season"
 "Do you golf muchY she persisted. with growing mischief in her eyes.
 "I make 1t a rule to play eighteen holes each Monday and Wednesday. It really takes a great deal of practice to keep oneself in form at golf," he ex- plained unblushingly.
 And tennis?"
 Well, I am able to devote only my Tuesdays and Thursdays to that fasci. mating game. We really have ripping courts, and I hope you will become a member of our little club"
 She laughed joyously, without an- swering his suggestion.
 with the amount of time you devote to golf, tennis and yachting am afraid you would not have much time to de. vote to any troubles might bring to you."
 'I sincerely hope you may never have any more troubles than can attend to, even in the small amount of time that devote to law" This was said so meaningly that she blushed faintly. But just at that point his mother con- cludeA her call on Betty's mother, and he had to go along as her escort. .,.
 There never was a flower more care fully tended that that little Waif. As Betty Curtis had come to the town with her mother to spend the summer in the fine residence her father had bought for them she had nothing to, do but enjoy herself. Jack Etheridge was almost equally blessed with leisure, for, though, in compliance with the wishes of his widowed mother, he had com menced the practice of law so that he would know better how to care for his wealth when she left him her fortune, in addition to the handsome income he derived from the estate of his father, he did not elect to live strenuous life. After careful investigation he decided to hang out his shingle in this pleasant little town that had excellent golf links at the rear and a luxurious yacht club on the water front. He opened offices with a southern exposure in the post office building and fitted them up with furniture admirably suited for lOung- ing on and waited comfortably for his first client. In order to pass the time as pleasantly as possible he supple mented his library of law books with all the latest novels and current maga- zines. His mother was satisfied, and it cannot be said that he felt life to be unduly exacting. He conscientiOusly kept regular office hours, as explained above, so it naturally happened that he frequently walked home from the links with Betty after pleasant game. and the first thing they always did was to  covered their bulb. Donald had been warned to leave 1t alone, and they saw to 1t that DO weed sprouted in its vi cinity.
 II am inclined to think" said Betty a couple of weeks after the planting that a watched bulb is somewhat like watched pot"
 Perhaps the hyacinthine Donald threw it away because he saw that it was dead" <
 "Oh, I noticed that 1t was quite fresh when l planted it, but think it is mean of you to use the word hya- cinthine when you know well enough that there is no common adjective de rived from crOcus. I shall have re- Venge. however, when it sprouts"
 One fine evening about the middle of May when they went to their favorite spot in the garden they found that their bulb had pushed through the ground. But it had not come far enough for them to decide which was right.
 Next evening Jack came again, for matters were getting exciting. By this time the tender green leaves had be- gun to open. and it was clear that the plant was not a crocus. The leaves were thick and broad.
 "I knew l was right" Jack exclaimed GEultingly. Tt is certainly not a cro- us; therefore it must be a hyacinth. l prefer ties that are quiet in color and 0attern.''
 Not so fast" said Betty. ''The idea NR loV aSaH t is not a crOcus. but see no reason Q believe that it is a hyacinth It is not necessarily a hyacinth because 1t is not a crocus. There are thousands of other things that it may be. You law yer and to make such a claim! Fiew
 'Oh, that is all right! A lawyer al. ways claims everything ill sight Tishp, pose We will have to ask Donald to set tie the matter for us.''
 We shall do nothing of the kind. Let us wait until it flowers. and then I'll undertake to eat it in addition to paying my wager if XSN prove to be right, though l may be tempted to transplant something more edible in its place if it should really turn out to be a hyacinth."
 "A leek, for instance. It grows from bulb and is edible"
 Shakespeare has said that flor lovers lacking matter the cleanliest shift is to kiss," but Betty and Jack had not con fessed to themselves that they Were lovers, and whenever they lacked mat ter they could fall back on the bulb It N t(N~ Ha< ! |& >s* k (G &
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