The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-03-03


and that match with Sim.
She stood n few fee: away regarding him
breathlessly, hated Hloved. one hand rest.
ing lightly on the center table. ono folded
about the crook OF a; dainty draggled para
sol. The match thresx small and ghostly
light. but he saw her. and she wore no vetl.
Why-why-I-"E
20, quick There's lamp Just behind
YOU" =:
He caught himself: with a start BY In
credible luck a lamp was at his elbow, as It
was the match died on the wick. He put
back the chimney an::i shade. turned up the
wick. and the room.wa bathed in golden
light. :
1t was good sized roon evidently newly
furnished and as neat as a bandbox- The
empty bookcase on (which the lamp rested
va.i of handsome chartered oak, which tran
silently struck him as curious. But in the
next instant he turned away and forgot all
about IL ::
The lady stood VI ere she had risen and
was regarding him without a word The
lamplight fell full UPON her. He came near
er, and his waning. assurance shook him
like pennant in .she wind and was sud-
denly gone. The senfe of camaraderie which
the dark had given :saded; his easy frendn-
ness left him; and pc was an embarrassed
young man face to :face with a girl whose
sudden beauty seefred to overwhclm hun
with the knowledge that he did not SO much
Us know her name 7.
None OF my tElumbnail sketches" he
faltered. made u:look like this"
She had rested hsr wet parasol against.
the table, where slow pool gathered at the
ferrulc and was pulling on moro trinity her
long white gloves ;;??'ow she looked at him
rather quizzically, although her young. eyes
reflected something. 9t his own unsteadyins
embarrassment. :.
No" she said. y shall not be 81 for
for some time yet But Of course 1t was a
game-a pastime-Hl1ere 1 had a--little. the
advantage. Do you know, IL am not en-
tlrely surprised aft9r ALL"
20, aren't you? BE said, completely mys.
titled, but as charmed by her smile as he
was by the subtle change in her manner
which had come With the lighting Of that
match
And It was nice ?of you to tell me that
polite story at the> beginning" she said.
And auckland cleyer When heard the
front door burst oren. the first thing
thought Of. really. was that it must be you"
Il can't think" f:s said, unable to talce
his eyes OF her. what In the world you
are talking about
She laughed with something Of an effort.
and sat down e1qu1sitely In a cruel cane
chair We'll, then-sSdo you forgive me for
taking possession Ok. your house like this?
You will, won't youS can't be silly. now
and pretend not to Enow you But really I
never dreamed that 1ou-"
is 1t possible" The broke In stor1nily.
that you are mistaking me for that IN
sufferable Stanhope;.
She looked ct hirJ, startled. dumfounded:
in her eyes anazement mingled with en-
barrassment; then her brow wrinkled Into
slow, doubtful smile.
"o-O-I beg yol,r pardon! DIDN'T un'
derstand. But Is TINY fault that Two seen
your picture hundred times? Yes sup
pose it Is; for, at she risk Of making you
crosser still, III CONFESS that IL cut 1t out
and framed It" !
varney leaned hi@ elbow on the mant'L
and faced her.
You have made y mistake" he said. I
am not Mr. stanho.e."
You mean" eht laughed, very pretty
and pink. that It i no affair OF mine that
you are" &.
kind OF desperation seized him. IT was
evident that she did>not believe him. just as
Colirny Smith had. not believed him. and
the plump young w%nan OF tho grocery VINO
had used his Christian name he was A.
most ready not to~bel!eve himself. How
ever. there were catds IN his pocket; he got
one Of them out ancs. coming nearer. handed
It to her.
My name is Laurence Varney'" no 'aio'
mechanically for .tdat slogan seemed fated
to meet skcptics Everywhere. Il am from
New York. and have happened to come UP
here on friends (acht TOTO spend rev
days. You have mlde mistake"
She took the card, held It lightly u het
gloved hand, bowe; to him with hooking
courtesy.
Il am very glad to meet you-Nr AAo'
renee vOrney' - am fro" New YORK.
too. and have happ.ncd to come up hero on
the New York Central with my mother to
spend few years? And live in white
house half a mile .ao~n tho road where