The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-10-04
Bonhornne's
Compliments
o%p
BY ALEC BRUCE
BY ALEC BRUCE
Copyright, 1918, by the Mcclure Newspaa
per Syndicate)


Copyright 1918, by the Mcclure Newspaa
per syndicate.)
II was annoying in business hours,
very annoying yes. Msieur B0uhomme
could stand it no longer.
True, lac did not do much business
after five o'clock. But what had that
10 do with It? These young men did
not mean business, no Their time
was their own. Bah, even Marie, his
own beautiful, peaChbloom Marie had
had enough, And enough is as good
as n feast: her manner said So. Her
tongue? More things than tongues
can speak!
MSieu rose suddenly from his ink.
splattered desk and paced slowly up
and down the dimly lighted aisle of
his old furniture store
"ies, it will end, now-tonight" " he
muttcrcd. 81 cannot stand it longer.
These young men. young fools, | will
pack them home. whore they belong.
My daughter is my daughter, not
playthinc Her time, my time, is ynlu.
BILE"
His big brown eyes blazed oml-
nouSly.
Father" \ door opened in the
clumsy tapestry frame screening the
little living rooms behind, and girl.
tall and darkly handsome, little past
twenty, perhaps with humorous and
clever expression, heamed on him out
Of liquid wells Of blue, Father" she
repeated Mr. Moorson is coming
Ele-he-l think he is coming here
again"
THANK You, Marie, thank YOU"
Stammcred MSeur, his broad, clean
shavcn face pinking distinctly. Or
and if-tf | am not seen. | suppose
that I will not be in ;hr way, my
dear?'
"Oh, no, father no." she laughed,
"but make yourself heard up in the
gallery, Walk about Il little, tumble
something, yes. Then l can say,
Hush Mr.. Moorson; someone is tax
ing stock up there Ha ha" She
laughed Il nervous little laugh.
"My dear" whispered her father inn
presSively ''of course you know that
do not-er-desire to listen The
sweet things these young men say are
not for ears like mine. All, | doubt !
not that | have heard them once or
swice already, yes"
This time low, musical laugh rip !
pied through the long OblOng hall, and |
echoed from the galleries above.
Mon ami she murmured archly, |
"rhe sweet things these young men |
say, now, are perhaps just Il little diff
ferent from the things young men |
Said-oh, some twenty years ago, when |
the little mother heard YOU speak
them, hey: And SO, perhaps you
might desire"
My dear" Bonhomme interrupted
with Il smile Il hear footsteps
Never fear, l will walk about in the
gallery, or will cough, maybe"
Ting, ting.
"-th, your visitor"
Ma'amSelle hurried forward with
laugh.
Click. The big swing doors opened
wide and well-Set-up, muscular
young man met her with smile that
only halE explained the meaning Of his
presence Your father is out sup
pose?" he whispered, gIancing up the
aisle
MSieur, fat and breathIess, had
Il DO,
tiptoe up the spiral stairway. Huh,
your father is out?" he wheezed
urathfully. Listen 10 faint heart
and" But he did not hear the fair
.ady'S reply.
Bah, At gallery No. l he stopped
for moment and viewed with regret
he many duSt-cOvered tables near the
lOor. If madame were only here !
Hush. He could hear. but could not
see his daughter and Mr.. MoOrson
low.
They had seated themselves on
'OSc-COOred divan on the aisle, behind
/ row Of wardrObeS. The young man
hose the spot with much persuasion.
Msieur heard him: Huh | will 20
higher up, young man, higher up, :
where | can get birds s-eye view," he
,anted. Whew Asthma and climb
ng do not agree, and gallery No. .
vas 50 high up. 1t contained the bed
ling, all the soft goods and MSieur
on Il pile of cushions.
on, la, la he was too high up to {
lear even snatch of conversation,
'ut lie could see. And the young man
vas bending 50 close to Ma'amSelie.
lis speech, his actions, betrayed the v
pverish anxiety of his mind, and II
had turned her crimson :
ace away. Suddenly Mr. MOOrSOn a
ei2ed her hand She drew ii away. d
Mon Dieu! The psychological mo-
lent surely? M'sieur looked about Ii
or something to drop, something that Y
'OuId make noise but there was y
othing big nothing hard. I
Hark Loud footsteps sounded on -
he tiling outside Mr. MOOrsOn y