The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1918-01-17

There's nothing FOR people 70 talk
about if he isn't as old as thought he
was. | have lived in this town too
long Tor anyone to gossip about me.
He certainly is Il very wcll-favOred,
gcntlcmanly person, and there's moth
ing in me giving him his meals that
should set any ones tongue to wag-
ging."
Jared Lyster was a childleSS wild.
over who had purchased Il small store
in the town. He was Il quiet. gentle.
manly man of domestic taste who. IL
must be confessed. had no intention of
going through life homeless. Like most
men he had fondnesS for good meals
well served and he liked to live in an
atmosphere Of cleanliness and order
He found this atmosphere in Semira
Doane's pretty and we'll kept little
home, and the meals she served Were
To his entire satisfaction.
Miss SclEira, on the other hand.
found the society OF Jared Lyster to
be more agreeable than she would have
dared confess. She would not GC-
knowledge even TO herself how much
she valued his presence when he had
been her "mealer" for three months.
But she found herself studying hi>
tastes and cooking the dishes she knew
he liked. She found herself also put
ting red ribbon bow in her hair near
~ every day after he had casually re-
marked that red was his favOrite color
and that he liked TO see the little bow
of red in her hair. She found her
self watching for his coming and he
did not know that she often stood be-
hind the lattice work on her little
porch watching him out of sight. Nor
did she know what his thoughts were
rs he walked away. He did not know
how tumultCusly her heart throbbcd
one evening at the tea table when
he said as he slowly and carefully
folded his napkin back into its original
creases:
"Wen, Miss Semira, l think that
must tell you that l have decided 10
make change"
In your businesS?" she asked with
her eyes fixed on her plate.
We'll, yes; the change l have in
mind will give me partner in my
business. But what / was going to
speak to you about was change In
regard 10 my meals. Ii isn't altogether
convenient having my room in one
place and taking my meals in another.
Moreover, l do not quite like being Il
mealer."
"Of course, if you wish to make a
change you are at liberty to do so. l
could not promise you any better meals
than l have been giving you even if
YOU stayed with me-"
Il wouldn't want any better meals
any place"
20. thank YOU
The meals are all right, but never
before was what they call in this town
Il 'mealer' and don't like il. l would
enjoy my meals good deal more If
they were served by-well, by my wife.
There, Semira, don't look so fright
ened. 1t is what / have been wanting
TO say for long time. almost from the
first meal l ate with you! Let me
stop being a 'mealer' and let me be
your husband instead"
He had reached across the little
table and taken her by both hands and
was looking into her face with shining
eyes. Her eyes met his in moment
and he must have seen something of
hope and encouragement for him in
them, for he was by her side in a mo-
ment with his arm around her waist
and his cheek to hers.
The next day Miss Doane received a
call from Mrs. Sampson, who said:
''Well, S'mira, its turned out just the
way Sampson an me have been sayin'
for two months that it would turn out
an I'm glad of il even If have lost
roomer. Anyhow. you gained a mealer
for life. l wish you JOY, l really do"