The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1922-06-10

Il beg pardon"
Excuse me"
"Er-One Of the men"
Through a mistake"
VERY careless"
THANK you"
THANK you"
Then two doors shut crisply. Behind
one the major wiped his brow. by
Jove by Jove !" he exclaimed family.
Behind the other, Miss Barton sank
palpitatingly into chair.
"Oh, 1t was awful-awful she
gasped. Aunt Emma, he-he had
mine! Then she fell on her knees be-
fore the suitcase and fearfully pressed
the spring. "Oh!" she cried, with pink
cheeks, and shut the bag with a snap.
Getting settled was not q long mat
ter In the south side. Miss Barton and
her aunt, Mrs. Todd, made quick work
Of it Across the hall 1t was different.
The little mother" could not come for
a week yet, and the major spent much
Of this time In shifting his new furni-
ture about from corner to corner.
There was something else, too, which
interfered not little with the writing
Of his Results OF the Spanish War;"
upon which he was supposed to be
just now hard at wOrk-the major
went shopping; he went shopping for
a white enamel workbasket barred
with gold.
AS the major took all his meals out
during those seven days, he passed
very frequently up and down the stair
way. Sometimes he met his neighbor
Of number three.
1t was on the sixth day that Miss
Barton, on going out for loaf Of
bread, found the major sitting on the
top step Of the stairway. He arose at
once as she approached, but when she
came back ten minutes later he was
again sitting on the top step.
For ten minutes Miss Barton moved
restlessly about her rooms, then she
once more put on her hat and coat and
went out into the hall.
AS before, the major sprang to his
feet and retreated toward his own
door, but Miss Barton did not seem to
notice. In the little store around the
corner she bought paper Of pins
which she In no wise needed. and bent
hurried steps h0meward. At the top
OF the stairs she turned sQuarely
around and faced the man skulking BY
the door Of number four.
us there anything wrong7 Are you
In trouble? Can I do something for
your she asked with precipitation
that limited at a courage fast Oozing
out at her fngertips.
Thank you, nO-er-that IL. have
been careless enough to leave my keys
inside. am waiting for the janitor-
! and a ladder"
"Oh. but the janitor went to Brook
Ign this forenoon. He told me he
wouldn't be back until i've o'clock"
said Miss Barton, pityingly.
For ten minutes more Miss Barton
moved restlessly about her pleasant
rooms; then she knocked at her aunt's
bedroom door.
Aunt Emma. Aunt Emmar' she
called. you'll just have to come into
the parlor. He. next door, is locked
out, and I've just got to ask him in
until he can get ladder"
"What!" demanded Aunt Emma, ait
ting bolt upright on the bed, where
she was trying to get nap. what"
Some minutes later, Mrs. Todd,
sleepy and unwilling. sat In the par
lor's easiest chair trying to knit; the
major, flushed and Ill at ease, sat in
the bay window pretending to read;
and Miss Barton, pink-cheeked and
dignified, sat by her workbasket try
| ing to look unconcerned.
For q time there was silence. The
major, having been distinctly invited
| in to read, felt in duty bound to keep
the paper raised before his face; but
| his eyes, more mutinous than his
hands, left the paper and explored the
territory within their range.
There's something here-somsthing
that haven't got" he unused; then
his eyes fell on the workbasket. Down
went the paper, and up went his chin
! determinedly.
Miss Barton, could yOu-would you
| tell me where you got the basketT'
he asked abruptly.
The lady's neck, cheek, and brow
burned scarlet-it was the basket that
had been truant with the suitcase.
Suddenly the major, too. turned fierce
" red. The next instant something OF
the courage that was his in battle
flashed from his eye.
II asked" he went on with laugh
that surprised himself, so easy was 1t.
sbecause I've hunted for q week Tor
basket like that to give to mother. !
want q white-enamel. standing work
basket, barred with gold" he finished.
unconsciously falling into the formula
which he had that week presented to
no less than ten New York clerks.
but I didn't buy it." laughed Miss
Barton In her turn; mot that way.
II was an ugly little cane basket Of
no particular shade when l bought It.
enameled it myself and checked It
on with gold paint"
II was easier after that. The
major lost his flush, and Miss Barton
looked unconcerned without trying.
Miss Barton forgot time. herself, and
even the suitcase; but when dve
o'clock had come and the major had
gone she remembered nothing but the