The Man on the Box

n the back and threw his arm across my shoulder. And why shouldn't he have been glad? We had been boys together, played hooky many a school-time afternoon, gone over the same fishing grounds, plun

ead, the pretty school-teacher whom we swore to wed when we grew up. Nobody else had a chance to get a wo

asked, observing that he wore only a di

r around the house in my new silk pajamas. I shall read a little from Homer-Jack, let me have the key to that l

Warburton and your sister to come h

asked, surprised. Somehow, I seemed to catch a j

heaven only knows how long it may last," s

o stay now, whether he will or no. William will see to it that we wom

ert's eye, and we sta

y coming around and making love to my sister, and getting her t

mall embarrassmen

ou mean by

n't help it, and besides, I didn't want to

a man that wears glasses. We'll call it quits if you'll promise that in the

laughing and shaking hands again across the

ld see how much I love you. For where exists

he kid get to sle

the embassy until after ten. We have a reception first, and

the world;"-and Bo

he joke?"

all about it to-morrow, Chuck. It's the kind of joke that h

ut she might just as well have tried to pierce a stone wall. "You have been laughing all day about something, and I'd li

u beauty, dance and revel to your heart's content; your brother Robert will manage to pass away the evening. Don't f

t put those books back just as you found them

ent on the ra

and simple," said Ja

scalawag. "If I remember, you had the reputation of

rpses of college, or out you go, bag and baggage." Jac

sn't that right, Chuck? Jack, you are a lucky dog, if there ever was one. A handsome wife who l

muse. "Yes, I believe I can do it a

at?" I

e day, and that you will have a devil of a time winning the girl. You need someth

yed at laughter which wasn't particularly felicitous. "Supposing I w

the elder brother. "What

shu

you right. You've made more than one girl

satisfactory to the masculine eye. Ah, thou eager-fingered Time, that shall, in days to come, wither the roses in my beauty's cheeks, dim the fire in my beauty's eyes, dra

g I lacked the courage to do. How pleased they look

see by this that he was not altogether a thoughtless lad. Good-by, Mr. Robert; I leave you and your guiding-star to bolt the established orbit; for after this night the world will never be the same ca

the stables, only to return immediately with a bundle under his arm and a wh

pot just as the boys leave. This is the richest yet. I'll wager that there will be some tall screaming." He continued chuckling as he helped himself to his brother's

the red brick mansion on Connecticut Avenue. Carriages lined bo

l not wake up the

to look at him," replied Jack; "not if

u men see in those horrid c

t our history from these tales. The tales themselves are not very lofty, I am willing to admit; but they give

lways a lazy man's job. When no two criti

me alone is the true critic. Let him put his mark of approval on your work, and not all the critical words can bury it or hinder its light. But Time

ht," said the little mother. "H

asked, looking

r. Nan, has very good taste for a man. That cloak of yours is by far the handsomes

if he'll be lonely. It's a shame to

hen?" Mrs. W. shrugged

in Jack, complacently. "Besides, Jane Isn't at all b

a picture such as few men, once having witnessed it, can forget. Here were the great men in the great world: this man was an old rear-admiral, destined to become the nation's hero soon; there, a famous general, of long and splendid service; celebrated statesmen, diplomats, financiers; a noted English duke; a scion of the Hapsburg family; an intim

e, standing at the side of the Russian ambas

ected with the Russian government; a diplomat and a capital fellow, they say. I have never met him. ...

nning girl had saluted each other after the impulsive fashion of American girls, and were playing cat-in-t

Annesley looked mildly curious at Nan, who suddenly flushed. "We are to be married in the spr

er hand, smiling. "You

ender

l I ever saw; and as I thought of Mr. Robert in his den at home, I sincerely pitied him. I was willing to advance

ch other within twenty-four hours. From time to time Miss Annesley glanced at me, and I am positive that Nancy was extolling my charms. It was rather embarrassing, and I

rloff is a name of my own choosing. I haven't the remotest id

e by the way his gaze roved from Miss Annesley to Nancy that he wa

nt it in Miss Annesley's direction, I began to worry about Mr. Robert's course of true love. Here was a man who possessed a title, was handsome, rich, and of assured

are you sta

use in Chevy Chase for the winter. My horse

d

have some great

. I want you to

ave," replied

brother, a lieute

ou have two

said

Mademoiselle," said

nsieur. Au re

ppears to me that his love affair is not going to run very smooth

stand a ghost of a show against that Russian. He's a

laggard. But money ought not to count with Betty. She is worth at least a quarter of a million. Her mother left all her property to her, and her father acts only as trustee. Senator Blank's house ren

doing off your own box?" "Ge

in your bonnet,

; let us have the

hero to follow the course of true love, which is about as roug