Page:Hard-pan; a story of bonanza fortunes (IA hardpanbonanza00bonnrich).pdf/19

Rh alone and unaided, to put on his coat. Then, seeing the unequal nature of the struggle, she said suddenly, "Let me help you, John," and taking the garment from him, shook it and held it out to him by the collar.

He laughed, and thrusting an arm into the sleeve, said over his shoulder:

"You 're not only the most ornamental but the most useful person I know, Letitia."

"Thanks," she responded sedately; "but I would n't have supposed you thought I was so ornamental."

"Why not?" he answered, affecting as dramatic a surprise as was possible in his position, with his second arm just thrust into the sleeve.

"Because you never noticed me to-night at all," said Letitia, giving the collar a settling jerk.

"Never noticed you?" He was able to turn round on her now, and regarded her with exaggerated astonishment. "What do you mean? I noticed you more than I did any one else."

"I did n't mean myself, exactly; I meant my gown."

"That shows how a feeling silence is thrown away on a woman. I noticed it a dozen times; but just because I did n't say so you suppose I was blind to it. How could I be?"

He stepped back and looked critically at Le-