1896.]
ful, upturned face, the soft, gracefully molded arms clinging
about his neck, gave him a strange new feeling, and he could not
help envying Jaimeson for this charming treasure which he now
held in his arms.
" Where did you get the handkerchief, dear ?" she asked,
opening her eyes, and smiling. How she blushed when she saw
whom she had embraced! She quickly drew her arms from his
neck, apologizing profusely, and then both she and Mr. Jaimeson
united in thanking him for his great service, as they thought it.
" Oh, that was little," replied Perkins, still a little embarrassed;
"the tears did most of it."
" But isn't it a terribly strong brine!" exclaimed Mrs. Jaime
son, blushing again, as she thought of the previous moment.
" It's pretty strong—one-fourth salt—but not at all dangerous."
The ice was broken. Perkins soon had the coveted invitation,
and promised to spend that very evening with Mr. and Mrs.
Jaimeson.
Perkins went up to dinner just after the Jaimesons that even
ing, and was at once invited to their table, Mrs. Jaimeson spoke
as good English as a Spanish lady is expected to do, and treated
Perkins in a very gracious manner. He was at once on the most
friendly terms with both, and after dinner Perkins and Jaimeson
took a stroll about the town. Jaimeson was greatly surprised to
meet a man of even closer observation than himself, and Perkins
soon had formed a very strong band of friendship with the strange
man, so that when he called at Jaimeson's elegant rooms later in
the evening, he was most graciously received by both host and
hostess.
Now was the time for Perkins to play the game of his life. All
the week he had planned for this night. Jaimeson was in an ex
ceeding affable mood. A bottle of delicious champagne was
opened, but Perkins scarcely tasted it; he wanted a clear head.
Mrs. Jaimeson looked very beautiful to-night, in a costume which
Perkins recognized as the most tasty of late Parisian gowns, and her
sweet smile smote his conscience as she said: " Oh, Mr. Perkins 1
I was so much afraid that you'd think we were following you, we
carnet() so many places where you were."
It was not without a more serious 'twinge of conscience that
Perkins proceeded to carry out his program, for he had been
brought up on the cherry-tree plan; but with apparent boyish
frankness he began to talk about himself, Jaimeson had never
Perkins' Assignment.