The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-06-30
A SLIGHT COMPLICATION.

As I was leaving the office Baxter
called to me that if I was going to
walk home he would go with me. I
was going to walk, as I always do on
nice days, but I was not anxious for
his company. I could not think of
anything that would turn him off,
however, so I replied, with what
heartiness I could summon, "All
right, come along"
The reason for my not wanting
him or any one else with me was an
absurd one, and 1 had the grace to
be ashamed of myself even while ac-
knowledging its weight. For the
last month I had become foolishly in
love with a girl I did not know, and
the only time 1 saw her was in the
afternoon on Michigan avenue, when
1 was going back from town and she
was coming down. I did not always
meet her, but I always hoped to when
1 left the office, and 1 liked to be
alone when I passed her. Absurd
as it may seem, another person al
ways seemed intruding. Therefore
I cursed Baxter inwardly and talked
business outwardly as we left Jack
ee.. t~>>..iA-.o~d n.-d t,,~rad into Michi-
Is was beautiful autumn after
noon. The grass in the park was
still green, and a fresh, exhilarating
breeze blew in from the lake. She
would certainly not miss such day
for her walk, / argued, and fixed my
eyes on the stream of people flowing
steadily past me on the walk, trying
to catch a glimpse of trim figure in
a gray walking suit.
I had often wondered where she
went every afternoon, and even plan
ned to follow her; but I was posi-
lively tirnid for once, and afraid to
make any advance which would give
me information about my unknown.
Possibly she went to meet and walk
back with lover, brother or hus-
band. / was rather inclined to the
brother idea, though I don't know
why. She did not look married, and
why should such a girl care enough
for any man to go to meet him and
walk home with him1 No, I was
convinced that no such fortunate crea-
ture existed.
She wore a black hat, tilted over
her forehead, and she always gave me
a quick, comprehensive look from
under it as we passed. As for me, 1
fixed my eyes on her and never took
them off until she had gone by; it
was only by a superhuman effort of
will power that / did not turn and
stare after her.
We usually met near 18th street,
but today we had reached 10th and /
had given up hope, when I saw her
coming toward us. Baxter was tell
ing me some troubles of his, for I be-
lieve he mistook my silence for SYM
pathy. I was thinking that / had
never seen a woman walk as she did,
with just the suggestion of swing,
and her head held high. There was
a freedom of her movement about her
that must bespeak a mind vigorous
and active-a whole personality thor
oughly attractive. I have forgotten
to say that her face was distractively
pretty.
We were nearly opposite to her be-
fore Baxter saw her, at the same mo-
ment that she saw him. She bowed
and smiled had never seen her
smile beforehand just one little cor
ner of that one belonged to me, and
with it the swiftest of glances that
set my heart beating idiotically.
Suddenly 1 realized that my talka-
tive companion had not spoken word
since his muttered: "How-do-you-
dor" 1 looked at him. His face
was profoundly gloomy
whats the matter?" I asked. 1
felt good-natured enough to talk to
any one, and suddenly conceived a
great interest in Baxter. He could
tell me who she was-perhaps be the
means in time of my meeting her.
"Did you see that girl bowed to
just now?" he said.
"The one in gray? Yes, l MOTTO
ed her."
"Well. that's she. She's the one. I"
"What one? Whom are you talk
ing about?" I was at loss to ac-
count for his tone of gloomy empha-
sis.
"The girl I was telling you about.
Funny we should have met her just
as finished. Well, you can see for
yourself that she is pretty"
1 looked at Jim Baxter in absolute
amazement.
when did you tell me this history
you are alluding to-" spoke calm
ly, but 1 was agitated. There was