The true northerner., 1900-07-04
gaon. You know. women must not be
interpreted too literally"

He took his cue from her and answer
ed. with another laugh:
1T would upset any ones seriousness
20 think OF Sam Storrow installed over
on the east side In n tenement and go
ing TO Tompkins square on band nights
In search OF the romance OF the slums."
els that really true"
"Yes; he has been seen there"
"By whom?" The words escaped her
before she could obey an intuition to
keep them back.
"You would not have me betray con-
fidences?" he rejoined.
She began TO think she had been I'M
Just TO him, and when he came and
stood close to her she did not push her
chair away, nor when he picked up her
fan from the next chair, where she had
thrown It. did she make any sign of
disapproval, and so IL was natural that
he should presently occupy the chair
the fan had vacated.
"After ALL" he reflected, "you can
bring any of these women round if you
only go the right way about IT,"
And, as for her, she had veered back
/
tween the two men one had shown his
devotion by his presence, whereas the
other had found superior attraction
elsewhere.
"If l thought you could betray any
confidence Mr.. Ralston," she said now
in belated answer to his last query, II
should not want ever TO see you again"
He knew what she meant we'll
enough; for, like herself, he was think
ing Of how very near to victory he had
been not longer ago than last night on
this same veranda.
Somehow it seemed to have grown
darker. The song of the pines swelled
into stronger chorus, and there was
deeper, more sullen, note in the dis
tant booming Of the surf.
! They were standing together now on
the edge of the veranda, and he had
taken her hand without any protest on
her part. He had drawn her gently
and gradually around, SO that she was
half facing him now, and his other
arm, which embraced the post of the
piazza at her left, was ready TO encir-
Gle her neck the moment his instinct
should tell him IL was safe 10 make the
attempt
Miss Madge," he whispered into her
very ear, "say that you believe me
worthy OF all your confidence"
1t was the last ditch, and there was
plainly n struggle going on within her,
for in spite of the cool Maine night her
blood coursed so fast that ii was race
between her heart and pulse beats.
His purely animal instinct warned
him that she was winning victory
this time over herself and over him,
and as he frightened his hold upon her
hand and let his hand drop from the
piazza post across her shoulder she
gave a sort of gasp, wrenched herself
free from him and darted into the
house through the open French win
dow.
The band was playing in Tompkins
square 10 the motley east side audi
ence who had poured out from the
reeking rooms of tOrrid tenements as
well as from homes Of comparative
comfort. Decent poverty, squalid need,
relative wealth, rubbed shoulders here
upon a ground Of common equality.
But in a remote corner Of the square
the electric light played with rather
weird effect upon the strangely deter
mined face of woman-a refined look
ing, high bred woman, clearly not in
touch with her surroundings. Beside
her sat Sam Storrow, his eyes upon the
ground. But his companion was keen
ly alert, and presently, when she cav
another woman approaching, she wait
ed until she noticed Storrow give a
surprised start of recognition, and then
she arose and spoke to the newcomer.
Miss Marbury," she said, "when l
sent you that anonymous letter TO Bar
Harbor l believed | could reach your
heart. although l had never seen you.
/ brought you here TO open your eyes.
y week ago Mr.. Ralph Ralston, walk
ing with me across the square, pointed
out Mr.. Storrow, whom did not know.
'Storrow,' said he In his usual flippant
way and as if 1t were the best joke in
the world, is Summing for romance
this summer in town. Get acquainted
with him and show him the tender ro-
nance of the slums.' | am one of
university settlement party living
among the east side tenements and /
got acquainted with Mr. Storrow and
with his story from his own lips.
Miss Marbury, to Ralph Ralston's
propensity for tickle Irritation | owe
my romance and us loss. Now it is my
turn, and my resolve to spoil Ralph
Ralston's romance is no stronger than
my resolve that you shall benefit by
my experience. Miss Marbury, l am
not a man hater, but / still trust /
shall never be less than a woman, and
my revenge upon Ralston will be
sweeter If l know that you have found
your romance in one who Is worthy OF
you"
She glanced at Storrow, who sat
there dumfounded, while the incandes-
cent globe, glowing with fitful radi-
ance, illumined the flush Of triumph on
one woman's face, on the others the
first dawning Of the truth.-Chicago