Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1901-07-12
IF BRUCE SHERMAN had taken a

IF BRUCE SHERMAN had taken a
carriage TO his club on Ladies
Night" as other properly brought up
young men with large incomes did, the
story might have been different. But
Sherman was athletic, and proud of II,
and the result was that his satin
skinned cob ate his head off i'm the sta
BILE, while other thoroughbreds earned
mt least part of their oats doing sentry
go up and down the cobblestones in
front Of clubs and theaters.
So it happened that Ladies Night"
found Mr.. Sherman taking a route 10
his club that led him eight blocks out
of the way, just because he liked it.
He was quite certain that he did not
turn up the avenue upon which Dean,
of the board Of trade. lived. just be-
cause Dean had five daughters, one
of whom was occupying a good deal
of Sherman's thought about that time.
This certain Miss Dean was 10 be at
the club that night. and there was
very reasonable probability of his see
ing her there, which was much more
satisfactory than gazing at the out
side Of her home. But the fact still
remains that Sherman paused in front
of the Dean residence, which stood
on the corner of a narrow street. and
then slowly turned up the aforesaid
street, and glanced thoughtfully in
through the palms Of the conserya tory
at the soft light that streamed out OF
the library.
The certain Miss Dean Of whom he
was thinking was standing under the
chandelier in all the glory of rose satin
and pearls. Near her, sitting in front
of the big fireplace. was the second
Miss Dean. She was gowncd in a
loose clinging gown Of some neutral
tint. and the flames sent warm pink
lights over her slender figure.
\ carriage drove up 20 the door fac
ing the avenue, the rose satin and
pearls disappeared. and still sherman
stood looking thoughtfully at the fig
ure sitting in the freight. The sec
ond Miss Dean was not seen at the
big social functions as was her brill
liant sister The bellies of their set
spoke of her as odd, and whispered
something about blue-stocking, and
It was understood generally that she
was in. but not of. their world. The
other three Miss Deans were still of
the schoolgirl age. Mrs. Dean was
dead.
The modest. but artistic, little home
looked very attractive, and Sherman,
the last living of wealthy family,
felt an odd sort Of a lonely sensation
laying it's weight upon his immaculate
shirt front There was no legitimate
reason in the world for this. as the
majority Of the beautiful women of
his world were not only willing but
anxious that he should never he lone
" again forever, and had visions Of
white satin and seed-pearls whenever
he bent over their dance-cards. But
Sherman wanted a little sympathy in
vague sort of way just at that par
ticular moment. and the thought Of
the brilliantly-lit clubhouse and COR
geously-attired throng did not appeal
to him.
He hesitated moment uncertainty.
nj the low iron gate. and rang the
bell of the Dean residence.
II was the odd Miss Dean who
opened il, and looked at him with a
touch Of surprise i'm her calm, darl,
eyes. She held n book i'm her left hand.
with one finger still between the leaves
go keep her place. which was sufficient
evidence that She was reading and the
place for social favorites was. conse-
quently, where they belonged. And
that was not the quiet library Of the
Dean home.
This fact did not trouble Mr.. Sher-
man. however, who only bowed his
tall head and followed his hostess into
the frelit room, holding his crush hat
under his arm as he drew off his
gloves.
Am I disturbing you?" he asked,
TRANQUILITY, after he was settled in a
deep chair facing the fire. "If I am
will go away. But please say I am
not"
The dark eyes smiled through their
shadow OF habitual gravity. and he
thought of dusk pools lying still and
unfathomable under the stars. The
young women OF the monde. who we're
watching the door with some impa-
thence at the club and wondering
where he was. would have assured him
Of their intense delight at any inter.
ruption Of his, but this strange wom'