Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1902-02-27


She was talking to herself, but Mr..
Hodge heard her, and, with a reck-
lessness that brought his heart
humping against his wisdom teeth,
he accosted her with:
81 beg your pardon, madame, but 1
see you have forgotten your ticket
and perhaps your money. May 1
have the honor of getting one for
your"
1t was an audacious move, but the
ardent Hodges narrow chest heaved
with conscious pride as he saw the
demure smile of appreciation and
even admiration that spread beneath
her veil like a halo of warm light.
ooh, thank you," she cooed, read
ing his card while he bought tickets
for two.
For ]. Dillingham; Hodge there
never was and perhaps never will be
such show as that which followed.
1t was the apotheosis of all that is
grand and glorious in the traditions
and achievements of the stage. He
didn't even think of asking the name
of his divinity till the intermission,
and then, with unspeakable rapture
he heard it. miss Grace" she whis-
pered, that will do for the present"
Never mind what Hodge said. He
said everything he could think Of,
and therefore was silent, except for
his speaking eyes and blushing ears
Would she not like a little lunch
con? he managed to ask her as he
helped her out of the elevator with
one hand and counted his remaining
dollar with the other.
$50 kind of you, Mr.. Hodge" she
Uttered. eyes, just bite. It's per-
fectly dreadful for me to be out so
late with perfect stranger, but
you've been so perfectly kind and
er-natural, he, he, he, ha-a, L was
going to say Just like an old shoe,
but you know what 1 mean. Feel
like I'd known you for years"
"Oh, 1 don't know!" thought
Hodge. 81 guess 1 must be a poor
hand at picking a winner"
He escorted the fair Grace to a
fashionable cafe, and when she had
discussed her "bite" and the bill was
paid ]. Dillingham; had two dimes
left. He gave them to the waiter
with the grandest air he could COM
mand and then began to screw up
his courage to the ordeal of hiring a
cab ION credit" OF course he meant
to take Miss Grace home, but when
they reached the sidewalk she put
an end to his glorified agony thus:
"Now, you must leave me, Mr.
Hodge," smiling radiantly at him
"You know 1 live at the Auditorium
and 1 couldn't think of your coming
there with me at this hour"
Then the desperate j. Dillingham;
waxed eloquent indeed. He begged
her to permit him to at least accom-
pany her part of the way. She yield
ed on condition that he rest content
to part a block from the hotel
Then he besought her for her full
name, and with wondrous impor'
tunity asked that he might have the
honor of visiting her.
"You may write to me-" she said
after a pause in which he felt as II
some splendid sibyl were about tc
pronounce his fate, "And now, good
night"
Her thrilling voice fell to a per
fumed whisper as she added:
"Grace Miller. Write to me. Good
night"
She was gone. Hodge trod on all
for two days after that. He wrote 6
letter to Miss Miller the next day
and stayed at home the second sc
he'd get the answer the moment il
came. 1t didn't come, but he was
not to be denied. He wrote agar
and again. For five days he poured
forth his callow soul in words 81
eloquent and periods so sonoroui
that all his former efforts at poesy
seemed tame anu JTlJe. 1uSu hS NC
gan to "blow himself" for gayer ant
more costly raiment. He limited t.
his fellow clerks that was tired o.
the life of bachelor and meant tt
marry very soon.
"Who is she?" grinned Schwartz
the woman hater.
sob, never you mind" sneeret
Hodge. "She's mot in your set il
society. Lives at the Auditorium
that's all. Millionaire father and al
Only child"
AnG the magnifcence of ]. Dillig
hams new garments seemed to giv'
verisimilitude and certainly color tt
his boasts.
Yet he waxed thin waiting for thu
letter that never came. He felt tina
his Grace had been already strangel.
gracious and began to suspect tina
she was now trying to discipline he
impulsive heart while at the same
time checking his too ready ardor
But after two weeks waiting b.
could stnnd the suspense - l-nger