The Savannah morning news., 1902-02-09

Amityville
At the book counter he purchased a
lot of the latest novels and other light
summer reading: furthermore. he dis
| covered that the elderly gentleman
who waited upon him was a retired
pastor, who had secured his position
through his knowledge of general lit
erature.
After visiting several other depart
ments and making minor purchases
in each. all of which were to be deliv-
cred the next day at Amityville, King
entered the secluded room set apart
for correspondence and indited a most
unique eDistle, setting forth in detail
what he had just performed, and ask
ing the fair-minded consideration of
the person to whom it was addressed.
An interesting crisis had been
reached. King again drifted to the
| candy counter and stood with f1utter-
ing pulse before the parti-colored trays
| of sweets. The goddess, busily filling
bag with black gum drops, noticed
him, advanced and gave the stereo-
typed inquiry, Are you being waited
upon?"
1T is [ that am waiting upon you"
was the unexpected response, where
upon King smilingly handed her the
precious document folded in his hand.
The girl accepted it hesitatingly,
| giving him a furtive glance. and be-
gan cursory reading. King watched
her intently as she scanned the pages,
her face revealing a growing amuse-
ment.
At one point she stopped with an
ineredulous why, the ideal" while
her dancing eyes gave the bold fellow
another look of peculiar interest. She
read on to the end; then, folding the
paper, handed it back with the silver
tinkle of laugh.
''Try the young woman over there
at the glove counter" she murmured,
evidently relishing what she thought
the vagaries of an unsound mind; 'I
mean the one with the red pencil in
her hair"
Instead of following her glance King
began to argue; but she assumed an air
of serene Indifference, and held up a
bar of peanut brittle in her dainty
digits, by which movement she sigrifl-
cantly displayed ring on the engage
ment finger iKng took the hint and
his footsteps elsewhere.
1t was a good thing for King that
he had but a slight regard for the one
grande passion. He believed in its
existence as an exceptional mani
festation, that many had been made
happy in it's possession-more, per-
haps, miserable by it.
mutual respect he considered suf-
ficient to insure happiness in a home,
allowing the association of passing
years to ripen "a precious affection.
Individually, he was quite sure that
he could pass a happy life with any
woman possessing common sense, an
ounce of good looks and a respectable
disposition.
Therefore King found himself in the
vicinity of the glove department.
The young woman with the red pencil
in her hair was certainly a pleasing
picture to look upon. Her disobedient
tresses were partly caught up by tor
toise- shell side-combs in a bewitching
fashion, and in her large gray eyes
lurked a wining vivacity.
The head was of good shape, we'll
poised, and the figure all that could
be desired. The refinement of voice, the
grace and dignity present in her move
ments, decided Kings course after due
consideration.
The young lady was evidently about
to go for luncheon as King bravely
stepped forward.
Pardon me-" he began, II have an
important communication for you. 1
have just been conferring with the
head of the firm in regard to il. Won't
You please take lunch with me in tn
restaurant upstairs, where we may
talk undisturbed. 1 assure you L am
sincere"
She hesitated a moment, overcome
with surprise. 'Why; 1 don't know
yes-I presume so. You are connected
with the house"'
I'm a manner 1 am identified with
its success" replied King truthfully
What l am to speak about concerns
more particularly your own welfare"
A swift vision of promotion and it's
attendant raise" was no doubt the
lodestone that drew the young wo-
man after King toward the elevator
His own feelings were indescribably
turbulent as they stood huddled to-
gether, he and she, in the dimly lighted
car.
Neither spoke, but King dared fur
tive glance at her green-and-gold
chatelaine watch, the delicate embroid-
cry pattern of her nainsook waist and
the tiniest suggestion of scar over
her left temple.
Dear little item! In another hour
perhaps-hc would be able to call 1t
his own-to press kiss there as often
as he chose. Such freaks the imagina-
ton plays in momentous crises of our
lives.
They got off at the fourth floor, and
were soon seated at a safe distance
LlOiil lilC Olllcl QlIcIS, WIleIG Lney SOuiQ
converse with strict privacy. They
grew social over the vermiceli as the
entree was being brought on King sur
prised his fair comrade a second lime
by asking her name.
MY name? Whyl Elrose-Mrs. Ed
rose-I supposed you knew"
She rested her elbows on the table
and looked across at him with inter-
rogation points shining out of her
eyes.
Il will explain presently" he said:
''in the meantime pray don't consider
me impertinent If / ask another ques-
tion. Are you widow?"
81 am" she responded promptly.
my husband died two years ago.
have one child, now years old"
The latter dependency was probably
thrown la for good measure in adjust
ing her claims on the house," It sent
King off into an amusing reverie, from
which he rallied sufficiently to con-
tinue:
II am pleasantly surprised by your
latter statement. l like llttle-have
and other glass OF tea, Mrs. Elrose-I
like to talk with people of some ex-
perience. one can reason with them so
much better, you know. / have put
In writing what | wish you 10 read:
the absolute truth OF every statement
can be verified at once by applying at
Mr.. Stanwood's desk. Here Is the pa
per-"
She accepted IL dubiousIy and began
T..