The Lamar register., 1902-04-16
For ]. Dillingham; Hodge there

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 miGd 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 n 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. Yes, 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, 1 was
going to say just like an old shoe
but you know what l mean. Feel
like I'd known you for years"
"Oh, / don't know!" thought
Hodge. 81 guess l must be a poor
He escorted the fair Grace to
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 n
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 l live at the Auditorium
and L 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 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 if
some splendid sibyl were about to
pronounce his fate. "And now, good
night"
Her thrilling voice fell to per-
fumed whisper as she added:
"Grace Miller. Write to me. Good
night"
She was gone. Hodge trod on air
for two days after that. He wrote a
letter to Miss Miller the next day
and stayed at home the second so
he'd get the answer the moment it
came. 1t didn't come, but he was
not to be denied. He wrote again
and again. For five days he poured
forth his callow soul in words so
eloquent and periods so sonorous
that all his former efforts at poesy
seemed tame and trite. Then he be-
gan to elbow himself" for gayer and
more costly raiment. He limited to
his fellow clerks that he was tired of
the life of bachelor and meant to
marry very soon.
"Who is she?" grinned Schwartz,
the woman hater.
"Oh, never you mind" sneered
Hodge. "She's not in your set in
society. Lives at the Auditorium,
that's all. Millionaire father and an
only child"
And the magnificence of ]. Dillig-
hams new garments seemed to give
verisimilitude and certainly color to
his boasts.
Yet he waxed thin waiting for the
letter that never came. He felt that
his Grace had been already strangely
gracious and began to suspect that
she was now trying to discipline her
impulsive heart while at the same
time checking his too ready ardor.
But after two weeks waiting he
could stand the suspense no longer.
Arrayed in all his sartorial glory,
his hair parted into football tufts,
alum in his pimples and a nosegay in
his lapel, he braved the majesty of
the hotel clerk, and extending
new, engraved card, asked that it be
sent to Miss Grace Miller.
The clerk smiled as he summoned
Buttons"
The boy grinned as he darted to-
ward the elevator.
j. Dillingham; Hodge fumed and
wondered at the impertinence as he
impatiently paced the lobby.
This way, Mr.. Hodge," said the
bellboy, touching his arm. And then
the ardent lover followed that boy
through the dark and devious hall
ways, up queer and misleading stairs
and around food-smelling regions of
the hotel.
"See here, boy" at last yelled the
painting Hodge, where is Miss Mil
ler? Did she say she'd see me in her
apartments or in the parlor?"