The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-12-28

but prosaic. city Of indianapolis. Jones
about five years ahead. They belonged u
the same church. a necessary consideration
in indianapolis society. They sang IN the
choir. They had held the same HYMN hook
and walked horne together after service,
through Meridian street. in the sumo mo 2
est, genteel and circurnspe"t manner. every
Sunday. year after year. eyer since Mary
was a child.
The young man was slight. hut well knit
Of frame. sandy haired. blue eyed and crave
Of demeanor. and was. at =. lust beginning
10 realize on his professional prospects as
n physician. The young woman. slende".
svelte. hrown-eyed and Tel-headeI. with L
pert nose and a delicate C'0ul"Tion. some
what Handicapped by warrant freckleS.
earned substantial bread and butter over 4
Typewriter in a Washington street real es-
tate office.
It had long hcon "under-t0oG' among
thei~ mutual friends that Mr. HoyH.ul
would IN the course oS time become NJ.
Jones. though Just how that 1~io~rto1i-
ing" came about would have ruT-Ird oy"1
the Young couple TO say. Young Jones' hid
simply appreciated Mary early IN the same
and these friends had roco9uizol tho mvtunI
proUrierarv rights by keepin" of the cain
Thus Mary had never had any othc- hna-.
While this one was in Paris finishing his
education. rhe eijhcr walked to and r n
church alone. or was driven - ~" Cpr7-a~-
ionship Of Ter mother or female fri "l=.
The latter Invariably incurred after "iii"'
the other sex called him "EiI''-orca7ioH-
ally forcing humor by a~lludjnr to him as
doctor Bill" For the young man suffered
the fate of all popular men in the Wes'-
that Of being called by his first name. II
was "Howdv do, Billy" from the women
VINO had known him from "kn.Cks" and
.HeIlu Eill'' from the now Ercwn-:ro boys.
All of which grated upon Mary Ann. her
self compelled 10 endure a name hateful to
her ears. bestowed upon her to distinguish
her from her mother. and which grow
more and more dhztastefll as she began To
indulge the dreams Of Young womanhood
She had long accepted The idea of Billy
as n part Of her lot in life. vet the thought
of becoming Mrs. BIZ Jones' now made
her vince. It was all so commonplace AMI
matter of fact ana dull and prosalc, II
was cNasperatinT sometimes TO the verge
of open rebellion. If Billy had not been
the most even tempered, p~h!egmatic. good
natured young man in the world. they
would have Guarreled freQuently-it takes
two, at least. to quarrel.
But as Doctor Jones' was getting more
patients he grew more i~nsi~tent and re-
peatedly preached the subject or early mar
riage. This finally could no longer be avoid
ed by her word fencing. The young doctor
was plain spoken. honest and direct Of pur-
pose. He treated the subject as a business
proposition. She resented II with all the
energy of a wounded heart. This eliminated
d. AAl' III TN Aif-'AfAFF app Nv
why Billy-er-DoCtor Jones has never
even asked me If I would marry HIM" she
protested. in reply to the circumstances Of
her mother. He talks about when II shall
be and when 1 must. as IL he owned me,
1 won't stand itr'
'Oh, II ! could only go away somewhere.
IF 1 could run away!' sobbed the girl again.
There! there! Perhaps 1t would be bet
ter" sighed the mother. eff you could go
away for awhile-until You can make up
your mind
The girl suddenly raised her tear-stained
face.
There's that invitation of Aunt Lucy's
10 spend the holidays" she began, tenta-
lively.
Paris" !
Yes; you know she has been coaxing you
TO let me go for ever SO long. / could get
there before Christmas. on. please let me
go. mammal! I've got money enough Of my
own. And
why. you know you were saving that
for your
her. 1t was true Mary Ann had been pinch
ing and saving for her wedding outfit-a
silent part of the general understanding"
However. when Doctor Bill' presented
himself at the BOynton res dence the follow
ing Thursday for choir practice he was in
formed that Mary was not at home.
IN wait for her" he said, entering the
parIor with his usual confidence.
u don't know about that" stammered the
embarrassed mother. You see. Billy, my
sister logger
The young man knew all about that invi- |
tation. as well as about the sister in the
French capital. He jumped to his feet and
the conclusion at the sane :kne:
Mary Ann gone to Paris? And Just when !
consulting me? Absurd!'
He was almost betrayed out of his Gus
tomary sang froid. But he soon recovered
self and asked 81 she had left him auy |
word about |
About what?"
It was cruel, but this was the mother
why. you know! About the date Of
d" Billy don't be a fool!'
ct really don't understand" he gravely
said.
Have you ever asked Mary Ann If she
would have you. 'Billy'?'
Asked her! Good heavens! Hasn't IT been
understood all these years? Haven't We been
going and coming like brother and sis
Still. girls aren't expected to-
But whatever girls were not expected to
think, say or do. Billy" did not care to
out.
What ship-what line did she take?' he
inquired abruptly.
'She said she'd try and catch the French
liner for Havre-I forget these French
names-I only know it goes on a Thurs
day. |
And she left here?"
Tuesday evening"
He snapped his watch methodicalIy.
'She's on the ocean now" he said.
sure enough-if I'd have thought
Excuse me! I'm off" he interrupted. and
,he watched his rapidly receding figure as
ar as she could see it from the front win
low.
'Ah, There goes n mani A real man who
Toes things:' she muttered. He doesn't
saw a word. but does 'em. Now. 1 shouldn't
vonGer-but / hope motif he'd just leave
ler alone a spell!'
The limited train eastward that night bore
With It the man who does things" He
cached New York the next morning and
went at once to the French pier. BY refer
nee to the last passenger list he learned
hat Miss Boynton' had sailed for Havre.
he had just time to secure passage on one
# the newest and swiftest ocean grey
Il know that old boat" he chuckled to
himself. 'Tn surprise her before she has
line to put off her hat!'
The fifth day out they sighted n distant
;teamer blowing slowly along in a trough
# the sea. She was a mere speck of
.uudge off the starboard bow In the morn
ng. grew rapidly more distinct during the
Law; at shutdown her hull was visible.
A sandy-haired young man. wrapped up to
he ears. had watched the stranger all day
When he saw signals had been eX-
he intercepted an officer from the
What do YOU make her out?" he asked.
shes the French ship, sir. that sailed
Thursday" .
THAT doesn't seem possible"