The Van Buren press., 1903-09-26
Of responsive comradarie which we'll

I nigh sent me into nj OF 'eIuSo'
/ That supper was a red-letter occa-
sion. had never been much OF ID
dies man. but had met many women
of all degrees. and never had l met
one with the charm Of this mystifylns
product OF the matrimonial agencies
! She was so evidently up-to-date' So
va,I-informed so wise to everything
going on in the world, so Thoroughly
| posted in affairs and so well able 10
! discuss current topics, that | could not
reconcile her actual self with her posi-
ton as a woman Of fortune seeking
| husband through the mounteoanA
agencies. Why. without a cent she
was a prize for a prince.
While we sat at the little table IN
| the coy corner, a party consisting oi
newspaper fellows and an actor or two
came in for bite As | nodded care
lessly to them, and they returned my
salutation. puzzled expression
crossed Miss Norman's face.
who are those people?" she asked
sharply.
"Oh, Tom Bates, Of the Universe;
Jimmie Burns of the Recorder; Louie
Drake, Of the Clarion, and Harold st
Hubert, the actor" replied.
"Do you know them" she asked.
Then recovered my balance and re-
piled:
II met Bates, casually, the other
night. and he pointed the others out to
me-"
Then changed the subject.
Later on we went TO the theater and
| before leaving her made an engage
ment to take her riding on the follow
ing afternoon.
| | lay in my room and smoked that
night until far past dawn, buried in
visions The evening had strengthened
and viyiied every impression of my first
meeting with the girl. There was no
question but she was a lady in every
! sense of the word-aud her alert intelli-
gence was not the least Of her charms.
! There was no lodging II, ! was madly in
love with her All my doubts based on
finding her at matrimonial agency
were cast aside.
Twould marry her without question
as to her object in being there" said.
Then | groaned as | thought Of the
| barrier Of her wealth and the cheap part
| was playing. For, of course, | must
be honest with her
Finally | made my resolve. | could
not remain in SO eQulvocal a position.
would make a clean breast Of 1t, and
hope for her friendship at least. More
dare not dream.
Perhaps years would efface the men,
ory Of my duplcity, and when should
have attained high position in my pro-
| fession, perhaps-whO knows?
The next afternoon. far out on a lone
some drive, | pulled myself together
and told her the whole wretchcd busi-
ness
Il owe you an apology as abject as a
man can make Miss Norman, started
1
am compelled to confess to you that
am not what | have pretended 70 be.
My name is not Hiram Adams. but
Stewart Vincent | am newspaper re-
porter doing the matrimonial agencies,
getting material for story for the
| Clarion. 1t was good enough fun be-
fore | met you, but | am heartily
ashamed of myself row, and | humbly
beg your pardon | desire your honest
friendship too much to go on with the
deceit longer"
had kept my eyes resolutely on the
horse. ! now turned to her, and was
surprised to find her face suffused with
bushes and her eyes downcast
Then she uttered q merry little laugh
and looked at me with a mischievous
glance that nearly caused me to drop
the reins and gather her in my arms.
ITS tit for tat" she said 81 am on
the same assignment for the Universe,
and-and was just thinking how dread
fully cheap | was My name is Eleanor
Vance | guess it's case of two fools "
A great Joy leaped through my veins.
mot II We can be iriends-no don't
mean that" | said-"if we can 20 on
with this courtship, Miss Vance. My
Sunday editor told me to follow this
assignment clear TO the altar-in fact,
to get married, II necessary TO get n
good story. CONSIDER livery necessary.
/ haven't dollar in the world, but can
always hold a good job WIN you help
me follow out my Olders?'
Mine were the same" she replied.
softly "and two salaries are twice az
much as one, this In whisper.
Then dropped the rcIns and the horse
had It's own way for season,
Two such stories never APPEARED as
those in the next issues Of the Sunday
Clarion and the Sunday Universe. Nina
led to n permanent Job, and the Uni.
verse lost Miss Vance shortly, greatly IN
the gain OF coy uptown fat,
And | did not begrudge paying both
agencies liberal fees.