The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-07-31
The Trails That Crossed
BY HOWARD oEviNE.

Disguised. 1 stumbled in. and there.
right in front of me, fresh, dainty and
alluring as before, sat Elsie Norman.
What does this mean?" l demand
ed, Sternly, neutrality-suspicious.
ally, l will now admit. You make a
date with me and then go gallavantihg
around these cheap agencies. What
does 1t mean?"
''And as to you, sir?" she asked, de-
murely, in reply.
81 am trying to pass the time" l re-
piled, sternly.
and l." she replied, smiling.
AS we emerged from the building 1
called cab and handed her in. Before
l let it go, l said:
Come, now, no more agency bust
ness until after the superb you
please"
agreed" she replied a merry smile
lighting her face-and | thought / saw
a hint of downcast eyes and a hint
of responsive comradarie which we'll
nigh sent me into fit Of vertigo.
That supper was red-letter occa-
sion. l had never been much of a la
dies" man, but had met many women
of all degrees, and never had l met
one with the charm of this mystifying
product of the matrimonial agencies.
She was so evidently up-to-da so
well informed, so wise to everything
going on in the world, so thoroughly
posted in affairs and so well able to
discuss current topics. that l could not
reconcile her actual self with her posi-
ton as woman of fortune seeking
husband through the mountebank
agencies. Why without a cent, she
was prize for a prince.
While we sat at the little table In
the coZy corner, a party consisting OF
newspaper fellows and an actor or two
came in for a bite. As 1 nodded care
lessly to them, and they returned my
salutation, a puzzled expression cross
ed Miss Norman's face.
''Who are those people?' she asked,
sharply.
ooh, Tom Bates, of the Universe;
Jimmie Burns. of the Recorder; Louie
Drake, of the Clarion, and Harold st.
Hubert, the actor" l replied.
do you know them?" she asked.
Then l recovered my balance and re-
piled:
night, and he pointed the others out to
me-"
Then I changed the subject.
Later on we went to the theater, and
before leaving her l made an engage
ment to take her riding on the follow
ing afternoon.
l lay in my room and smoked that
night until far past dawn. buried in
visions. The evening had strengthen
ed and vivified every impression Of
my first meeting with the girl There
was no question but she was a lady
in every sense of the woodland her
alert intelligence was not the least of
her charms. There was no lodging it,
1 was madly in love with her. All my
doubts based on finding her at a mat
rlmonial agency We're cast aside.
hQr Wit
ton as to her object in being there" L
said.
Then l groaned as / thought of the
barrier of her wealth and the cheap
part l was playing. For, of course L
must be honest with her.
Finally l made my resolve. 1 could
not remain in so equivocal a position.
l would make a clean breast of it, and
hope for her friendship at least. More
dare not dream.
Perhaps years would efface the
memory of my duplicity, and when I
should have attained high position in
my profession, perhaps-who knows?
The next afternoon. far out on a
lonesome drive. 1 pulled myself to-
gether and told her the whole wretch
ed business.
Il owe you an apology as abject as
a man can make. Miss Norman" L
started in, tragically. Then 1 hurried
on: 81 am compelled to confess to
you that | am not what 1 have pre-
tended to be. My name is not Hiram
Adams. but Stewart Vincent. l am a
newspaper reporter, doing the matri-
monial agencies. getting material for a
story for the Clarion. 1t was good
enough fun before met you butt am
heartily ashamed of myself now. and
l humbly beg your pardon. | desire
your honest friendship too much to
go on with the deceit longer"
l 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 a merry little
laugh and looked at me with a mis-
chieyous 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
dreadfully cheap 1 was. NV name is
Eleanor Vance. l guess it's a case OF
two FOOLS"
A great Joy leaped through my
veins
Not if we can be friendship I
don't mean that" said-''if we can go
on with this courtship. Miss Vance. MY
Sunday editor told me to follow this
dSS4BHiItHl, CIedr 10 the alIar--in ract
to get married. If necessary to get a
good story consider it very neces-
sary. I haven't a dollar In the world.
but can always hold good job. WIN
you help me follow out my orders %
Mine were the same" she replied.
softly. .and two salaries are twice as
much as one" this in a whisper.
Then | dropped the reins and the
horse had its own way for a season
those in the next issues of tie Sunday
Clarion and the Sunday Universe
Mine led to a permanent job. and the
Universe lost Miss Vance shortly.
greatly to the gain OF coy uptown
fiat.
And I did not begrudge paying both
agencies liberal fees.