Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1903-01-08

~ W 90 HN~H-
look on her face, which he thought had
no business to be there at all. 1t was Il
lovely June evening, but the part was
rapidly thinning, for the inevitable din
npr hOur claimed society for It's own.
SO absorbed was Granger in contem-
platiyc study that, mirable dictu, he had
forgotten about that all important func-
ton.
Presently the chair ticket man came
along and stopped before the girl.
Have you paid yet, m'mT
NO" she answered.
One penny, please"
She fumbled in her pocket, but no
purse made its appearance.
I'm afraid II haven't-I've left
ALLOW me- put In Jack, Selling the
welcome opportunity. "MOSt awkward.
of course" he went on, not noticing her
deprccating gesture. az really see no
other way out of the difficulty" and he
settled the matter by paying for them
both, while the ticket man walked on,
his face wreathCd in inscrutable smiles.
Gan old trick, that" he thought, as
he strolIcd along, though there's many
d marriage the outcome of it an the
likes"
ut is really good of YOU" said she
girl at last, but rather than be under
any obligations to you | would have
much preferred to pay another day"
"A pleasure at any time 10 help Il
lady out Of difficulties" answered
Granger. delighted that the ice was
broken. Its so easy to forget your
purse, too. | never bother myself with
such impediments. Much safer to car
ry your money loose in your pockets;
don't you think So"
"If you have any-yes," replied the
girl, smiling in spite of herself and
tracing little patterns in the grass with
her paraSol.
Rather an odd remark" thought
Granger.
"Er-er, perhaps your pocket has
been picked?" he yentIred at last.
mo"
IOSJ your purse.
She shook her head.
Forgot it?"
'Oh! how dense you are" she eX-
claimed, almost p~etulantly. you men
never seem able to realize that we
wome IAN be hard up although we |
present a fairly respectable appearance.
Now, does not another possible CON
tingency occur to you other than what
you have guessed2'
Jack thought for a long while, but !
his brain could not rise to the solving |
of such q riddle. Impecuniosity was as
foreign to him as are the tropics to the |
polar bear.
Then you must shame NE to an ad-
mittance,'' she answered.
oh" put in Jack. at last beginning
to realize the truth, you don't mean,
you cant mean that you haven't got !
Yes" she whispered, and her eyes!
filed with tears as she gulped down a
sob. Gin spite Of aIl-all this" and She
made a pretty gesture. indicating her
dainty clothes.
"Wheugh." Whistled Jack, softly,
well Tm-;' he didn't say what he
was, but whiStled again.
She hardly realized why she had TAX
ell this man, a total stranger, even
thus far into her confidence. But there
was something so kind, so sympathetic
in his face-sOmething different from
other men
Have you no friends. no relatives
IN town." asked Granger at last.
Il know no one"
Then what are you going to do"
81 don't know" She began to cry.
Come" said Jack, cheerily, there is
a silver lining to every cloud. {
Perhaps | can help you. Tell me all
about it," {
My father and mother died a year
ago, leaving me with scarcely any
money began the girl, land until a J
ago [ remained In my Devon
shire home. My slender esOurce be- l
to exc out, so | came to London I
see if | could get employment as Il l
yoverneSS. Luck has been against me.
| have now some to the end of
resources. That's all-the whole [
hing in a nutshell" she concluded bit I
.erly- Il need not go into details. You '
will understand what I have gone q
through.
The girl flushed scarlet with shame
It such ar exposure. Her pride and {
'elf-eSteem were wounded, too.
The irony Of 1t struck him forcibly. '
'I'm-I'm awfully sorry" he said at d
asst, awkwardly enough. "It's fearful II
y hard"
Their eyes met. Her face was still Il
and there were tears in her v
yOice and eyes as she smiled and said: =
you for saying that. You are
sympathetic" =
The words, though slight in them =
and so simply uttered, carried
world of meaning. .
Granger stared ~vacantiy across the u
Dad again. !"
What a Swpni fsre Sha had Whv