The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-04-19

This interesting romance Of the busy social
class Of a great city won the prize in a fiction
contest recently conducted By the New York
Herald
7 saw them first at a downtown restau-
rant. Tit noon rush was on. Streams OF
typewriters. stenogrdphers and that infni-
tude OF girl clerks flooding every channel OF
modern trade came pouring in. An occa-
sionai man was scattered here and there.
but swallowed up amid the horde that
sWooped chatteringIy about the tables.
Tn elegant and suave manager at the
moment vas fayorng me with a few re-
marks most cb1is{Hs fellow
Probably you can't hear me while the
ladies are speaking" he began a~p0iogetic-
aialyI had noticed thst some talk was 20
ing on among the girls-"but perhaps yoa
can read my lips and catch my meaning
that way"
By fixing my gaze intentiy upon him I
caught most OF what he said.
See that little lady over there next the
end%' 1 saw her. We'll. she beats the
band. She's a peach, a regular peach. that's
what she is"
l gazed inqUiringly at this unWouted
speech, and he continued:
See that napkin she's spread on the
table? There's another on her lap. Watch
her take q third"
Sure enough. the object of our regard
daintlly distracted a third napkin from
Hr ~ $3.50 NNN NN6N ~
her glass, ficked her plate once or twice
and then tossed IL aside with a graceful,
luxurious fling.
I was thinking TO myself what an elegant.
charming creature she Is, and how delight
ful life must be with such a one TO dispense
grace and hospitality. when the anags
rudely interrupted my dream.
Say. she makes me tired! Them nap
kins cost u a cent and g half apiece to
laundry. She's a Decent ticket, she Is. with
maybe fifteen on pay day Nov, where
does the profit come inT"
But why not demonstrate with herr I
said feellngly, alarmed at the prospect OF
certain ruin threatening the firm. You
could do it gently. you know; no doubt she
is open to co-nviction-most women are"
why. sayi II 1 should say 'booF to that
little piece OF perfection she'd be the most
insulted little lady in the city. and 1
wouldn't be in Il with her in about two
seconds, big as I am"
I nodded Understandings, and, canning
the speakers countenance more closely. I
detected on his round. wefi-ted face hines L
had not noticed before.
My own order not being ready to serve, 1
fell into a brown study: The sweet tones
Of the multitudinous girls on every side did
not rouse or disturb me. In fact the sub
dued, well-moduiated voices softened away
into q soothing monotone that rather con-
duced to thought Of a certain kind
I started slightly once or twice as some
unmindful waitress called out shrilly.
Brown the wheats. az" "SnGl medium.
3s.' Two on the fsont. 42P' and so on
down the line. Presently my own steak and
greens recalled me to things mundane and
l fell to with good appetite Looking up
a minute later. 1 saw a couple seating
themselves at the next table. They were
facing in my direction and fixed my atteH-
ton Immediately.
Every day girls in large numbers came
into the place, singly, By twos. threes and
even fOurs. interspersed with occasional
men. although most OF the latter. from
bashfUlness. ate down stairs by themselves
But this was a case OF a eouple-ycurh and
maiden. WiEhai there was that about them
which invited Inspection.
She was fair and fat and %. or less, also
short, rudy. broad Of hip. with a waist
nodded on Grecian lines. which no corset,
straight front or otherwise. could hope 10
grapple or suhdue. But she looked good,
honest and ssnsible-not a beauty, but pos
sessing other compensating qualities. Xvi
IDENTIFY she was a country product trans
planted 20 a city dairy, suggesting upland
and meadow bare feet. flowing hair, the
JOY of life. butter, milk and eggs. She say
Ored OF the sunrise.
He was a farmers son, with some school
ing, tall,plain Of feature and wore glasses.
II was almost certain that thes were neigh
bors' children, probably schooimaJes al s
district school. and later had 1lisEed their
education by q commercial course in the
nearest town.
I. city born and bred. fell to wondering
about these TWO young people. Was this
luncheon together a casual AFFAIR, or had
partnership articles been drawn up. signed.
sealed and witnessed by the parties to the
contract? Was the young man employed in
the city and she up for the day, OF were
both toilers in the busy mart7
Ny first question vas answered a minute
later in characteristic feminine fashion.
Scarcely had the lady settled herself TO her
kim when her left hand. with q careless.
unconscious grace was extended at full
length upon the table. Upon that telltaIe
third finger g~littsred 4 ring. no tawdry
tsnsel or cheap imitation. but a diamond. a
single stone Of size and briliianey tina any
girl might be proud 10 wear. D1yoluntsrly
my respect for these young strangers rose
immeasurably- For be it borne in mind they