Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-04-02

known. No twentieth century romance
ever moved SO slowly.
Then Billy Stoughton. who In this
particular case was the instrument OF
fate. awakened one morning with an
unaccountablc but imperative yearning
for broadway Five years earlier an
equally compelling desire had landed
him on the ranch. where he had bided
contentedly enough up To that particu-
lar morning. The evening of the next
day found him In Denver. from which
place he proceeded with as much haste
as the railroad facilities would permit
10 New York.
On the day of his arrival he planned
to dine with Rcnwick. the closest Of
his college friends. He had just time
to catch him by telephone before he
left his office. which he did. arranging
to meet him AT the elevated station and
go up town with him.
The first effervescence of their meet
ing over. Stoughton's beanIing eyes
roved over the other passengers. A
slight figure ut the far end of the car
held his glance He looked again to be
sure.
Pardon me minute. Jack" he said.
rising and making his way toward the
girl, with whom moment later he
was shaking hands cordially and talk
ing with the ease of long friendship.
Presently he returned to Renwick. and
as he did so revealing look passed
between the two. \ bridge at last!
Its Natica Aston. n cousin of mine,
you know" he explained to Renwick.
Tough luck they had. tell you. But
she's plucky girl. She has earned her
own living now for four years.
''Will you present mel" demanded
Rcnwick eagerly.
Certainly. I'll take you up there
with me- Natica will be glad to re-
ceive any friend of mine"
THANK you. old fellow: thank you"
Renwick paused awkwardly. He
seemed to have something else to say.
but scarcely knew how TO say 1t.
"When | said-asked you to intro
duce mel didn't mean the usual thing.
I bh EpihS w dch .Vu W io
queer and TO do it without asking too
many questions"
What kind of mystery is thisT'
inquired Stoughton. IF l didn't know
that there isn't a grain of romance in
you l should certainly think
Now. don't think there's a good
fellow" soothed Renwick "Just fol.
;,,gs lat oil
about me. and mind that you tell her
everything good that you can or I'll
wiring your neck. and make an appoint
mcnt for me to call. Don't make any
mistake. l want to see her and see
her alone. don't want you there"
When poor. mystified Bill Stoughton
preached the subject to Natica her be-
havior was doubly mysterious. No.
she didn't want to know anything
about him. Then a moment later:
Did YOU say he is n bachelor?" I'm
noccntly) II thought he was wild.
over
Stoughton. Indignantly. 81 thought
you knew nothing about him?"
81 don't. but he wore mourning"
nat WAS IoT HIS mother.
In the dim little parlor of the small
apartment where she and her mother
lived they met for the first time alone
save for the dead and gone Alstons
that looked down upon them from the
walls. Surely never was such a first
meeting before.
When the maid ushcred him in.
Natica. looking rather more like lily
than usual in her long soft black
gown. rose with every intention of
greeting him in the most formal man
ner. Then most unlocked for thing
occurred
For moment they looked into each
others eyes. Then lie stretched out
his hands toward her. and she placed
hers in them. \ moment later she
was swept up into his arms as il she
had been child rs he murmured soft
ly. My dear. dear love-
What shall we tell mamma:" wall
ed \atica in despair half hour later
How can we ever explain ourselves:"
I'VE can't" replied Renwick com
fortably. We might just as well re-
sign ourselves to being thought mad.
1t all comes from the ridiculous SUI
perstition that in order To know people
you must talk To them
And thcn-well. then they forgot the
world and its opinions to talk of far
lovelier things