Middletown transcript., 1904-07-23
By NARY JOSEPHINE M YER

heartiness that should not oyerstep the
bounds Of friendship.
s'Did you miss me last summer at Bey-
erly?' she asked, with little upward
glance. Most men met Eunice Garner,s
eyes on aleyel and some thought her too
tall.
Il didn't go' "how could Iwien you
were not there, my darling p lie had al
most said. Instead, he explained elab-
orately-"You see, Drayton was in Swift
zerland, and the Jocelyns' is a deuced for
NAL house to stay at that refused their
bid, and-well, thought I'd go to Maine
for a change" He was doing well, he
told himself-he hadn't known how good
an actor he could be. Eunice sank into
the corner OF a sofa; he drew a small gilt
chair in front of her and sat up very
straight, as if the physical brace would
somehow stiffen his moral backbone. She
threw him searching glance. "Then my
being away had nothing to do with your
not going to Beverly?
ooh, of course" lie said, in the tone
he might have used to woman whom he
had just been asked to take out to dinner.
81 should have missed you awfully"-
then, as happy afterthought-"the ten
mis-, and all that, you know. He wouldn'i
have made such bad diplomat, after all
He remembered how his uncle, the one
who paid his way through college, had
wanted him to 60 into the service. There
was pause. Then-"How is Mrs. Gar:
ner?' he asked politely. But the old
chill was creeping over him. Eunice was
by this time very much the woman Of
the world; her gray eyes met his in level
careless glance.
"Mother is bit uncomfortable-she
thinks Pm not quite proper. She seems
to forget that Pm woman of twenty six
and like to dispense with chaperon oc-
casionally; she prefers to keep up the tic-
ton of my extreme youth. In short, I'm
deyiating from the straight and narrow
way of Boston-I hope you duly appre-
ciate my going out alone with you?" She
talked against time, as if he were a par
ticularly difficult dinner escort.
"Oh, | appreciate it," he said miser-
ably. 'See here, Eunice''-he remem-
bered himself in time.
"Well ?" she interrogated.
"Nothing-I was just going to say-to
ask if that's Paris hat?''
"Yes; do you likeit?" She turned her
head carelessly, as if asking the appro-
val OF milliner.
"You would be beautiful in anything" ?"
was his thought; but he said: "It's aw-
fully swell. Those Paris people can make
any woman look like beauty-well,
didn't mean that, exactly" stopped,
confused; he wasn't doing so well. She
looked at him curiously.
"By the way, John, Mr.. Drayton came
home on the steamer with us-did he tell
you?
A spasm OF jealousy clutched him like
a physical. Drayton, who had been his
chum, was absurdy rich, disgustingly
good-looking, and entirly unspoiled.
"Charie always was secretive chap"
he said, not quite truthfnlly.
'He sat next TO me at table," went on
Eunice nusingly; "and when l couldn't
eat, l found such comfort in gazing at his
profile. It's absolutely Greek"
Involuntarily Brockton passed his
hand over his own blunt nose. Il pre-
sume he proposed to your" he said saw
agely. He had completely forgotten his
part. She made no reply and a fierce
anger rushed over him. He wanted to
hurt someone. He rose and bowed to
her tremendously. "Allow me to con-
gratulate you, Mrs. Charles Appleton
Drayton," He wished her to resent it
he hoped she would be very angry.
Instead she gave low laugh and look
ed up at him with the happy light once
more in her eyes. sit down, John, and
don't be goose. You look positively
murderous. No; I'm not engaged to- Char
ley Drayton.''
THANK GodT p lie calculated soleinnly.
Then, with anxiety: care you going to
be?'
Fora moment she looked at MIN teas
ingly, then, under his gaze, the warm
color rose until it flooded her face, and
she dropped her eyes and said quietly :
mo" She was adorable. For the
twentieth time that evening lie cursed
himself for not having won the right to
tell her so.
whats the matter ?' she asked, re-
covering herself. "Your jaw is set if you
wanted to fight some one ?'
"Oh, | was only thinking how glad l
am to have you back"
She laughed. "If that look means pleas
ure, let's be miserable. Come, cheer up
and tell me where you are going to take
inc tonight % Her spirit lad risen to
the point of hilarity. As he watched her
draw OH her gloves he thought what
strange girl she was, with her freezing
Indifference for his good behavior, her
gay warmth for his rudeness. Well. he.
would bask in her mood while it lasted
and forget the future. Il thought I'd
let you choose" he said.
'Then suppose we walk downtown and
see what turns up. l feel what Mother
would call irresponsible tonight"
As they came out into the clear January
night the cold wind smote them in the
face and forced them to take bri. pace.
1t was the hour when people are hurry
ing to the theaters, when Madison
Square is the focus of a thousand elecric
lights, and all New York, clad in its
best, seems bent OH pleasure. In forlon
contrast to the general gaiety were mot
ley crowd OF men, gathered on the strip
II asphalt to the iorth OF the Worth
Monument triangle. They were singing
a blnlu the hoarsa and dolaf,I st,a;, ~