The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-12
A TWENTIETH
CENTURY CINDERELLA.

H..
GRATED into an interchange of common
places that might eliminate in permits
sion to call Indeed. If she had been, ii
is safe to conclude BerenSon would
not have troubled his head about her.
Tor he had a social position to maintain,
q good deal of personal pride and more
than the average sense Of exclusive
ness
"Halio," he said. suddenly, and stop
ped snort.
The girl ahead had paused. She was
evidently in some predicament. for she
stopped as though to extricate herselI
or to pick up an article dropped. Almost
at the same instant, however. ire
mendous dray, piled with boxes. bore
down upon her. and at the shout OF the
driver. who was striving to rein in his
huge Percherons. she sprang toward
safety and reached the sidewalk
Berenson let the dray pass. Looking
down directly on the spot where the girl
had hesitated, ne saw that which had
arrested her. and bending quickly. ne
pulled out of the thick. black, sticky
mud an absurdly small rubber. with its
wrinkles holding the arch of high lit
tie instep-
He felt ridiculously elated. So pleased
did he look. in fact. that a friend jOSt-
ling him as he reached the opposite
sidewalk remarked his satisfaction
Wheat gone up, Berenson ?"
''No-ru5beri" laughed Berenson-
And his friend walked off. wondering
what there was in fishing footwear out
of the usire to make a fellow look SO
idiotically pleased.
cit was mighty muddy, tool! he
commented disgustedly.
This accuse ton could not be made
against it an hour later. cleansed and
polished to the highest possible degree
by the man who kept the shoestand in
the Office building where BerenSon
had a suite. He took his prize up
stairs and deposited it, wrapped IN
ha of desk.
Then he sauntered to the window TO
look over at the skyscraper across the
way. where at a certain window IN a
certain tier. he had often seen GER
tain head. 1t was a shapely head. |
ringleted as close as a baby's with
sunny brown curlS- Indeed, so ire
QuentIy of late had he gone to his own /
easement to discover if that particular
bonnie head and roseleaf face were /
within range of his vision that his /
business began to suffer from such I
erratic absences
Not that Jack Berenson was both t
ering himself about business During \
those minutes he stood, absorbed in 4
day dreams, staring apparently at the
undressing wall of an unintereSunS
building. he was thinking for the most 1
part how strange it was that he, who I
had come gayly uD the road of life, /
heart whole and fancy free, until he
had reached his thirtieth milestone,
should all at once be beSet by the most /
chimericaI hopes. the most futile de- /
Sires. the most glorious of chaotic I'M
aginings.
1t was lunacy he told himself-stark,
staring Iunacy-that he should go on
his way with a bounding heart and a
feeling OF, the most SenselesS exhilara-
ton. Just because he had passed girl
Ish figure on the sidewalk. met the in
different glance of violet. black-lashed
eyes looking forth from beneath a
white. brow, or caught the faint elusive
perfume of her demure garments, And
the. worst of it was that he could not
bring himself to be indignant with hlnl-
self for being such a fool
You like to be a fool" he told him
self angrily. You're hugging your fol-
y, And much good it will do you!
You've not got enough sense, JACK be
-enson. to last a crazy man till break
last timel'
With which final shot he was apt to
break away from his vigil, return stern
y to his desk and plunge into work I'M
he began to wonder If she
night have returned to her chair IN
he window, or by any chance be going
lad seemed slight chance of making
her acquaintance before Fate, in the
,uise of a treacherous street crossing,
rad placed a belonging of hers in his
possession
But when he had sailed forth with
lis prize his courage almost failed him:
And when the elevator man let him on
It the eighth floor, as bldden, II was
escape by way of the staircase that
overwhelmed him. But he pulled him
;elf together and went toward the suite
IF doctors Offices which he knew occu-
bed that particular angle of the big
building. Some of the physicians whose
James We're inscribed on the tablet in
he corridor were friends of his
Hope 1 don't run into Norton, OF
;chriener, or MacIntyre," he said S
Hope don't"
But he did-aI three of them. They |
nd a few of their professional asso- (
iates had met in the reception room
previous to attending a medical con-
-ention in a body 1t seemed to poor :
3erenson, standing helplessly in the s
and, that the place was packed with I
yes-curious. inquisitive. hooking
yes.
But a few voices called out pleas /
ntly enough. "Hallo-how dye do. I
serenson - And MacIntyre came for {
rard with a smile that made his ugly {
quite charming.
"Your-the young LADY STAN '
ge much as though it were a letter I
Z introduction she lost this, 5
SOh. see," The doctor turned :
astily- Miss Meredith" he called.
A girl-the girl-came from an adj {
oining room. She looked lovelier '
han ever without her hat and coat.
Ter soft. green gown fitted her as its {
ewildered look in her eyes made T
hem look more than ever like violet
tars- I
Berenson knew then how a man /
cit who performs a deed of daring in
he canncn's mouth. Z
IT was behind you this noon" he T
cyan. and when you lost this s
"Oh. thank youi" she interrupted ! y
at once, and taking q
ne offered bundle. You were very Z
ind to bring il to mel" \
Very" MacIntyre said, ''let me in d
-oduce to you Mr.. Berenson. You r
ave often heard Alice mention him. ! h
am sure. Jack-this Is Miss Mere I
it'll. my wife's sisteri" And then as I