The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-11

the hall Of her office when she saw
young man with a card in his hand
looking helplessly about. He flushed
when he saw her, and thrUsting the
card hastily away, took a quick step
forward guilt and entreaty on his face
Were you looking for me- she ask
cd in a tone that made il easS 10 i'd
nit that he was
Il had splendid excuse for coming,
but for the life OF me I can't remem-
Der it, he blurted out rediy.
Come in and perhaps we can think
one up she suggested. leading the way
TO her little cupboard OF a private Office.
He was plainly awestruck. sitting on
the edge of rigid little contributors
chair; yet, for all his shyness, he never
for a moment seemed LACKING In breed
ing.
The somewhat Informal etiquette Of
her Office prolonged the dilemma The
next tine he called. a boy brought him
directly to her sanctum. without an
nouncement. and after he came there Of
his own accord. She tried to find out
his name from George Weber. but her
description met only Darkness
Meanwhile. the only practical facts
she learned about her nameIess friend
NNlG AAAdA II was III some large DUST
ness, OF which his father was the head
and that, in spite of his bOyishness. he
was two years older than herself FIe
had evidently the vast respect for lit
erary achievement possible only to those
who have revereEced books and never
known their authors. The fact that ht
had at last entered into personal rela-
tons with one OF the golden tribe was
evidently a GREATNESS marvel 10 him.
Laura suspected that ne punched hiut-
self when he walked away, 10 be quite
sure 1t was not teasing dream. To
have betrayed now that she did not
know his name would have been TO hurt
his feelings beyond forgiveness.
She tried various devices 10 trap II
without raising suspicious. once. pull
ing out her little notebook, she demand
60 his address, and he, deeply pleased,
gave street and number.
But I don't know your fun name, -
she protested. with appraised pen
on. I'm just John no middle name,
he answered, unsuspiciously, 1 ne num-
/ Der was that OF "A bachelor apartment
building. containing at least nifty Johns,
Then she made hgIl an opportunity 20
write her note; but he came to rec
her instead.
wouldn't send one TO YOU. he said
naivelv at her protest. Il know you
think I'm cleverer than I am. or you
wouldn't be so good TO me. When / have
horrible dreams now, they're always
that you've found me out
/ She studied his clear, even features
with satisfied eyes.
Il don't think YOU understand women
very well" she said. after a pause.
..Not very. And 1 never even met 4
famous woman before he said. with
shy simplicity.
His faith in her greatness began To
trouble Laura The fact that he had
had a magazine acquaintance with her
name before he had met ner evidently
placed her among the immortals In his
ewes; and though she found TIE position
undenia bly, pleasant, she had q frequent
sense of being an impOster
A day or two later ne called her up on
the telephone, and, taken unawares. she
missed a good opportunity OF hearing his
name by showing at once that she rec
osnized his voice. She approached the
subject in 4 hundred ways, only 10 have
some chance or interruption battle her.
She could have obtained his card by ask
Ing him to call on her at her own home,
hut this was at present boarding
house. where one small and very public
parlor made visitors an impossibility.
The question began TO be one of the
amusing features OF her life, and she
came rather TO dread the end of It,
And meanwhile they were GROWTH Z
amazingly friendly. Few women could
have resisted such whole-souled devo-
ton, expressed by such splendid blue
eyes, and Laura. in spite of her name