Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1904-03-09

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
unaccOuntable 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
to New York
On the day of his arrival he planned
to dine with Renwick. 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 beaming eyes
rOved over the other passengers. A
slight figure at the far end of the car
sure
Pardon me a miTute, Jack" he said,
rising and making his way toward the
girl, with whom q 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 a revealing look passed
hok hid oN
Its Natica Aston, a cousin Of mine,
you know" he explained to Renwick.
Tough luck they had, 1 tell you. But
she's a plucky girl She has earned her
own living now for four years."
"Will you present meT' demanded
Renwick 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 it.
"When 1 said-asked you to intro
| duce mel didn't mean the usual thing.
I'm going to ask you to do something
|
many questions"
what kind Of a mystery is this?"
inquired Stoughton. "If 1 didn't know
that there isn't a grain of romance in
you should certainly think"-
Now, don't think-there's a good
fellow" sOOthed Renwick. Just fol-
low Instructions Tell Miss Aston all
/ oh AOII Ior
everything good that you can or I'll
wiring your neck, and make an appoint
ment for me to call. Don't make any
mistake. l want to see her and see
her alone. 1 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 moment later:
Did you say he is a bachelorT I'm
nOeently) II thought he was a wild
over"
StOughton, Indignantly, 81 thought
you knew nothing about him?"
81 don't, but he wore mourning"
"That was for his mother"
In the dim little parIor 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
injecting before.
When the maid ushered him in
Natica, looking rather more like a lily
than usual in her long, soft black
gown, rose with every intention oil
greeting him in the most formal man
ner. Then a most unlocked for thinl
occurred.
For moment they looked into eacf
others eyes. Then he stretched Ou
his hands toward her, and she placed
hers in them. A moment later sht
was swept up into his arms as if sh,
had been a child as he murmured soft
, ~, "My dear, dear lover
What shall we tell mamma?' wall
ed Natica in despair a half hour later
J How can we ever explain ourselves 2
1--WE can't" replied Renwick com
fortably. I'VE might just as well re
sign ourselves to being thought mad
1t all comes from the ridiculous su
/ perstitiOn that in order to know peopI
/ you must talk to them"
And then-well, then they forgot tn
) world and its opinions to talk of ia
lovelier things.