Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1905-04-06

to the casino. With a thrill Of salts
faction he noticed that as they passed
down the aisle between the lines Of
tables all eyes followed the slender
gray figure and low murmurs of ap-
proval reached his ear. He wondered
whether this was a twentieth century
Cinderella, this graceful figure at his
side, transformed by shimmering gray
silk from the tailor made stenographer
who had worked beside him for the
past few weeks. She was perfectly
self possessed, only a slight flush and
a singularly bright light in her eyes
showed that she was excited.
All patronage died out of Twom-
bley'S bearing. He was genuinely anx-
ious now to please her. AS for the
girl, she displayed a knowledge Of
books, plays and pictures Of the hour
which astonished Twombley. Wonder
fully adaptive creatures are the Ameri-
can girls, he decided. That must be
the reason why it was so hard to tell
whether a family had been born to
money or born TO make it. Before
they re-entered the hanson to drive to
the roof garden he had decided that
money really didn't count after all.
The roof garden seemed stupid and
cheap. He looked at the girl at his
side then at the occupants in the boxes
around him; then he leaned toward
her and whispered: Let's get out Of
this. | know it's boring you. Well
go over to the Beauclaire for q bit Of
supper and hear the mondolin club
play"
She rose with evident relief, and they
walked through the quiet side street to
an odd foreign boxing cafe on whose
roof the mandolin and guitars tinkled
limpidly. Here no lights blazed, for
the moonlight flooded the scene.
The girl leaned back restfully in her
chair, and Twombley smoked in ST.
lence, studying her profile the while.
Somehow his fathers brownstone man
sion on the avenue seemed very far
away His austere and critical mother
faded into Il vague background. 1t
would not be any condescension on his
part, he decided. They could slip away
to Italy or Japan or some other far
away place for the honeymoon, and
the world would get through talking
about ii before they came back. A
filmy cloud passed over the moon. The
girls hand, white and slender, lay on
the table, temptingly close within his
reach. He leaned forward impetu-
ously.
Hello, Twombley. What are you do
ing In town at this season Of the yearT'
Twombley scowled at the intruder;
then his face cleared.
Hello, Davidson. When did you
landE"
The girl had made a move as If to
rise; then she sank back in the chair,
her face white and set In the moon
light
Il came in on the Lucania yesterday
and thought I'd see something of little
old New York before starting for
He had turned slightly toward Miss
Carruth, and just then the moon slip
ped from under the cloud, and the clear
light struck her face.
Helen
He leaned heavily against the table.
The girls head was bent so low that
he could not look into her eyes.
Jack" she said softly, but not so
softly that he missed either the word
or the tender accent with which she
fingered over his name.
They had forgotten Twombley's eX-
istence Now the newcomer pulled him
self together
Il beg your pardon, old man, but
Miss Carruth and | We're once-very-
good-friends, and
II see" said Twombley, rising, with
ssls.y.--=r ~ -.Ee, you II IooA
after Miss Carruth for a moment I'd
like to have a chat with an artist
friend | see buried behind a row of
stems"
Without so much as a thank YOU
Davidson dropped into the vacant
chair.
Helen, I've come back to look after
you for always, and dear, If you'll for
give my selfshness I'll promise you
can study sociology and found work
ing girls clubs and endow industrial
schools-anything so you will come to
me-"
Twombley had forgotten all about
the artist friend. He was leaning over
the parapet looking down on the far
ing street lamps.
thought there was need Of a secret
honeymoon in Italy or Japan. Tom, my
boy, you're fool"'
He glanced across the area of tables
The gray picture hat and a stiff, white
straw were close together.