The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1905-07-12
n. should she hesitate to address

with the serene blandness of a queer
| addressing subject.
Pardon me" - the voice was very
winning, but the dullest could not have
misunderstood; 1t was meant to pu1
an inferior perfectly at ease pardon
me, but I wonder If you would think
It very strange If asked you few
questions I'm interested in labor
unions,' she continued, with beauti
full directness, land should so like tc
hear labor's side. Excuse the person
atty, but you have the appearance OF
a workman who thinks for himself
Who
She got no further, for something In
the mans face transformed her into
picture of frozen dignity. Ripples
Of mirth seemed to be chasing each
other like little waves across his quiv-
erfng lips, while his eyes held hum
dred dancing smiles Then suddenly
the lights went out, and his face was
all humble, fattered gravity.
'1'll do my best, MISS" he replied,
though, as to having thought the mat
ter out for myself, can't claim that
have. Still, we-us union think
labor ought to have a chance, and
we're going to have it too. Wen have
capital on its knees to us yet! Well
knock the props from under it, and
don't you forget itv'
With thinly concealed anxiety-the
anxiety of one who was playing a part
and who wondered if he had done well
he watched the effect of his words.
But he need have had no fear, for his
listener had no standard by which to
Judge him. She had listened with slow
~ kindling eyes and the general ap-
pearance of one coming into touch
with the realities of life for the first
time
When at last the car halted at Co
lumbia she alighted with the convic-
ton that the man in the blouse had
infused a new interest into life, while
he. as the car coasted down the hill
into Harlem, stared blankly after her
disappearing figure for a second and
then burst into uncomfortable laugh
ter. '-,.yees4s-s@- H<s''---",-
1.-THE Jokes on me-" he confded to
himself ruefully. "It seems, then, that
blood doesn't always tell and that it
does take the tailor to make the man."
He glanced at the address she had
scrubbed on slip of paper for him,
shrugged his shoulders and narrowed
his eyes thoughtfully, the outcome be-
ing a decision that she needed the les
son. Besides, the corners of her mouth
were distracting!
In the days that followed Miss Sin
clair was more and more amazed at the
intelligence, as well as the contradic-
tons, of John Clayton, electrician. His
speech would flow on with a smooth
elegance astonishing in a man Of his
class, then, without warning, break in
to the most ear splitting errors.
Hack kneed phrases! Mere hack
kneed phrasesv' he exclaimed fervently
in the midst of discussion one day.
'sYou see, miss, in your en-vy-ron-ment''
he accented the third syllable strong
ly1"you can't see the things that |
see." Never by any chance did he use
her surname. Yet his manner at times
In moments of self forgetfulness, she
upon perfection. New
er in her life had she met with such
contradictions. And never in her life,
she mutely admitted to herself at last,
in a state of breathless dismay-never
had she met a man so entirely interest
Ing.
OF himself he spoke but little, but
in the very midst of some
deep question he would catch a soft,
absent, woman look in the eyes fixed
upon him-a look that had to
do not with wealth, position or the bet
terment of the working classes, but
that made him grow strangely warm
and inwardly call himself a brute.
1t was at dinner party three months |
after their first meeting that the I'M
took place-one binding flash |
Of surprise when Mr.. Harrington was |
presented to her, and then Miss Sin
clair was herself again.
"Well? he murmured braZenly when |
be found himself seated beside her at |
the table.
PRAY, what is your real name, and,
Il may ask, do you regard life as a
bal masque" Deity she managed to
mpart to the question that elusive
touch of insult the use Of which is one
If the most delicate arts that society
has to teach. But Harrington did not
vince
John Clayton Harrington, electrical
engineer, who has a mind to know
street railways from the ground up"
Re answered sturdily. At the answer a
sudden gladness leaped into her eyes.
Her head was bent low; her voice
changed.
tt am glad. l should not want you
% be-insincerew