Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-10-03
By
ELLEN
GLASGOW
COPYRIGHT by the S. 8
MCCLURE co.

He smiled ooh, beg your pardon"
he said. you didn't look it, and it is
so hard to tell. l offered a lemon to
that gray green girl over there, and
she flew into rage. But are you ill
in earnest?"
II shouldn't exactly choose it for
jest" she returned, though somehow
1t does make time pass. One forgets
that there are such divisions as days
and weeks. 1t all seems q blank"
But it is very calm
$50 the stewardess says" she an
swered aggrievedly. "but the boat
rocks dreadfully."
He did not reply, and in moment
his glance wandered to the card upon
her. chair. "Odd, isn't it?" he ques-
toned.
She followed his gaze and colored
family. The card read, "Nlrs. L..
Smith" Then he pointed to similar
label upon his own chair, bearing in a
rough scrawl the name IL. Smith"
cit is very common name" she re-
marked absently.
He laughed. Very" he admiHl"d.
..Perhaps your husband is Lawr, e
Smith Also"
The smile passed from her lips.
"My husband is Dead" she answer
ed; "but his name was Lucien.'
He folded the newspaper awkwardly.
Then he spoke. Nicer name than
Lawrence" he observed.
She nodded "a name is OF very lit
tie consequence" she rejoined. Il have
always felt that about every name in
the world except Lucy. Lucy is mine"
He looked into her eyes. Despite her
illness they shone with warm. faWn-
like brown. II think it pretty name.
he said. cit is SO soft"
at has no character she returned.
81 have always known that life would
have been different for me if 1 hadn't
been called Lucy People would not
treat me like child if were Augusta
or even Agnes-but Lucy!'
.People change their names some
tines he suggested.
She laughed softly. II tried to. !
tried to become Lucinda, but l could
not. Lucy stuck to me-"
cit wouldn't be so bad without
Smith," he remarked, smiling.
"rhat was horrible cross" she re-
turned. II wonder If you mind Smith
as much as I do"
At first he did not answer To her
|. surprise his face grew grave, and she
saw the haggard lines about his mouth
which his smile had obscured. ut was
a deuced good chance that struck
it, he said shortly.
! For time they sat silent. Then, as
the luncheon gong sounded and the
passengers focked past, he rose and
bent over her chair. you will have
chicken broth?'' he said distinctly. II
|, will send the steward And ere she
recovered from her surprise he left her
A little later the broth was brought
and soon after the steward reappeared
bearing iced prunes. 1.-THE gentleman
sent you word that you were to eat
| these" he said And she sat up in be
| wilderment and ate the prunes silently
"You are very kind" she remarked
timidly when he came up from the din
ing saloon and threw himself into the
| chair beside her.
For an instant he looked at bel
blankly, his brow wrinkling. She saw
that he was not thinking of her ano
Redeemed.
"You were kind-about the prunes,'
she explained.
.The prunes?' he repeated vaguely
Then he brought himself together witt
a jerk. ooh, you are the little woman
| who was sick-yes, remember"
"They were very NICE" she said more
firmly.
Il am glad you liked Them he re
| Joined and was silent. Then he broke
| into an irrelevant laugh, and the lines
upon his forehead deepened. She saw
| that he carried habitual sheer upor
his lips. With half frightened ges
| ture she drew from him.
81 am glad that you find life anus
ing" she observed stiftiy. Il don't"
He surveyed her with dogged hu
NOR. cit is not life; it is you"
She spoke more stifly still. II dom
catch your meaning" she said. "Is my
| hat on ono siA"2"