The commonwealth., 1906-07-13
A Question Of Caste.
BY BELLE MANDATES,

There was no reason, apparently
why these two people, Carter John.
and Cleo Rivers, should not have pur.
sued their friendship openly and free.
ly, but they had met in a most uncon-
Fentlonal way, and there seemed to be
a tacit, though unspoken, agreement
between them that their meetings
should be clandestine,
Cleo was naturally interested and
excited when she found the house next
to theirs, which had been vacant for
so long, had been sold and was to be
occupied.
Her first surreptluous inspection of
one member of the new family was
from window overlooking their back
yard
Johns, tall and straight was critic
ally examining and testing a stupen-
dOus touring car. He looked very pic
| turesque In dark flannel shirt, his
wrists and throat in dead white CON
trast to his bronzed face and hands.
He wore corduroy trousers and hunt
ing boots, His hat back-tited,
showed a dark, Byronic waving lock
across his brow.
O!eo's heart beat pleasurably. She
was born coquette, and presently, at
tired in the most delectable of white
embroidered linen gowns, white shoes
and chiffon hat, she sauntered into the
back garden. He looked up. and his
glance fingered Iongingly. She feigned
to be unconscious of his presence and
began picking some flowers. Eyentu-
ally she gave sidelong glance.
Blushlng furiously at being detected in
his observation, he redoubled his at
tentions to the automobile.
Cleo was not conventional.
won't you have a rose?" she asked.
With eager haste and thanks he
crossed the boundary line to the two
gardens
i think we should be neighborly,"
abe said with a little laugh.
Il quite agree with you" he replied,
decoronsly, "and since there is no one
present to introduce me, | will do my
self the honor of presenting myself,
Carter Johns"
My name is Cleo Rivers" she said,
With naiyete. Did you just move in
asst night? We heard the place had
1een sold"
We are only partly moved" he
iaid, smiling. Il was anxious to see
f my new car came through safely.
think it is in good shape"
ut certainly looks so to me" she
ngly. 's"''''a-ss"as'aa''s'as''
do you like to ride?"
Indeed | dol" she cried, enthusias-
ically. There is no sweeter music I
han the chugging of a machine" t
He couldn't tell afterwards how 1t /
eally happened, or which one of them s
rst made the suggestion, but, any <
yay, he had an engagement to take 8
er out in the automobile that night
ie was afraid she would think him L
but she had seemed s
leased, and blushed as she told him f
he would have to meet him at the v
table--that they" would never con- f
ent. He reassured her that he un- t.
erstood the situation, and that he II
,ouId meet her anywhere and bring a
er safely home. a
She looked very elegant in her dark b
tire, as she met him that night back y
{ the stable, and she thought him j
ven handsomer in conventional attire y
han in his semi-hunting garb. t.
They quickly sped away from the il
rowded streets. and when they came c
} a road that was free, Carter "let n
er out" in way that was intoxicat-
lg to Cleo. t.
Then he slaCkened up, and they
llked on great many subjects She b
aid, truly, and he believed her, that Y
he had never stolen out to meet any r
ne like this before.
"She is young and sophisticated" o
e thought, "and she came out with a
le for the mere love of a lark, but o
wish she could come to care for me Il
5 | do for her. | can't expect that" CT
"He Is simply grand" she thought, p
ith a little thrill Of recollection n
hen she was safely back in her own W
,om, but he's SO much older than b
and has seen so much Of the world
h, love him now, but of course he {
oh, moi" she concluded with a sad
tile sigh.
The next afternoon as she was walk
g through the park, he passed her in tc
is bluish-white car. She bowed, and g.