The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-10-27

ready taught to believe him. And
perhaps her skepticism would have
proved more nearly true than his fan
cy for certain it is that his active
mind had more pleasure in this indi-
rect pursuit of her than the chase of
an inamorata often affords a man.
The mayor was frequent visitor at
the big boarding house. where he mar
veled TO find her open fire more at
tractive than his gilded radiators. He
wondered, too, why her homely work
basket seemed so much more of an or
nament on her red-covered table than
the jade card-receiver on his marble
top at home. But, slow to unfamiliar
sentiment and awkward in her actual
presence, he never put the questions
to her. The years wher women had not
mattered to him had done their work.
AS the third Christmas of Maria S
residence In Crowley approached, the
mayor took a great and courageous re-
solve. Something softer than usual in
her self-reliant face, a little touch of
pesiveness about her firm lips, a cloudy
glamor sometimes before her gray eyes,
/ inspired him with a more tumultuous
sensation than ever, when ne was with
her, and with a greater restlessness,
when he was in his own barren house.
He looked upon what he had done for
her and he. was glad and proud. He
would claim his reward! A humber
Mood prevailing, he would decide to
beg her to take pity on his loneliness.
He would ask her to play hostess at
his New Years reception.
An if she mentions clothes an
things" he said to himself, as he drove
along the rehabilitated River Way by
the white brilliancy of the December
stars and the great arc lights, I'll tell
Der We'll so ove- to Paree the week.
after an she can get what she wants. "
1 The old Blair place beamed rosy and
yellow out into the white radiance of
the night. The mayors heart thumped
painfully and his fingers bungled as ne
fastened the weight to the bit. His
voice was a little thick as he asked for
Mrs. Downs, and the smiling maid adj
mitted him.
Mrs. Downs came in after a brief
delay. There was a flush on her cheek
! like a young girls. and her eyes were
starry. Her plain frock was exchanged
for something that flUted and ffuttered
about the throat. The mayor surveyed
her with an agitated pride.
They wished each other a Merry
Christmas and drew their chairs be-
fore the fire. The mayor tugged at his
big moustache, and cleared his throat
many times. Then he played with the
cat. Mrs. Downs gazed silently at the
blaze. Suddenly she turned toward him.
Il want to tell you something" she
said with her old directness. You're
my oldest friend here; you gave me my
start with the dray and the driver and
l-and-my first boarder. You remem-
Der. Well-Tm going to be married"
Daniel stared at her, his big red
face expressiOnless, his eyes like two
| bits of dull blue china. She hurried
on nervously.
It's Ed-Mr. Wilson. You're re-
sponsible. you see, for it ALL"
! A slow amaZement crept over Dan
| iel's face He was galvanized into
speech, and with one sentence showed
how vast gulf lies between tact with
men and tact with women.
why, he's nothing but boy," he
blurted out.
Brickish red Travelled slowly Up
Maria's sensible face.
He is older than you think" she
said stiffly, land maybe I'm not so
old"
Daniel looked at her with dropping
jaw for minute.
Maybe he acquiesced finally, but it
was the acquieseence of an unoeliever.
"And you don't know" she hurried
on, ashamed Of her brief animosity,