Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1907-05-17

self
AS soon as he got the money from
my teller hat day, he was rushing
away. followed MIN to the door
that part of my suite opened out on
the sidewalk for che convenience OF
my crow Is of customers. I'm just
going to lunch" said l. Come with
me-"
He looked uneasily toward a smart
little one-horse brougham at the curb
"Sorry-but | can't" said he. 1--WE
my sister with me. She brought me
down in her trap"
That's all right" said /; bring
her along. Well go to the Savarin."
And l locked his arm in mine and
started toward the brougham.
He was turning all kinds Of colors
and was acting in way that puzzled
me-thcn. Despite all my years in
New York was ignorant of the elab-
crate social distinctions that had
grown up in its Fifth avenue quarter.
l knew, of course, that there was q
fashionable society and that some OF
the most conspicuous of those in II
seemed unable to get used to the idea
of being rich and were in a state OF
great agitation over their own i'm
portance. Important they might be,
but not to me. l knew nothing of
their careful gradations of snobbism
the people to know socially, the
people to know in business way, the
people to know in ways religious and
philanthropic, the people to know for
the fun to be got out of them, the
people to pride oneself on not know.
ing at all; the nervousness, the hys.
terra about preserving these disgust.
ing gradations. All this, l say, was
an undreamed-of mystery to me, who
gave and took liking in the sensible,
self-respecting American fashion. So
l didn't understand why Sam, as
almost dragged him along, was STAN.
mering: Thank you-but-I-she-
the fact is, we really must get up.
town"
By this time was where / could
look into the brougham. A glance
can see much at a glance, as can
any man who spends every day of
every year in an all-day fight for his
purse and his life, with the blows com.
ing from all sides. l can see much
at a glance; often have seen much:
| never saw more than just then. In.
stantly, | made up my mind that the
Ellerslys would lunch with me.
You've got to eat somewhere" said
In tone that put an end to his at
tempts to manufacture excuses. 'Tn
be delighted to have you. Don't make
up any more yarns"
He slowly opened the door. Anita"
said he, Mr.. Blackjack. He's invited
us to lunch
] lifted my hat, and bowed. kept
my eyes straight upon hers. And It
gave me more pleasure to look into
them than had ever before got out
OF looking into anybody's. / am pas.
fond of flowers, and of chill.
dren; and her face reminded me of
both. Or, rather, 1t seemed to me that
what had seen, with delight and
incomplete In their freshness
and beauty and charm, was now be-
fore me In the fullness. / felt like
saying to her: Il have heard of you
often. The children and the flowers
have told me you were coming" Per.
haps my eyes did say 1t. At any rate.
she looked as straight at me as I at
her, and noticed that she paled a
little and shrank-yet continued to
ook, as II I were compelling her. But
her voice, beautifully clear, and lin.
sering in the ears like the resonance
of the violin after the bow has swept
It's strings and lifted, was perfectly
;elf-possessed, as she said to her
brother: THAT will be delightful-if
you think we have time"
! saw that she, uncertain whether
ne wished to accept, was giving him a
chance to take either course. He
has time-nothing but time" said 7 |
HIS engagements are always with
people who want to get something out
d him. And they can wait" | pre. |
ended to think he was expecting me |
o enter the trap; l got in, seated my.
self beside her, said to Sam: I've
saved the little seat fer you. Tell
our man to take us to the Equitable
'uilding-Nassau street entrance"
talked good deal during the first
lalf of the nearly two hours we were
ogether-partly because both Sam
nd his sister seemed under some sort
Il strain, chiefly because was deter.
mined to make good impression.
OLD her about myself. my horses, my
louse In the country. my yacht.
ried to show her l wasn't an ignor.
mus as to books and art, even II I
adnt been to college. She listened.
fhiie Sam sat embarrassed. "You
aust bring your sister down to visit
ne." | said, finally "Pll see that Won
9th have the time of your lives.
lake up a party of your friends. Sam
nd come down-when shall we saw
Text Sunday? You know you were
oming anyhow. can change the
est of the party"
Sam urovv n. - >.