The Washington herald., 1907-06-03
JOHN NORMAN'S OPPORTUNITY
B Y c. r. FRAM ME.

The hands Of the city clock pointed to
G. and the streets leading to the station
fairly hummed with life. Suburban shop
pers, business folk. and the idle minority
were ali homeward bound. Electric trans
whirred and changed IN every direction
and eager crowds surged into them.
"Rosedale, Rosedale"' shouted the
starter.
Helen Gray gathered her suit case.
string bag, and Boston fern and made
desperate efforts to secure a place. In
her haste she trlpped on a loosened shoe
string and fell heavily into her seat.
She was weary beyond words with the
days shopping Il was a hot evening
and the train was packed. Passengers
behind her crowded and pushed, jammng
her against a man az the seats end A
brass curtain rod which she was carry
ing prodded him sharply in the ribs She
turned to apologize. but the words died
on her lips when she found herself con
fronted by the eager face OF THE Enc
my" With a brief word she drew the
offending rod into place and tried to
edge away from him.
He had passed her early in the morn
ing bound cltyward in his motor car.
She had encountered him a number of
times during the day. and when she had
committed her one extravaganza, lunch
at Maclean's, he, too had sauntered in
and had seated himself at a window
table beside hers. The enjoyment OF her
lunch was spoiled by the scrutiny OF
John Norman's gray eyes.
The feud between the Normans and
Greys was OF the fine. unreasonable.
New England type. There had been real
cause for grievance at the outset. two
generations back. but when the grand
nieces Of Ezra Grey came to live in the
old homestead, John Norman, grandson
Of William the offender was more than
ready 70 bury the hatchet; and II was the
irony Of fate that he should fall in.love
at sight with Helen Grey.
He was rich and popular. and the most
eligible Of Rosedale bachelors. He had
never before been anxious In regard "a
friendship with women. During HIS
thirty-slx years there had been so many
portant. But for the past four months
he had planned and schemed to reach q
friendly footing with his neighbOrs and
had failed. They quietly ignored his
/ friendly advances, snubbed him a few
times. and now, the fear Of marring the
armed neutrality kept him from over
stepping their limit
As Helen settled beside him In the
/ tram, he was very conscious Of the pres
sure of her arm against his and of the
weary droop Of her pretty head He had
/ had her under espionage all day and this
accounted for his unusual proceeding,
going back TO Rosedale by trolley.
/ He was eager 10 take some Of the
heavy bundles that inCumbered her lap.
/ but he dared not make the suggestion;
| her shrinking movement from him and
| her unfriendly glance were earnest Of a
rebuff
Twilight deepened and the lights
twlnkled in the car. When there was
elbow room she must tie her loosened
! shoestring. She made two or three at
tempts to reach it, but TO tie a shoe in
crowded car, with a bundle-laden lap
and gloved fingers is no easy feat.
John Norman was aware Of her ef-
/ forts, as his foot was beside hers on the
rail Of the seat ahead When he felt q
sharp tug at his shoestring he under
stood its significance. He knew. also. by
| the energetic twist that the offending
string was tied IN hard knot. and that
was as it should be.
She signaled the conductor to stop at
| a corner some distance from her home.
rather than at the nearer one, where they
must alight together. He understood
the significance Of this, also She was
getting off, bundle-laden, 20 avoid the
possibility Of any association with him.
Norman's hand stroked his mustache to
| conceal the smile at her transparent tao
tics
As the car slowed she rose burdened
with bundles Then came a struggle.
confusion, and sickening distress. as she
dropped back fairly on John Norman 5
knee. Then she realized what the tr0u-
bic was-she had tied her shoestring 10
his. She was profoundly grateful for the
cool. matter-of-fact way IN which he
took her wild behavior. She struggled ia
her feet again, and all Of Rosedale that
was riding home in that special electric
craned its neck in intense enjoyment at
what was going on.
The m0tOrman, angry at the delay,
changed the bell with furious insistence,
and the conductors sharp Hurry up!
hurry up. lady. don't keep the car wait
/ ing added still further to her nervous
embarrassment.
John NOrman's clear voice rang out
| Wait a minute. conductor" in the tone
of one used to being obeyed. The con-
duCtOr had a profound respect for Mr..
John Norman, and ran forward to stop
the changing bell. In the meantime
Norman had produced his pocketknife
and had cut the knotted laces, his and
hers She gave a confused murmur of
thanks. and Norman hastily catching up
the parcels, followed her out There was
no word Of protest, and his sympathetic
glance revealed quivering lips and big
brown eyes suffused with tears.
The car whirred away, and a faint
echo Of laughter was borne back. It was
the last straw.
Fools he CALCULATED, while the giri
leaned against a nearby wall and laughed
till the tears ran down her cheeks.
The vagaries of women were beyond
his comprehension, and he looked his be-
wilderment. standing mutely. with suit
case, bulging string bag, and pot of fern.
please. please forgive me- she
--fz