The Press., 1907-02-20
By OHIO B. SENGA
CopmIOht, 1905, By Homer SpraOue

for him. She must have known that he
was on his way to call upon her.
The torturing minutes seemed hours,
after he had sent up his card, and he
felt the scarlet flood mount to his fore
head again and again as some laugh
ing girl stole a second glance at his
handsome face and stalwart figure.
When Eff1e came down the stairs
gowned In white she seemed to the
embarrassed young fellow the embodi-
ment of GOODNESS and self possession.
Her greeting was hardly courteous,
In degree removed from cordially, and
she spoke with some asperity.
"Why, Ross Brady, where are you
staying? expected you to register
herew
He crimsoned under the reproof Of
her voice and manner; then the square
shoulders were set back, and the heavy
chin hardened.
"You knew, Efie," gravely, 'that
could not afford the rates here. l am
ct farmhouse mile away. | can be
with you whenever you wish, Ef1e,"
pleadingly.
"And your call just now, Ross" fret
fully, "is wholly without regard to eti-
Quette. / only came down to tell you
that you can come again tomorrow,
and be sure to send up two cards, one
for me and one for Mrs. Lyons, the
chaperon of the party.
He laughed shortly.
"Effie, the card sent up is probably
the last one 1 have. My vacation is
necessarily brief one, and
"Oh, Ross" In an excited whisper,
'here comes Miss Van Vance! Do go!
I mustn't be seen talking to you like
this She Is from New York and aw-
fully
Brady waited no longer. He bowed
formally to Effle and turned sharply
toward the door, meeting Miss Van
Vance on the threshold.
She looked squarely into his eyes as
they passed with an expression that
he afterward recalled and wondered
about.
She's good deal older than Fife
and those other girls" he unused. u
wonder Then he shrugged his Shout
ders impatiently. "What difference
does it make anyhow? I'll write Eff
fie note. was a donkey not to
think about cards. l don't wonder she
was annoyed. She wants to be cor
rect about matters Of etiquette, Of
course"
But Brady's honest heart was sore
indeed on the following day when the
messenger returned with no answer to
the pleading little note he sent to Effie.
He put on rough suit of flannel and
started for a tramp, striding rapidly
along the country road, his handsome
face moody and forbidding.
The sound of wheels reused him
from his unpleasant reflections.
sit is country etiquette" said clear
voice, "for one who drives to ask one
who walks to have lift"
He turned quickly. 1t was Miss Van
Vance, seated in a light Stanhope, driv-
Ing high stepping bay. She smiled
down into his astonished face, refined
and turned the animal with a quick
movement. of her supple wrist, glanc
Ing invitingly at the seat beside her.
Brady had never before been chal-
lenged in just such way, and his
blood rose. His usual difidence van
ished; he stepped promptly into the
vehicle and seated himself, saying
easily, lis it etiquette for the one who
walks to introduce himself to the one
who drivesP
ct isn't necessary" coolly. "You are
Ross Brady; you were brought up on
farm in northern Vermont; you have
studied all sorts of ologies and isms,
and you are now taking the advanced
course in metallurgy at the Harvard
summer school,"
"Who told your" rashly.
mo one. simply put two and two
together. The sum Is seven! 1 wasn't
sure, but your question proves it."
II am easily trapped" admitted
Brady.
He felt sudden sense Of ease and
confidence and Of comradeshlp with
this stately LOOKING girl. ana almost Dc-
fore he knew it he was pouring forth
the whole story Of his aims and am
billions, his plans and hopes, even to
his love for little Fife Danvers and
his chagrin at her cool reception.
Miss Van Vance listened interesting
~, smiling half sadly.
"Mr. Brady" she said slowly, Il am
older than you, and have had, per
maps, wI.er opportunities for observ-
ing human nature. And am like Sa-
manthy Allen-I know women just like
book because I've been one quite
spell. 1t is a woman,s nature to want
q man to beat down all barriers, even
those she herself has erected. Is the
hint sufficient, Mr.. Brady|
81 think So" quietly, land 1 thank
you, Miss Van Vance"
He resolved to act upon the sug-
gestion, yet it was two days before he
summoned courage to go again to the
hotel.
''Miss Danvers is not here just now"
said the laxative bellboy. ''That
whole party is out ON the lake-that is,
they're gettin' ready to go. You'll find
them, guess, If you go down." pocket
ing a dime with, accustomed CELEBRITY.
They're goin' in a launch
For an instant Brady was tempted
to go away. Then he thought of Miss
Van Vance and ran quickly down the
steps to the boat landing.
Miss Van Vance, standing on the
float, greeted him delightedly.
II am so glad you happened along
Can you spare the time to go around /
the lake with usr
Brady surprised himself with the |
ready ease of his acceptance.
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