davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-08

gone bis way.
The tears dimmed her eyes and she
did not notice tie approach OF one
OF the other boaTdeTs until he was
almost at the we'll Then she looked
up with a start
This is becoming intolerable,
she cried as she saw that IT was Sey-
mOur. 1T Is not nice of you to foi-
low me about like this What VIII
the boarders say2'
4 don't care what they say" he
affirmed, but I'd like TO know what
you really intend doing You told me
distinctly on the piazza that l could
not drive you away from Bayliss,
and so came over here TO find that,
as usual, you were before me-"
You did not know that had come
back here?"
Certainly not. How should 7?
The last I heard you had gone TO
bed with a sick headach and /
thought il might help ,ou- headache
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-08

would find their way % the bargain
counter. so he cIeveTIy led her to ap-
prove of this suggestio~
Samples were sent for, and while
they waited Grace cOnstrainedly
chatted upon such safe topics as the
weather and the -.eat in town
Philbrook might have been an en-
tire stranger, for all the indicating
he gave that few short weeks ago
they had been engaged At last the
decision was made and she rose to 90.
Il wish you would wait q mo-
ment," he said, quietly. Il should
like 20 make a personal ContTibu-
ton"
He slipped fppm the room and
Grace resumed her seat wondering
what he wished to give. He returned
in moment carrying a tiny morocco
case.
81 am really interested in your
charity" IA. said. "PIeace believe my
sincerity When 1 offer this to be raf-
fed off It should bring In some few
dollars for the poor little kiGdfes.
They are welcome to 1t. 1 have no
further use for it-''
She pressed the JTing, knowing
full well what the case contained.
but the sight of the solitaire that
had been her engagement ring moved
her strongly.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-08

You wish this to be ratified off2'
she repeated DULY, blinking hard to
keep back the tears.
1T is best that It should bring
happiness to someone" he said,
steadily. Il do not care to keep it
or to sell it,
There might be son-0ne you
could give it to-" she suggested
Precisely" agreed PhilbTool5. Il
am giving 1t to the poor misshapen
little tots who really need help"
For a moment she paused irreso-
IuteIy. then she moved toward the
door. and with a few conventional
words of thanks for his kindness
slipped out
But once she gained the cab,
Grace's tears began TO flow. She knew
that PhilbrOok was not only in the
right. but that he would not be the
first TO speak.
All the way to the station she
fought with her pride, and in the
end love won She went to the tele-
phone booth and called Up the store,
asking for Mr.. Philbrook- Presently
she heard his voice in answer.
This is Grace" she said, softly.
81 have been thinking things over,
Phil. Il think that it would be
wrong to rattle OF that ring because
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-08

gagged on the Gordon farm last sum-
mer, and Seymour was going back
there because he knew that pony
had decided to go TO Chiffon SUI
miles away.
But, behold, 1t was Dolly herseiI
who climbed into the blackboard ana
took her place beside Seymour, be
cause the drivers seat was Loaded
down with packages
She ignored his presence until
thew were we'll out of town, but one
cannot be entirely oblivious to the
presence of another person on the
same seat VI Mario buckooard'
and presently Dolly turned
eli you think to gain anything by
| coming here and ammo ing me" she
| said. coldly, you are very much mis-
| taken
Il heard that you were going 10
| Clifton" he explained. THAT was
the reason felt safe to come here.
shall move on at once"
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-08

If Won were to come down 70 break
fast in the morning AMI find that
had gone. ! shall go back 10 Town
tomorrow"
81 don't want TO spoil your Vaca-
ton on my account" she said, softly.
ITS spoiled now" he declared.
There is no fun in staying here and
knowing that I am offending you all
the time"
But suppose I am not offended"
she whispered. Suppose that | was
rather glad that fate brought US to-
gether?"
do YOU mean it2" For answer
she held out her hands and the pitch
er he carried went crashing on the
stones.
Mrs. Gordon, looking out OF the
window for the Ca Sc Of the crash,
smiled softly to herself as she crept
into bed again. Il guess she's moved
about enough TO be willing to settls
down now" she nurmured to herself.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-08

work"
''Or you would not have your sal
airy raised" replied FINLEY mechant-
cally, but he was thinking of some
thing else, a girl whose beauty was
not unlike that of the face so close
to his shoulder-only the other face
showed the marks of unSatisfied am
bition, the wear and tear Of social
life and the Observation-Disclosures
imprint of the masseur's hand.
Il get dreadfully tired of eating
dinner IN the breakfast room with
the children, and I've read until 1
hate the sight of magazine. 1t
would not be so bad If only aunt
would let me mfngle with the girls
7 meet downtown Some Of them are
very pIeaeolf but Gle says one must
no so careful in New York m
dreadfuIIy tired of being careful,
she finished rebelIiously. Il want
some girl friends and some good
times"
Il don't wonder" he responded
with sudden decision
The handsom drew up before a
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-08
lAA AFTER SECOND THOUGHT
AAA

you are opposed TO raffes7" he
asked, as her voice faltered and there
was silence for a moment
NO" she said, softly, but be-
cause / was wrong and I want II for
myself II you are still willing"
willing" The voice through the
receiver sounded ILL shout Why,
you blessed child, of course I'm will
ing. / wanted TO tell you so when
you were here, but it was business
call and / could not intrude our own
affairs"
81 wish you had" she said lt
would have been so much nicer 10
have had you tell me"
There is a later train TO the
shore" he said, promptly. Come
back and have dinner, and III take
YOU down on that"
iii be right up" she promised
new note of gladness in her voice.
land Phil"
Yes" ION
I'm awfuIIy glad that Mr.. Tenton
Is in Europe"
me. too" said Pbilbrook. as he
hung I'D the receiver. IT'S the
quickest return on a charitable do
nation ever heard C. bless her dear
heart. I'll have TO see that the KID
dies don't lose the profits OF the AZ
fe that was suppressc1-"
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-08

thinks a fair can stir up interest nd
do more good than If she merely sVe
them some money herself
Philbrook nodded understanding
". And being an excellent paPn
of ours she has asked for confirm
ton" he completed.
Grace nodded. Il was coming
town and she asked me TO see IT,
Tenton," she went on. Il didn't hTlN
he had gone to Europe
Phflbrook mentally supplied 2
remainder of the sentence He cot
imagine that Grace would have e
cIfnpd the mission had she knoF
that he was in charge of the big ste
in the absence OF the Junior parting
q think that we can find a way
contribute to the cause, he SO
pleasantly. mindful of Mrs BonhS
heavy purchases II you VIII y
me some idea Of what you IN I
would prove salable, l viii see
can be done"
PhiIbrook was used to recelV
rpnuests for donations. Every Par
seemed to feel entitled to a contTl
ton to some favored charity ana
donations formed a not 1nconsloa
able item in the T~of1t-and-loSs
count.
| lust now there was on hand !
| n case of dainty fans that preSeII
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-08

one whose affairs had reached a
point where nothing more counted,
nothing worse could happen.
FINLEY buttoned the collar Of his
raincoat and deliberately drew the
girl out of the crowd. She looked
ND at him in bewildered fashion. Her
face had turned childishly appealing
and tired.
ct beg your pardon, but are you
in trouble? Can / do anything for
your" He spoke rapidly and wished
the train starter would 1alk the
other way. "Have you lost any
thing?"
"YesHyes-that's it, I've lost my
purse with more liam $50 in it-and
everything"
FINLEY did not stop to laugh at
the lame finish of her sentence.
"Where2"
"In the crowd on the station plat
form, think / did not miss 1T until
I had been In the car several minutes.
I had it in my coat pocket"
"Pickpockets," was his terse COM
ment. Wen go right to the station
! house at 6Sth street an report that
your pocket was picked at the
Brooklyn bridge, and they will tele-
phone to headquarters-
90, do you think I will get my
| money back?"
Talk about sunshine after rain!
Sure thing Come on
She almost ran up the stairs, with
| FINLEY wondering at his own unwis-
/ dom. close behind her. Just beyond
| the entrance were two or three nan
| SONS. FINLEY signale- for one, but
/ the girl drew back
Il L have
/ breIla-and you known money
was all in the purse-and perhaps
we will not find it.
| 'sThis chap always meets me ana
| takes me to my apartments, hooed
FINLEY glibIy as he helped her into
the vehicle. "Now give me descrip-
ton of that purse.
| He left her sitting costly IN the
hanson while he interviewed the
desk sergeant at the station house.
Az he came out she peered eagerly
through the rainspattered glass.
] Does he think they can get it!''
was her eager question.
'Of course. The thief may throw
away the purse. but they'll get the
money all right. Wonderful detec-
tives we have here in New York, you
know" replied FINLEY cheerfly as he
ierked down the window. 1.-THE ser,
geant told me TO drop around about
10 and they'd have the man a the
, | goods by then for sure"
For his inartistic fbbing TinleI
was more than rewarded by the re
turn of the radiant expression Sh'
leaned back in the cab with happ!
sigh.
so, by JoveI" murmured FINLEY a.
the iehu turned into the cross stree
i where his own bachelC- apartment
were located 81 forgot to ask yol
5 where 1 should drop you.
81 live at-west 18th street"
D FINLEY turned and looked at he
sharply, and his brow c!ouded, bu
= there was no connection between tn
4 frown and his next remark.
e Fifty dollars is good deal o
}, | money for young woman to carr
e around with her.
Eyes, 1 know-it was very silly O
e me. but then-O. you do not under
q stand"
a mo. I do not" he replied, dryly
f | and, poking the tiny window oveI
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-08

go home, because, you see, L had 10
send mother and the girls something
each week, and though uncle Henry
would not let me pay b. at his
house, l had my Iun, les to buy down
town, and my car fare and clothes
and little presents for the children
and the servants, who are SO very
kind to me-and-
''Why don't you like New York;"
30, I am so homeSick. I cannot
tell you how miserable 1 have been.
You see uncle Henry (you don't know
uncle Henry, but lie i such dear
man, only he is never home-a1ways
traveling) well, he came out to see
us-we live in Centralia-and he
said that if l would come to New
York, he would get me a good posi-
ton and I could live with him and
aunt Eleanor, and there is so little
a girl can do in Centralia to earn
money and mother had had such
hard time 20 raise = girls since
fathers death, that thought I ought
to do 1T. 1t took me six months to
learn stenography, and then uncle
got me a position with the LAWYER
who handIesshis affairs, and now |
am making SIS week.
Real pride rang in her voice on
the last sentence
land still. you want to turn your
back on the New York which has
| been so kinds TO you2
30, you don't understand? In Cen
| traIia l possibly can get position al
| $40 a week, and l would rather &c
! that. II am so lonesome here Al
| home we had such good times, the
| Girls and boys who grew up together
and have never dared to write u
| mother even. of the long, Lonesome
evenings / have had here.
| why, 1 should imagine that m
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-08

studied the envelope curiousIy. DE
partment of Police, City Of New
York"
She opened the flap and a roll OF
money fell into her lap
Three tens. three fves, six ones
-" Just as she had rolled them into
the fated purse-and there-yes, IL
was the p cents in small change and
two stamps.
But the money lay UNDECIDED in
her lap, as she sat staring into the
steady flames. her cheeks flushed and
her eyes bright.
The money-her haTd-earned mon
ey-was hers again The price for
reaching CentTalia lay there in her
Iap-and yet-the promise had been
mistake She must not see him
again It had all been very foolish
even dangerous.
IF uncle Henry were at home she
could tell him. but not aunt Eleanor.
Q. how she did wish for her mother
If mother knew of the hanson and
the kindness and the promise, 1T
might not seem so bad
Then she rose slowly. tucked the
money in her jewel box that held be-
ments that had been her mothers,
,, and then went back to stare at the
gas log and to decide that. not to-
night. but tomorrow without fall, she
would write to her mother that she
was coming hOme-veTy soon
| At precisely the same moment Her
| bert FINLEY sat himse' down before
| another gas log. half n dozen blocks
| away. and stared at memorandum
in his long, firm hand
| Alice Pathbone-- est 18th street.
| Pale gray purse. contents $56-72 and
two twO-cent stamps. Three tens.
three fyes, six Ones-five silk sam
pies and some scraps of chiffon.
| He Chuckled-
The sergeant was a trump, only
he ran a bit short on dry goods "
Then he leaned back and studied the
! flames.
1T was a fools quixotic game to
play. but I am glad l wasn't 40 other
kinds of a fool. too Blood will tell,
whether a girl is in a drawing room
or an office / could read pedigree
in her face in those highly arched
brovs. in that straight little nose,
Poor little soul! No wonder Henrietta
and mama RathbOne think 1t is sc
bad for her to go out of nigh She
has Henrietta skinned to finish, has
Miss Cinderella of Centralia."
With much observation, inelegant
| but fOrcefuI, his thoughts reverted &c
her smile Then he rose abruptly
crossed the rooom to his desk and
wrote a note.
i Mrs. Henry Rathbone, running
| through her mornings mall LAID
down one letter with an expression
of positive dismay-
Henrietta" she said, sharply t.
her daughter seated on the othel
side of the library table, here is
pretty state of affairs. l told you
father IL was unnecessar- to brint
Alice here. It has proven worse thar
| unnecessary, positively annoying.
A slim, jeweled hand reached fol-
the note.
My dear Mrs. RathbOne." 1t ran
ct have Just learned that Miss Alice
Rathbone of CentraIia is in the city
| and I hasten to make my apologies
for not having called upon her Yol
! remember her father W ; my father
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-08

H
4 EXPRESSION of her face was
Irresistible
It had been one of those Lot, mug
gy DAYS which nature erratically
sends to New York in November, and
the humidity poured into the ALREADY
Vftiated air of the great subway
Everyone eibowed and showed ana
rubbed wet umbrellas and sodden
mackintoshes against his neighDor'
and scowled, but the girls face radi-
ated happiness.
And it was pretty face, too, with
high bred suggestions about the fore-
head. the eyebrows and the nose
She sat down directly opposite I'm
lev and smiled with an odd, tremul-
Gus happiness, not at T1nley, Out
straight into the black, no1some
vacuum of the tunnel beyond her
window.
'T'll wager he brought her TO the
station and said something-it does
MT matter what, for she's the sort
that would understand-just as he
missed his hat" thought T1nley.
Funny, how 1t TRANSFORMERS Wom-
ans face
Then he proceeded to bury his own
face in the pages OF his paper.
thanks to the conflict between in
coming and outgoing passengers. he
had an excuse for looking at her
again. and he almost dropped his pa
per in dismay. Her lips were tremu-
Ions still. but not with happiness
Her gaze was fixed on an adver-
tisement for a patent breakfast food,
but her eyes blinked rapidly Sudden
Nv she bit her teeth deeply into her
underrip, and despite this stern treat
ment. the tears would not come.
Her sudden change OF attitude and
EXPRESSION annoyed FINLEY inexpli-
cably. even more than the fact that
man In dripping macintosh was
leaning heavily against his shoulder.
Eyes like hers, he argued, were not
built to hold tears
PERHAPS the chap had not said the
right thing after all. Perhaps there
had been a hidden sting in his words,
which she had interpreted more
clearly after a few minutes OF quiet
thought. Any man who could bt
unkind to a girl like that
Despite the allurements of com
plexion powder recommended by hall
q dozen stage beauties, the tear:
! finally overlooked. Then the CIR
ceased her efforts to keep up appear
ances, turned her face toward the
yrain-spattered window and openly
Ymopped her eyes with the tips of hel
glovesi
For heavens sake, has me poo
little thing no handkerchief?
thought FINLEY irritably, as he raise'
his paper
But it was not the girl who ha'
made him irritable. He just --ante'
to see that chap and say few thing
10 him.
''Seventy-second street-next sto
Ninety-sixth-step lively"
The girl sprang to her feet mel
vously. FINLEY rose deliberately an
as they came shoulder to shoulder h
heard something very like a sol
whereupon he scowled and strod
ahead.
But at the foot of the stairs b
hesitated. He could hear the raj
pelting down above their heads. tn
girl looked up with the expression c
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-08
AA,A
RACE FILSON looked up in
EE distress as Philbrook entered
the room. Phil Philbrook was
the last person she wanted TO

the last person she "dh1ou ~
zee.
She could not very well ask a "a
vor of a man with whom she -ad
quarTeied only a few weeks before
She knew now that Philbreok had
been in the right, which did not
make ne meeting any easier.
"You wished to see me?" he asked
briskly. as he came toward her.
81 want TO see the nan who gives
things away" she said, lamely.
''I am at your service" he said,
with smile. What is 1t, fresh cir
fund, a seaside hospital, or poor
woman with seven small children
and a runaway husband?"
Grace smiled gratefully. It was
nice of him to get right down to
business without any persona, pre-
amble.
'It's Mrs. Bonnat," she explained
Philbrook lifted his eyebrows 1t
seemed scarcely likely that so af"u-
emit a matron should so suddenly be-
come an object OF charity. Grace
guessed his thoughts
"It's not for her, she corrected
sI meant that Sir sat me-
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-08

one could be lonesome INN your
uncle Henry's home"
She did not notice his hesitation,
and answered without a trace of
malice.
go, but Ii IS lonely for me. You
see, l am not able to go out, aunt
Eleanor says, and do my work at the
office. People call so late in New
York and go to supper after the play,
and keep such dreadful hours, and
of course I must be fresh for my
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-08

three-story brownstone house whose
portals shed lights suodUed to the
correctly aristocratic tone FINLEY
held the door with a firm hand and
spoke rapidly
You will get your money back to
night, but / want you TO think well
before returning to Centralia- New
York is not half bad when you know
il better Will you promise me soTc-
thing2 Do not leave New York until
YOU have seen me again!"
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-08

head, he gave her address to the
driver.
We'll, you have been 50 kind to
me that l must tell you the truth,
had saved that money TO run away
with
Going on the stage?" inquired
FINLEY, with just a shade of sarcasm
in his voice.
No-home TO my mother. l don t
like New York, and ii has been such
slow work saving up the money to
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-08

first business partner, and would
not knowingly neglect his daughter,
but since my return from London I
have been greatly pressed with bust
ness matters.
"WilI you accept that apolog- and
induce Miss Rathbone to accept the
incloSed invitation TO the dinner my
sister is giving Wednesday nigh.
when I shall make my e-cuses IN per-
SOM Cordially yours.
'HERBERT FINLEY"
"Of course we must take her.
commented Henrietta impatiently.
by the way. is Louise working on
my shaded chiffon?"
Yes: II will be -nished in time"
said Mrs. Rathbone, with a frowE
I'VE can fix over your blue crepe Do
chine for Alice to wear. OF course
she has nothing fit for such dinrcr
as Mrs. Malcolm will give
Then she added thoughtfui-y:
What 7 want TO know is whether he
is really sincere T. this Motor
whether he is asking her because
of his interest in you"
Henrietta rose abruptly and turn
ed 70 the door.
1--WE will know better when We
hear how he learned of her presence
in the house.
Herbert FINLEY had been listening
to Mrs. Rathbone's grac efully worded
observations on her niece IL was
such a pity the dear child insisted
upon taking a position, but she was
Just like her mother so-no, not head
strong, just independent And or
course they had been careful not TO
interfere with her brilliant business
prospects.
Was II not a pity Int SO many
| young women were turning from the
| charms of home and social life TO
| follow the ignus fatuus of business
| career?
Whereupon Mr.. Tfnley's glance
turned upon a certain figure In pale
blue crepe, crossing the room with
his brother-in-Iaw, md he promptly
| changed his views and his plan OF
/ action
! Ten minutes later he was explain
| ing this change to the girl whom be
had met that aad and soggy Novem-
Der night in the subway train.
| ST am going to give you back that
promise" he said With Mrs Rath-
bones "catty" tones still ringing In
his ears. IT want you % go back to
L
The girl loo ed at him in surprise,
not unmingled with hurt pride He
was certainly very officious, she
thought, and his tone was too mas
| terful.
| Then he bent his head so that his
| ewes were on a level with hers. and
his voice softened.
| "You see-I am coming to Cen
tralia to teach you to like New York
in my own way. Do you under
stand?"
| She turned away, with downcast
ewes. but even as she shook her head
he saw the color mount to her blue
veined temples.
| Don't you think IT quite natural
that a twentieth century Cinderella
| should drop a purse instead Of
slipper?" he persisted.
Very slowly her eyes were raised
| to meet his glance.
And 1t really does not change
Prince Charming if he wears a macin-
tosh and rides in a subway train
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-08

PhiIbrook ntally thanked Ms.
but his face gave no mint oI
his thoughts. His expression was
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-08
oRDoN FARM? That's their

ORDON FARM? That's their
ssE Y wagon over there"
The station agent point
ed to a Blackboard at the
pther end of the platform, and Sey-
mour went over and got the driver
TO help him with his trunk.
Many people this season." he
asked the hired man as the team
started down the village street
Lots. Got to stop and pick up one
On the way home" was the reply.
"She's waiting at the postoffice."
Seymour settled back in the set
and wondered If it was one of the
peopIe he had met last year Mrs
Gordon had written that none of the
old people were there yet. He hoped
that none had come
n would be embarrassing to ex'
Main that Dolly broken her en-
xagement for no better reason thar
aBecause." They had become en-
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-08

.sYou see" Grace hurried on,
Mrs Ronnat is getting up fair at
Janghampton for the hospital It's
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-08

merely one of polite interest in the
girls mission, though his eyes 1eu
hungrily upon her beauty.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-08

| for the poor little children Wiz conc
/ tuberculosis If they can get GOWN ~
the seashOre, they can be cured ne
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-08

. INLEY looked at her again. He
really could not help it. Tne
expression of her race was
Irresistible