The Cairo bulletin., 1908-05-17
A HALF.TONE.
By Grace &. Bird.

he rode three blocks past his corner
! 1t was a half-tone of a girls face,
with straight brows, dark brooding
eyes. and the delicate beauty OF n lily.
| a face that he had been subconsci-
! ously seeking for years. All his life
| he had pad SO little attention to the
fair sex that his relatives, desperate
| lest he be a bachelor forever were
even now conspiring to marry him as
soon as possible to Dorothy Startling
distant cousin who had been abroad
ever since she was a child. He had
never seen the young lady in question,
but with his usual passivity in such
affairs he had as yet offered no vigor'
GUS opposition to their Vaccinations,
SO the game went merrily on,
Il wonder if | could find the girl
in the picture today" he inpatient
ly soliloquized as he retraced the way
TO his clubhouse for luncheon. First
the illustrator, and then-"I wonder
what her name is anyway" he con-
tinued
Il saw her behind a counter in
dry goods store" the artist was ex-
planning, land the face seemed TO cor
respond to the authors idea of the
character in the story. drew 1t
from memory. forget the store.
but | think could find 1t for you,"
he obligingly continued, rereading
his visitors card and recognizing the
name as one well known.
Il hate to trouble on, but | wish
you would Stanley answered anxi'
ously
Before long the men found the OBJ
ject of their search selling collars and
neckties in department store. The
illustrator hurried away and Stanley
walked past the counter twice, He
observed that the girl. now disengaged
for the moment, was critically study
ing the passer-by, and her quaint
guance took in the young man loiter.
Ing In the aisle.
is there anything can do for
your" she asked. 1t did not escape
his observation that her voice was
low and sympathetic and its timbre
musical.
Yes. | thank you" he stammered,
feeling more nervous than ever. Col
lars, some collars, think, er--coi
lars, please"
What size?" she inquired coofy
"Sze-why let me see-oh yes--I
have almost forgotten-no-S-yes; s
is correct"
Il think about 16 ought to be about
right, she continued, cycling the tall
man critically, and with a business
like air taking down a box containing
the articles in question. BY mighty
effort Stanley Wales recovered him
self and bought dozen cheap collars.
number 16-in reality he wore size
larger.
He left with lingering vision of
straight Plask s REow sE.a and d, two blue le
girl during leisure intervals betwear
customers. Her fellow.workers boa
begun to gossip. She begged him NOT
to return.
Then tell me your name and 10.
NE call on you, as have asked Won
~ times before" he responded
1 Will tell you Saturday" she re-.
phea abruptly, land now good.by." she
concluded, extending her hand
He crushed her proffered freer. -
his grasp, ~
Inc week seemed long, but the
nope OF fulfilment of her nromiso
Kept the mans courage. He was das
perateiy In love. With his usual
quick decision, he had determined -
marry her in spite of every possible
oostacie' from her refusa. to his own
PeIsohsl ostracism, When the dav
'ame he found the counter besieead
WIN oargain-hunters taking advan.
age OF a sale. After the crovd haa
eft she handed hi ma sealed envelons 4
addressed to himself.
Promise me that you will NOT oman
until tonight at o'clock"
her fingers touched his as thew ho,b
cid the missive He would have
romised her anything at that mo. &
lent. -'i
l snail look for YOU Monday even.
g, she smiled back at him. 4
without fail" he rejoined merri,v n
owing to make way for customer
, departed.
Aiter dinner that night in his smoky
iei'ihg Den, he broke the seal of a
lnty little envelope that had hoen
ing next TO his heart. Inclosed was
ieIicately engraved card. and an nm.
Sned note, begging him to Keen bar
'ret' She had been making a stud,
the self-supporting woman a.,
s at present investigating arst.
No. the life Of the American ebon
l. her engagement was I'M n.
M and this was her last exnari
NJ on that subject. as she now had
'ugh material for the book she has
hhed to write. Distant kinsbin
her only excuse for permitting
h chance acquaintance.
! es, | will keep her secret on oro
dition.' he was saying to bfusaI,
knock at the door followed bv
entrance of his mother Internal
his reverie. up'- -
have inst rocng.. ~