Smyrna times., 1908-07-29
Gllncr'S
HfternoonOff.
By CECILY ALLEN.
By CECILY ALLEN.
Copyrighted 1908, by Associated
Literary Press.

=
1t was the proud boast of Mr.. and
Mrs. James Regan that their flower
like daughter, Elinor, had never set
foot in that plebeian vehicle. a trolley
car
To be sure, there had been a time
when James Regan would have vel
coined the chance to drive one of the
good, old fashioned street cars. but
those days belonged in the dark ages
of Regan family history along with
the mOmentOus Sunday when that
same GOwerlike daughter had been
chriStened plain Mary Ellen.
Today, thanks to a pocket of gold in
the Sierras and few lucky specula-
tiOns made possible by those same gilt
tering pockets, the fair Elinor had at
her disposal variety of private We
hicles, from a tiny electric runabout to
sixty horsepower touring car. from
smart trap on their Long Island es-
tate to correctly equipped victoria
for her daily drive in Central park.
The men who were glad to ride be-
side the girl in motor car or trap were
equally glad to acknowledge their
friendship with the blunt. shrewd Irish
capitalist for. though the Regans were
counted among the newest of the new
ly rich, they were not of them.
A strain Of royal blood had surely
filtered through the dark ages of Re
gan family history, for both genera
tions took to the newly found luxury
as ducks had taken to the mudholes
behind their cabin in the Sierras.
From the moment they had come
east ElinOr had been surrounded by
irreproachable gOvernesses, cOmpan-
ions and chaperons. Her cOmings and
gOings had always been attended by
chauffeur or foOtman or groom. And
there had been times when, watching
other girls fit fearlessly and unattend-
ed from ferry to trolley car, she had
felt an odd twinge of envy.
Some things of life she had missed,
and this something was vaguely rep
resented by the trolleys in which she
had never ridden, the city streets on
which she never set foot unattended
| Even more vague was her feeling that
somehow her doting father had not
| quite played fair with her about Regi
nald Schuyler.
1t meant something, of course, e
marry into one of the old Knicker
booker families. Schuyler always le
her realize this fact. He allowed hi.
blue blood, which showed little enough
in his pallid face and deep ringed eyes
to do his woOing.
The other man-he was, like them
selves, new as to wealth, fresh anC
vigorous in every vein-he might hav,
been so different if given half a chance
Sometimes she wanted to give him tn,
chance Sometimes she wanted t,
please her father. And neither of tn,
two men in the case nor her fathe
dreamed of the vague unrest in th
girls heart.
All this to explain why Elinor Re
gan's eyes fairly danced when sh
stepped from the door of the ferry
house and reviewed the long line o
public vehicles. Belden, the puncti
ious, was nowhere in sight.
Elinor's companion, Miss Greenlea1
was young. but keenly alive to her dr
ties and very anxious to retain he
pleasant and lucrative position.
Something must have happened.
am sure l wOrded the telegram yer
carefully. Shall l call a hanson Q
an electric cab|'
ElinOr shook her head.
Give heard you can get smallpo
riding in public vehicles. Don't the
use them for funerals and that sort {
thing?"
She was watching her companio
from the tail Of her eye and wonderin
just how far she might go.
Miss Greenleaf looked worried.
Perhaps l had best telephone to tt
house."
"Oh. no." interrupted Elinor quickI
I'VE can reach home by trolley viii
4 they are sending down the car for us
Miss Greenleaf hesitated-and W;
lost. A few seconds later she W;
swept. golf clubs and bags. into
crosstOwn car. 1t was crowded wit
5 suburban women bound for the sho
ping district. Elinor swung blithe
from n strap and enjoyed Miss Gree
leafs discontinue.
"If Mr.. Regan ever hears of this
thought the worried companion. Al
just then they alighted to change cal
Evidently there was a delay far dow
the street. for the two women sto,
some minutes on the corner, and tn,
Elinor spied a drug store whose wi
dows were filed with garish adve
tisements, beyond which loomed
soda fountain. Miss Greenleaf nev
knew just how it happened. but s
found herself. feebly protesting. |