La Junta tribune., 1908-02-22
One Touch
Of Nature.
copyriTht-a, 1897. by p. c. E..tm.n,

., Constance D'Asey s4.ek.y.

four minutes. with a jerk that threw
that young gentleman with some vio
lence against the padded seat an
angry dent showed between his eyes.
''lts the sp''- began the chauffeur.
speedily and apoiogeiically getting out
Of the ear.
II don't care what II is growlr1
Loring He was already on the side
walk. Take the blamed thing back
20 the house-H you know how-and
don't call for me tonight unless you
can guarantee 10 run IT. Cnders'andf
"Yes. SIR" mumbied the chauffeur.
Loring turned on hi, heel Before
Ae had gone block he was.whistilng
biitheiy. 1t was impossible TO be angry
on morning whcu the air was like
amt~r. and the streets giint-d with
that dowupouring Of sunshine. that
wealth OF spring glory for which San
Francisco has lon: been famous. Its
buildings as yet untouched by devas
faiIon. were sharply outlined against
the blue. Youngsters were burrylne
schooIward. and I.oriug threaded his
way between their groups.
Look out. sonny" he laughed. as. a
'iit' 'i' y'b
spill your ,iowersf'
SioopIng he gathered up the seat
tered marigolds and replaced them In
the chiid's chubby hand II was then
that he caught sight OF a tall girl com
Ing down the street With string OF
children following. Something about
the way she walked and held her head
awoke rcmcmhrances In him.
why. Eileen.'' he cried
For n moment the girl looked puzs
xied. Then she smiled Mr. Cartcr.'
she exclaimed. Even Ia this demo
cratic country girl does not call
young milIionaire- by their first names
because she happens 10 have gone 10
grammar school with them.
Eight years ago you used to call
ME IDrry.' he reminded her.
"Did ~ Her gray eyes overhowed
with mirth. Il remember that you used
20 dub me Freck les She lifted up q
chin as deiicately white as porcelain.
What are you doing now. EiieenT'
said he.
Isn't IL rather obvious 2; she asked.
with n glance at her following that
I'm teaching kindergarten:
"Clay pigeons. paper mats and all
that
Eileen nodded Then they both
laughed.
..If I come over tonight viii you
show me how it's donef" lie aneried
"'I believe I've almost forgotten"
As Eileen as-ented she gave him u
long look. with the inward comment
chat he hadn't changed n particle since
t. III.
bons
As for Loring. ne was nlled with
wonder at the alchemy Of the years
that had changed n gawky. brown pig
tailed schoolgirl into this slender deep
eyed beauty. After this AT least three
evenings u week found him In the little
apartment that Eileen kept for her
widowed mother and herself. The
street was questionable and noisy.
but. despite Its crowded shrillncss, Ior-
Ing liked 1t. as he liked the dusty euca-
iyptus tree that stood In front OF FL
lcen's door Such humble things had
come to stand to him FOR signs and
symbols.
one night ms he fingered over his
after dinner coffee on the broad porch
of his home overlooking the lawn his
mother glanced at him with sudden
quizzicaI sharpness.
"Lorry." she burst out. does 1t ever
occur TO you that you're a great disap-
pointmentt''
She WAS n pretty little woman. with
pecvish mouth and nervous. much be
ringed hands. Her voice held note Of
accumulated wrongs.
"A great disappointment" she reit-
Grated.
.in what. way:" said Loring quietly.
You know quite WELL she flashed.
1--WE spoken OF 1t often enough. good
ness knows!'
''you mean Grace Remston?" said
IorIng.
ut isn't as II she wasn't an attrac.
tive girl" pursued his mother irrcle
vanity. shes OF good family too And
ten millions. And every one knows
shes interested In you. cant see why
you don't marry bcr.'
I.oring set down his cup. II was
hardly the moment he would hrve for
condolences. but apparently the time
had come.
because l have already made up my
mind to marry some one else"
His mother gasped.
"Lorry! My dear boy. oh. | hope
she's suitable. You're prone TO over
look the really necessary pualifica'
tions;''
"She has beauty and grace and kind
pess OF heart" said Loring.
And her peopie!"
"Her mother Is a very estima BILE NO
man. Her father was the janitor o:
the Myrtle street school"
Then followed the scene which 1.or
ing had anticipated and drcadcd-rr
Rroaches. upbraIdings and bcseeching.