The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-05-16

tiers of laughter that he recollected
best; It was the girl who escorted
him.
She came leading her father by the
arm. the daintiness Of her costume
enhanced BY the marks OF the work
Shop on his coat She walked smiling.
~ forward, completely self-possessed,
with head thrown back, and making
no apologies. Had 1t not been for the
conversation al the door. overheard
within the room, none would have
supposed that she wished more cere-
monious appearance. She challenged
with her eyes rs she passed her
guests. aud to Killers surprise. bound
In conrCBtionality as he always had
been, It suddenly seemed that in all
of 1t there was nothing inappropriate
nor incongruous.
Then came that later hour when he
was introduced to the savant. and the
latter had looked him squarely In the
eyes and given him a handshake that
was surprisingly strong. And the
girl, At the first word spoken by her
demanding that he should know her
better. 1t had been easy to yield TO
its call. and he made occasion 20 be
as near her side throughout the even
ing as was possible He was TO learn
later that she always was with her ia
Their. nearly always inaccessible. and
sometimes wrapped in such thought
that he could scarcely probe her mind.
The evening Of their meeting had
ended as do all evenings: but thence
forth he had sought her. Their ac-
quaintance grew TO a more friendly
basis. and went steadily forward until
on his part at least 1t eliminated in
love. Sometimes he had the courage
TO believe it returned. At other times
he grew Respondent In his assault on
the portals OF her heart, but now that
war and separation threatened. he
was resolved TO bring his siege TO the
issue and gain an answer.
A long-drawn whistle of increasing
volume vibrated through the dusk;
one headlight stared more steadily
than the others which cleaned across
the network of steel rails beyond and
came swiftly. picking a trail TO the
great ohed shed. With final clang-
ing OF its bell, the big locomotive
perspired past him, the whistling
brakes gave harsh grind and the
train came to halt.
Guy hurried back with quick. i'm
patient steps to the Pullman. where
negroes dropped carpeted steps, in
time to see the one for whom he
waited emerge. calm and Immaculate
as usual, but with such a gladness OF
welcome in her eyes that he could
barely resist taking her into his arms.
Time might drag, but IL always found
her unchanged. = In sudden awkward
ness he took her lighter luggage and
wrap and walked with her to the exit
Of the noisy station, finding all his
carefully formulated sentences for
gotten. and listening 10 her rather
than saying anything himself.
Almost the first question she asked
him was of the war; and at this he felt
a tinge Of disappointment 1t was too
impersonal a topic for a man who had
waited a month for an opportunity 10
speak OF affection. He would rather
she gave first thought 10 what he had
been doing, what he was going 10 do
and what he wished TO do. Even when
they reached a more quiet place away
from TIE din OF railway traffic and
aside from tho rush of outgoing pas
sengers, she turned toward him with a
grave face and asked for 'the real
latest news"
do tell me-" she said, mot what
people say, or what the officials send
out. but the real inside situation. Is
there going to>be any war;"
Il am afraid So he answered.
gloomily. THE government is still in
sisting that there Is not much danger
OF a clash, and backs up its manifes-
toes by making no preparation what.
ever. There has been no attempt TO
mobilize a feet In he Pacific. ,9r to
assemble other vessels from foreign
ports; but our own adv, hes are that
war is inevitable and may come at any
moment"
She did not respond. but seemed
almost to have forgotten him In her
reverie and contemplation OF his
words. Nor did she express surprise
and interest when he gave her seat
in the brougham which waited for
them beside the station gates. Not
till she heard him order the driver to
take them to a fashionable cafe did
she return from the land OF abstrac-
ton and become viyacious again.
Where are you taking me?' she
asked. Did ! understand 1t that we
are going to an old friend? I'm half
starved. and am going to drop all this
war subject for while"
When he told her their destination
she clapped her hands and showed her
approval by saying: That's good.
Do you remember the little balcony
.overhanging the street, where gresa
things grow and vc used to sit last
summer when we wanted to be alone
and talk? May we have the balcony
table?" His smiling assurance that
he remembered and that 1t was TO
that very spot he was conducting her
IL