The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-02-18

wen she must have been think
ms hsrd OF something that had hap
pcncd TO hor-that very day, take
It. And saw it all with her eyes.
FIRST OF all dingy work room-G lot
OF girls sitting at a long table and
sewing mechanically dress material
OF some sort-l'm no good at describ-
ing that sort OF thing. but saw II as
clearly as If I'd been in the room
The floor a litter, the table n litter.
patterns, stuff of every hue and quail
ity, cut and uncut. yards OF II, spread
out and tumbled together dummy
figures. some partially clad some only
framework and wooden bust; sprays
of artificial ilowers, lace, ribbon. cot
ton. Cotton! Why. the atmosphere
OF the place seemed loaded with it.
You know the close smell of a drap-
ers shop? assure YOU rot exactly
that kind of impression
All the girls seemed to be chatter
ing together gsyly enough-all ex-
cept my girl. saw her as plainly as
| see you. She was working sew
ing machine, and she kept glancing
at a big clumsy clock upon the wall.
She could hardly see the time by 1t,
for the room was so full of mist;
there were flaming gas jets hanging
from the ceiling. but they didn't seem
to give sufficient light However, |
knew well enough what the girl
wanted; she was anxious for the hour
- trft 81, Ia, nt Ihnr-
| ty to take her departure. The min
utes seemed to drag out into eternity
| for her.
"Will he be there?" That was
| what she was repeating to herself,
and, of course, being for the time. as
1t were, in her brain, knew all
about "him''-as much as she did,
anyway. | thought, with her, that
he would be certain to turn up at the
appointed meeting place.
| He did. They met at an A. d. G.
tea shop, and he was evidently cross
with her for being late. | didn't like
the look OF the fellow at all; he was
a shocking bounder, loudly dressed,
and with bowler nat set on one side
OF his head. A loafer, If | ever saw
one. He had shifty eyes and a
receding chin and horrid thick lips.
He smiled and chatted amiably
enough at first. while the girl ner-
vously slipped her tea; but his ex-
preston changed quickly when she
leaned forward and began to talk to
him very earnestly. quite expected
IL would-as did she. poor girl. You
see, | knew what was in her mind.
II was pitiful. He regained his
composure and began to talk sooth-
ingly, but It was such obvious acting.
Even she was scarcely deceived by 1t
though she tried hard to believe
him genuine. He kept shifting about
in his seat, anxious the whole time to
get away. There were tears in her
eyes when she rose to go. but he
whispered something that made her
smile up at him through her tears.
think 1t was a promise to her.
They parted under the glare OF the
electric light outside the shop. She
lifted her face ior kiss and he
gave 1t to her; but / think his kiss
must have told her the truth. She
stood gazing after him as he dis
appeared in the crowd, and there wa!
an agony of apprehension in her face
He won't come back! | shall
never see him again." You ma!
laugh, but felt as If the words were
torn from my own heart.
Well, I'm very near the end of m!
story. The girl must have moved
her arm just then, for all of suddeI
the whole train of impressions wa
broken. | started up as IL had jus
come out of dream and those word
were on my lips-I actually spok'
i them aloud-"He won't come back
| shall never see him again"
She heard me. 1t must hav,
seemed to her as though had spokel
/ her actual thought. She too, wa
sitting up, and there was scarce
, look on her face-her eyes were alb
solutely wild.
, How did you know" she whis
: pered. Then realizing that | was
stranger fancying | suppose. that
y had not addressed her, that she ha,
, been dreaming: "Oh, beg your par
don," she said hurriedly.
can't remember ii ! replied o
: not. | was struggling to collect IN
own thoughts. l felt a bit daZe
myself, and perhaps it was lucky tina
, the baby set up howl just at tina
moment and distracted everybody
@ attention. Before | had time to de
q eide how to act the girl got up, an
!, without so much as looking at m
) jumped out of the bus. We wer
= nearing Hammersmith then, but L
!, vow she hadn't reached her own des
a tination.
A queer story, isn't it? l can
, attempt an explanation, but I'm aDsC
= lutely positive that, quite Innocent,
:, | got an insight that evening into tn
. poor little tragedy of girls life.